Ford Expects Record-Setting Booster Seat Buy Will Jump Start New Safety Trend For Kids

    DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 29 Ford Motor Company and
the United Way today committed to the largest order of child safety seats in
history.  Ford and the United Way will purchase half-a-million seats combined
from Evenflo and Century-Graco as part of its Boost America! booster seat
campaign.  The half-million seats are part of Boost America!'s commitment to
put one-million seats into use in the U.S. during a one-year period.
    Ford Motor Company President and CEO, Jacques Nasser, said, "We're
determined to jump start what we expect will be a fast-moving national trend
to make sure older children ride in the best available protection in the event
of a crash -- a booster seat."
    The Evenflo Right Fit and Century Contour Sport models were selected for
the United Way portion of the campaign because they offer child passengers a
good combination of comfort and belt fit.  The Century Contour Sport is not
available in stores -- it was created specifically for Boost America!.
    Both models position the vehicle's lap/shoulder belts to improve belt fit,
low across the hips and thighs, and across the chest and shoulder, which helps
to protect the child in a crash.  The Right Fit is a backless booster designed
for vehicles with a taller rear seat back that comes above the child's ears.
The Contour Sport model has an integral high back to provide head protection
in vehicles with shorter rear seat backs or without head restraints.
    "It's a fact that booster seats save lives, and there is nothing more
important to Evenflo than the safety of children," said Rick Frank, CEO of
Evenflo Company, Inc.  "Evenflo is proud to be a part of this initiative to
increase the use of booster seats across the country."
    "Ford's Boost America! campaign will raise parents' awareness of the need
for protecting their children to higher weight ranges," said Derial Sander,
President of Graco Children's Products.  "Children older than the typical car
seat use age of four are often overlooked but are equally in need of
protection.  We are very pleased to be a part of this very necessary
campaign."
    Nasser explained that Ford's desire to move quickly to increase the number
of booster seats in use presented a formidable logistical challenge to the
child seat manufacturers, pushing their production capacity to the limit.
    "But every day that goes by, one or more children are killed because they
were riding in a vehicle either without any protection or using an adult
safety belt that did not fit properly.  Our goal is to get as many booster
seats as possible into the hands of parents and caregivers and have them used
properly," Nasser said.
    Experts from the NHTSA and other leading safety and child welfare
organizations agree that youngsters that have outgrown the age and weight
recommendations for traditional child safety seats need a transitional
"bridge" before using adult safety belts.  Booster seats provide that
transition.
    In addition to distributing booster seats, Ford Motor Company also is
forming partnerships with states to run fitting clinics and to certify
additional child passenger safety seat technicians so parents and caregivers
understand how to install and use all safety seats correctly.
    Key to Ford's effort will be its partnerships with respected and
influential national organizations that will work in concert to change
attitudes of parents and children alike about the need for booster seats.  In
addition to NHTSA, the lead partner, these organizations are working with Ford
to promote booster seat use:  American Academy of Pediatrics; AAA; American
Trauma Society; Emergency Nurses CARE; Health Resources and Services
Administration; Maternal and Child Health Bureau; Hertz Corporation; Indian
Health Service; International Association of Chiefs of Police; International
Center for Injury Prevention; National Association of Governors' Highway
Safety Representatives; National Association of Police Organizations; National
Association of School Nurses; National Association of School Resource
Officers; National Fire Protection Association; National Urban League;
Nickelodeon's Blue's Clues; SAE; State and Territorial Injury Prevention
Directors Association and United Way of America.
    Additional information on Boost America! is available at the campaign's