State Provides $250,000 for Child Safety Seats

           Clinics to Be Held Statewide to Help Families Learn How
                   To Correctly Use Child Restraint Devices

    RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 12 The Governor's Highway Safety
Program (GHSP) is preparing to present its traditional Valentine's gift to
North Carolina's families during Child Passenger Safety Week, Feb. 11-17.  A
series of child passenger safety clinics to be held across the state will mark
the beginning of a yearlong plan to distribute free convertible and booster
seats to qualified low-income families.
    The purchase of the seats was announced Monday, Feb. 12, during a North
Carolina Child Passenger Safety Week press conference at North Hills Fire
Station No. 9 in Raleigh.  Transportation Secretary Lyndo Tippett and GHSP
Director Joe Parker presented a check for $250,000 to Insurance Commissioner
Jim Long, who is chairman of North Carolina SAFE KIDS.  That organization will
coordinate the purchase and delivery of safety seats statewide.  In addition,
State Highway Patrol Col. Richard Holden was on hand to reinforce his recent
declaration that the Patrol will step up enforcement of child passenger safety
violations.
    "It is vital that we do all we can to help protect children on our
roadways," Parker said.  "That's why, in addition to making thousands of
safety seats available to low-income families across the state, we're also
coordinating clinics to help families learn how to correctly install and
safely use them."
    Parker will attend child passenger safety clinics this week in Raleigh,
Asheville, Shelby, Statesville, Greensboro, Fayetteville, Wilmington, and
Charlotte (details to follow).  Many more clinics will be scheduled this week,
and in coming weeks and months, in communities across the state.  All will be
staffed by specially trained law enforcement officers, fire and rescue
personnel, health providers and child safety advocates.
    North Carolina law requires all children up to age 16 to travel buckled
up, no matter where they sit in the vehicle.  Children up to age 5 and
weighing less than 40 pounds must ride in a correctly installed safety seat -
in the back seat, if the vehicle has an active passenger-side airbag.  Drivers
ticketed for a child passenger safety violation will face two points on their
driver's license.
    GHSP Director Joe Parker will visit the following Child Passenger Safety
Clinics:

    Monday, February 12
    Raleigh: 12 noon to 2 p.m.
    North Hills Fire Station No. 9
    4465 Six Forks Road
    *Note: Please park behind the fire station
    to allow emergency vehicles to leave if necessary.
    Contact: Lizz Wall, DOI Public Affairs
    (919-733-5328)

    Tuesday, February 13
    Asheville: 9-11 a.m.
    Asheville Mall
    Covered parking deck near entrance to Belks
    *Note: Special Guest Gigi Graham Tchividjian
    of the Ruth and Bill Graham Children's Center
    Contact: Paula Bryson, Western NC SAFE KIDS
    (Pager: 828-207-7568)

    Shelby: 4-6 p.m.
    Fire Station No. 3
    2425 King Road Extension
    Contact: Judy Hawkins,
    Cleveland County SAFE KIDS (704-487-3182)

    Wednesday, February 14
    Statesville: 10-11:30 a.m.
    Wal-Mart parking lot
    Crossroad Shopping Center, Hwy. 21
    Contact: Officer Tom Souther,
    Statesville Police Department (704-878-3406)

    Greensboro: 4-6 p.m.
    Pinecroft-Sedgefield Fire Department No. 23
    5107 Mackay Road
    Contact: Connie Lawson,
    Guilford County Health Department (336-884-7722)

    Thursday, February 15
    Fayetteville: 10 a.m. to 12 noon
    Toys 'R Us parking lot
    1736 Skibo Road
    Contact: Angela Cammuse,
    Cumberland County Safe Communities
    (Pager: 910-307-2133)

    Wilmington: 2:30-4:30 p.m.
    New Hanover Regional Medical Center
    Lower Level Employee Parking Deck
    Contact: David Howard,
    New Hanover Safe Communities (910-343-6636)

    Friday, February 16
    Kinston: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
    Massey Motor Company
    2900 West Vernon Avenue
    Contact: Betty Johnsey,
    Lenoir County SAFE KIDS (252-522-7471)

    Saturday, February 17
    Charlotte: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    Cricket Arena (formerly Independence Arena)
    Contact: Rusty Garrison,
    Mecklenburg SAFE KIDS
    (Pager: 704-354-0978)

    For information regarding Joe Parker's clinic tour, or other North
Carolina highway safety issues, call GHSP Public Information Officer Jill
Warren Lucas at 919-733-3083, or visit our Web site at:
http://www.dot.state.nc.us/services/ghsp.
    For details regarding qualification requirements for the free child
passenger safety seats, call toll free 877-363-2405.
    For advice regarding the correct installation and safe use of child
passenger safety seats, call Bill Hall of the University of North Carolina
Highway Safety Research Center toll free at 800-672-4527.