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U.S. Transportation Secretary Slater Praises Motor Company for New "Boost America!" Campaign


American Government Topics:  Rodney E. Slater, Ford Motor Company

U.S. Transportation Secretary Slater Praises Motor Company for New "Boost America!" Campaign

NHTSA
April 19, 2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHTSA 16-00
Wednesday, April 19, 2000
Contact: NHTSA, Cathy Hickey, (202) 366-9550

U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater today praised Ford Motor Company for its new "Boost America!" campaign.

As part of the campaign, Ford, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), will give away one million belt positioning booster seats and educate parents and caregivers on booster seats' importance for children who have outgrown their child safety seats, yet are still too small to fit properly in adult seat belts.

"The U.S. Department of Transportation is delighted to partner with Ford Motor Company on the "Boost America!" campaign to improve safety, which is President Clinton and Vice President Gore's highest transportation priority," said Secretary Slater. "This far-reaching effort will prevent injuries and save lives among our most precious passengers - our children."

According to NHTSA, as many as 20 million children ages 4 to 8 are at risk of being injured or killed in a car crash because they are either improperly restrained for their size and age or are completely unrestrained. Children placed in poorly fitting adult seat belts can suffer serious life-threatening injuries, or risk being ejected from the vehicle altogether in the event of a crash.

"Booster seat use is far too low in this country by children that should be using them," said Acting NHTSA Administrator Rosalyn G. Millman. "In fact, less than 7 percent of those kids who need a boost, get one."

Even the most safety-conscious parents are often unaware of the need for booster seats or the danger their children face when improperly restrained in an adult safety belt. A child's growth requires that restraints change to fit properly and provide the maximum protection.

The appropriate restraints are as follows:

  • Children weighing less than 20 pounds (and up to 1 year old) should be in a rear-facing safety seat placed in the back seat.
  • Children at least 20 pounds and up to 40 pounds (1 to approximately 4 years old) should be in a forward-facing child safety seat placed in the back seat.
  • Children weighing more than 40 pounds who cannot properly fit in an adult safety belt system (usually less than 4 feet 9 inches tall) should be in a booster seat in the back seat, properly restrained.
  • Once a child can fit properly into the adult safety belt system, he or she, up to age 13, should be properly restrained in the back seat.

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