New Survey of Parents: Arkansas Children at Risk on the Roads

  Ford Motor Company's Boost America! Donates 8,000 Booster Seats to Income
     Eligible Arkansas Families Through the United Way of Pulaski County

    LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Sept. 21 A month after Arkansas
upgraded its child passenger safety law, a coalition of local and national
partners today joined Ford Motor Company to launch Boost America! in the state
as part of a new national safety campaign.  A survey also released today,
warns of the importance of this campaign as 72 percent of Arkansas' four- to
eight-year-olds are not riding in booster seats and are at greater risk of
injury or death on the roads.
    The new state law reflects the commitment by Arkansas lawmakers and safety
partners to increase child protective safety measures.  "We're proud we were
able to amend the child passenger protection act and include increased safety
standards," said Governor Mike Huckabee, regarding HB 1124 which was enacted
last month, requiring that all passengers under age 6 and who weigh less than
60 pounds use a booster seat or child safety seat appropriate for their size.
The seats must meet applicable federal safety standards.
    Today's kick-off was a mass booster giveaway and seat fitting at the War
Memorial in Little Rock, with Arkansas income eligible families receiving the
first of 8,000 free booster seats to be distributed in Arkansas.  Volunteers
for the giveaway were coordinated by the United Way of Pulaski County and the
Child Education Safety Program affiliated with the University of Arkansas
Medical Services.
    Boost America! is a national campaign with three key elements:  1)
distribution of one million free booster seats nationwide through United Way
agencies and Ford Motor Company dealers via Toys "R" Us; 2) an educational
curriculum sent to more than 150,000 pre- and elementary schools in the nation
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;"
and 3) a push for sensible, state-level booster seat laws.
    A new Wirthlin Worldwide survey* commissioned by Boost America! found that
72 percent of Arkansas' four- to eight-year-olds do not ride in booster seats,
as recommended by top highway safety experts.  Compared to the national
average, Arkansas rates two percentage points lower, in awareness of booster
seats and higher, seven percent, in usage.  The same study indicates the
national figure for unprotected children ages four through eight is nearly 80
percent.
    According to Sue Cischke, Vice President, Environment and Safety, for the
Ford Motor Company, "The research shows that although 86 percent of Arkansas
parents and caregivers of children ages 4-8 have heard or read about booster
seats, only 28 percent of the parents actually use booster seats.  Boost
America! is committed to increasing the numbers of parents that use booster
seats and educate the public about their importance in auto safety."
    Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that
crash-related fatalities have declined steadily for infants and younger
children because most ride in child safety seats.  But there has been 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 motor vehicle crashes and thousands
more are seriously injured.
    Safety experts say booster seats provide a necessary safety transition for
children who have outgrown traditional child safety seats, but are not big
enough to use adult lap and shoulder belts.  A booster seat raises the child
up so that that adult lap/shoulder belts fit and protect better - snugly
across the chest and low over the hips.
    Boost America! has distributed more than a quarter of a million free
booster seats since its national launch in April.  United Way agencies across
the country are helping Ford identify income eligible families to distribute
500,000 free booster seats.  In Arkansas, every family receiving one of the
8,000 free booster seats from United Way will be given individual instruction
on proper use of the seat by a certified child passenger safety technician
thanks to the International Center for Injury Prevention.
    "Bringing people and organizations together are key to community problem
solving, and the safety of our children takes precedence," said John Nazarro,
executive director of United Way of Pulaski County. "Through partnerships with
generous corporations like Ford Motor Company, the State of Arkansas and
United Way's partner agencies, we are better able to provide people with the
services they need."
    In addition, Ford Motor Company is providing free booster seats to its
customers statewide through participating dealers, including Ford, Lincoln,
Mercury, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover and Mazda.  In the first phase of the
dealer program last April, customers were given vouchers that could be
redeemed for a free or discounted booster seat at Toys "R" Us stores.  The
second phase of the Ford dealership giveaway will begin in mid-October.
    More information about the Boost America! campaign, along with helpful
resources for both parents and educators, is available online at
http://www.boostamerica.org or toll free at 1-866-BOOSTKID.

    * The Wirthlin Worldwide survey was conducted from December 2000 through
January 2001 in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.  The total sample
of the survey included 11,701 interviews, 200 of which took place in Arkansas,
yielding results that can be generalized to the entire universe of American
parents of young children within +/-1.0 percentage point in 95 out of 100
cases.

    CONTACT: +1-501-376-4567 or http://www.boostamerica.org

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