Good afternoon. I'm Gene Conti, Chief Deputy Transportation Secretary.
It's my pleasure to be here and to convey the good wishes of Secretary Lyndo Tippett and Governor Mike Easley, who has issued a proclamation declaring this North Carolina Child Passenger Safety Week.
This is the fifth consecutive year we've gathered during Valentine's Week to remind parents and caregivers about the lifesaving value of seat belts and child safety seats.
All drivers must serve as good role models by buckling up on each and every trip, and we need them to ensure that all children are safely restrained.
And we take this opportunity to remind them that if they don't do that simply because it's the right thing - they should do it to avoid associated penalties.
Drivers who allow children under 16 to ride unrestrained, regardless of their relationship to that child, face getting two penalty points on their driver's license.
It's become a sort of tradition to announce the state's Valentine's gift to our youngest motorists at this annual event - the gift of free child passenger safety seats for families who otherwise could not afford to buy them.
We're doing that again, but we've got an even bigger announcement this year.
While North Carolina has committed nearly $190,000 to provide infant and convertible safety seats to our neediest families, our efforts are getting an extraordinary boost this year from "Boost America" and several key partners.
"Boost America," a program of the Ford Motor Company, is leading a nationwide effort to increase awareness of - and use of - booster seats.
These seats provide vital protection to children who have outgrown convertible safety seats but are not yet big enough to safely travel in adult seat belts.
This vulnerable group has been labeled "the forgotten children," but they won't be forgotten in North Carolina.
Thanks to "Boost America," 25,000 of our children will get the protection they need when traveling our roadways.
That's right: "Boost America" is proving 25,000 booster seats - just like the ones you see here on display - for use by North Carolina children.
They can't be used by our youngest or smallest motorists, but they are ideal for children who weigh between 40 and 80 pounds and who are between 42 and 57 inches tall.
Generally speaking, that means children between the ages of 4 and 8.
I'm pleased to have the opportunity to recognize Brenda Hines, Ford Motor Company's Manager of U.S. Regional Operations.
Ms. Hines will tell you more about Ford's commitment to child passenger safety in a few minutes, but on behalf of all North Carolina families, I want to thank you and Ford for this extraordinary gift to our children.
Child passenger safety technicians across our state are ready to help these children and their families - many of whom have already been pre-screened to receive booster seats by representatives of the United Way.
I'd also like to take a moment to thank Jim Morrison, president of United Way of North Carolina, for directing his local agencies to make this project a top priority.
Because of your commitment, thousands of North Carolina children will travel more safely.
At this time it is my distinct pleasure to introduce Mrs. Mary Easley.
She's here not just as First Lady, but also as First Mom.
It's been a few years since her son has needed the protection of a safety seat, but Mrs. Easley is well aware of the challenges faced by many North Carolina families who struggle to provide safe and happy futures for their children.
These seats will make a difference in the lives of countless children, who will be spared from the potential devastation of crash-related injury.
Mrs. Easley, will you please come forward?
(Mrs. Easley explains the need for all children to buckle up, and the specific importance of transitioning to booster seats. Introduces a pre-screened family who will receive a seat following the press event.)
Thank you, Mrs. Easley.
We are grateful for your support and for being such a positive role model to North Carolina families.
Our state's more than 700 certified technicians are ready to help all families be as safe as they can be on our roadways.
The clinics that will be held this week, and in coming weeks and months, are not limited to low-income families who qualify for the "Boost America" seats.
Everyone with questions or concerns about child passenger safety is encouraged to attend a clinic or request an appointment with a local technician.
Those few minutes could mean the difference between life and death in a traffic crash.
Many of our technicians gathered last week in Wilmington for the second annual North Carolina Child Passenger Safety Technical Conference.
I was proud to be part of that conference, and excited to see the commitment demonstrated by the people we count on to help keep our families safe.
Without the man I'm about to introduce, however, only a fraction of them would have received the training necessary to earn national certification. Insurance Commissioner Jim Long is a key partner in the effort to help all children travel safely on our roadways.
His staff is responsible for coordinating the training of dozens of new technicians each year.
Through his SAFE KIDS Buckle Up coalitions, and an ever-increasing number of fire departments that offer permanent child passenger safety fitting stations, he has established a remarkable network of people ready to help North Carolina families.
Allow me to present Jim Long, State Fire Marshal and Commissioner of Insurance. . .
(Insurance Commissioner Jim Long will speak on the department's longstanding commitment to CPS training and its current role in connecting families with technicians in their area.)
At this time, I'd like to ask Ford's Brenda Hines and United Way's Jim Morrison to make brief remarks.
(Brenda Hines/Jim Morrison give brief remarks about their programs and dedicated staff.)
Thank you. Now that we understand how these lifesaving seats will be provided to needy North Carolina families, I'd like to introduce someone who can talk about why all families need to make certain their children are properly restrained on each and every trip.
Col. Richard Holden, commander of the State Highway Patrol, has about 70 nationally certified child passenger safety technicians and more than 1,100 state-trained technicians in his ranks.
In addition to education and outreach, however, he has made enforcement of North Carolina's seat belt and child passenger safety laws a top priority with his troops.
And he's taken a tough stand when children have been victimized by a driver's failure to ensure they were properly buckled.
Sadly, such a crash occurred here in Wake County just a few weeks ago. Colonel, please tell us more about it.
(Col Richard Holden describes Wake County crash in which an incorrectly restrained 3-year-old died, and details CPS law.)
Thank you, Colonel. I hope our families understand that they don't need to wait for Child Passenger Safety Week to get advice on traveling safely with their children.
Numerous clinics will be held statewide this week, but countless more will be held in coming weeks and months - and individual appointments can be made for those unable to attend organized events.
Parents and caregivers with questions about the installation and use of child safety seats or booster seats can get expert advice any time from local law enforcement, fire & rescue personnel, or child health professionals.
And remember to contact your local United Way agency to learn if your child qualifies for a free "Boost America" booster seat.
At this time, I'd like to ask Mrs. Easley and the Millsap family to join me as we walk to their car to watch a nationally-certified child passenger safety technician install their new booster seat. The media is welcome to join us, or to meet other families participating in the clinic going on behind us.
I'd like to thank everyone involved in making this event a success today - notably "Boost America" and United Way, but also the staffs of the Governor's Highway Safety Program and the Department of Insurance.
And please - remember that when you leave here today, and whenever you drive your car - buckle up, and make sure everyone with you is properly buckled up, too. Thank you.