New Survey Finds Texas Children at Risk

 Ford Motor Company Donates 25,000 Booster Seats to Low-Income Texas Families
    Through United Way, Gives Free Booster Seats to TX Ford Motor Company
Customers Through Toys "R" Us, and Sends Educational Program to Local Schools

    AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 9 Texas Governor Rick Perry joined
Ford Motor Company, the United Way Capital Area in Austin and a coalition of
local and national partners today to call for a new safety habit in Texas-
booster seat use for children who have outgrown traditional child safety seats
yet are still too small to fit properly in adult safety belts.  They made the
first of 25,000 booster seat donations to needy families in the State as part
of Ford's national Boost America! campaign.
    Flanked by children at the East Communities Branch of the YMCA Governor
Perry said, "Our children are Texas' most precious resource, and this program
will help keep them safe as they travel our roads and highways.  I would like
to thank Ford Motor Company for its efforts to promote child passenger safety
and for working to make such a difference in the lives of Texas' children."
    The Boost America! national campaign's three key elements include: 1) an
educational component, sent to all pre- and elementary schools in the nation
(152,000 total), featuring a video by superstars Will Smith and Jada Pinkett
Smith for older children and a preschool kit featuring Blue from Nickelodeon's
"Blues Clues;" 2) distribution of one million free booster seats nationwide
through United Way agencies and Ford Motor Company dealers, in cooperation
with Toys "R" Us; and 3) a push for sensible, state-level booster seat laws.
    A new Wirthlin Worldwide survey commissioned by Boost America! found that
85 percent of Texas parents/caregivers of four- to eight-year-olds are aware
of booster seats, yet only 17 percent use them for their children.  Nearly 73
percent are unaware of the correct ages for booster seat use.
    According to Ray Byers, Director, US State and Local Government Relations,
Ford Motor Company, "This study shows that most parents -- even those with the
best of intentions -- aren't putting their booster-aged children into the
proper seats when they are riding in the family vehicle.  Boost America! is
the most extensive child safety campaign ever by an automaker.  Working with
our many partners, our goal is to raise awareness about the importance of
booster seats and ultimately save lives."
    Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show
that crash-related fatalities have declined steadily for infants and younger
children because most ride in child safety seats.  But there is no similar
reduction in fatalities among children ages four through eight because booster
seat use nationally is only about 20 percent.  More than 500 children in this
age group are killed each year in crashes and thousands more are seriously
injured.  A total of 65 children ages 4-8 were killed in Texas in 1999 (the
latest year for which data is available).
    Safety experts say booster seats provide a necessary transition for
children who have outgrown child safety seats, but are not big enough to use
adult safety belts alone.  A booster seat raises a child up so that adult
lap/shoulder belts fit and protect better -- snugly across the chest and low
over the lap.
    As part of the one million seats giveaway, Boost America! will provide
500,000 seats to low-income families nationally through United Way agencies
across the country and 500,000 seats to Ford customers through Ford
dealerships and Toys "R" Us.  Twenty five thousand (25,000) seats will be
distributed by United Way of Texas and through other safety partners across
the state.  Through the International Center for Injury Prevention, families
receiving a free booster seat will be given individual instruction on proper
use of the seat by a certified child passenger safety technician.
    Giveaway events are already planned in Austin, Dallas, Ft. Worth, San
Antonio and Houston in late September.  Others will take place across the
state over the coming months and will be announced accordingly.
     "Bringing people and organizations together are key to community problem-
solving, and the safety of our children takes precedence," said David Balch,
president of United Way Capital Area.  "Through partnerships with generous
corporations like Ford Motor Company, the State of Texas and United Way's
partner agencies, we are able to provide people with the services they need."
    In addition, Ford Motor Company is providing booster seats to its
customers statewide through participating Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo,
Jaguar, Land Rover and Mazda dealers.  Customers are being given vouchers for
a free or discounted booster seat at Toys "R" Us stores and more than 150,000
vouchers have been redeemed nationwide.
    Kit Lorber, Toys "R" Us Store Director said, "We are pleased to
participate in this important campaign to promote booster seat safety.  Our
mission at Toys "R" Us is to improve the lives of children, and this
initiative will go a long way in doing just that."
    As of this September, the Texas child passenger safety law will be
strengthened, ensuring that children up to age four are in appropriate child
safety seats and children between the ages of 4 and 17 wear safety belts in
all passenger vehicles.
    More information is available at http://www.boostamerica.org or
+1-866-BOOST-KID.

               Click here