Silver Spring, MD, May 14, 2024 – Safe Kids Worldwide and State Farm are amplifying their commitment to child passenger safety through the expansion of the impactful Good Neighbor Car Seat Safety Program. This National Road Safety Program Car Seats initiative is designed to significantly improve road safety for children across the nation. Building upon a successful partnership, this expansion aims to provide crucial education, readily available resources, and cultivate lasting behavioral changes within families and communities, all centered around the critical importance of car seat safety.
Since its launch in September 2023, the Good Neighbor Car Seat Safety Program has already made considerable strides in enhancing child safety. Through targeted events, the program has directly engaged with nearly 500 families, providing essential car seat inspections. To date, over 600 car seats have been meticulously checked, and more than 300 brand-new, compliant car seats have been distributed to families in underserved communities where access to these vital safety devices is most needed.
This year marks a significant expansion of the Good Neighbor Car Seat Safety Program’s reach, extending its presence and impact nationwide. The core mission remains steadfast: to provide unwavering support and resources concerning child passenger safety requirements to expectant parents, new parents, dedicated caregivers, and grandparents. A key focus of this expanded program is to proactively engage and support marginalized and underserved communities, ensuring equitable access to car seat safety resources for all children.
The urgent need for national road safety program car seats initiatives is underscored by sobering statistics. Motor vehicle crashes tragically remain a leading cause of death for children aged 1 to 12 in the United States. The implementation of properly used and correctly installed child safety seats is a proven life-saving measure, capable of reducing the risk of injury in a crash by as much as 71 percent. However, alarmingly, data from 2021 reveals that one in three children under the age of 13 who died in a crash were not properly restrained. Furthermore, studies analyzing car seat usage indicate that over half of all child car seats are either used incorrectly or improperly installed, highlighting a critical gap in knowledge and practice.
“Thanks to the invaluable support from State Farm, the Good Neighbor Car Seat Safety Program is demonstrably making a difference. We are witnessing firsthand how increased parental understanding of the paramount importance of buckling up, every ride, every time, is translating into safer journeys for children,” stated Torine Creppy, President of Safe Kids Worldwide. “Despite this progress, preventable tragedies persist. These heartbreaking incidents underscore the continued and urgent need for comprehensive education, proactive community outreach, and widespread awareness campaigns. We are energized to deepen our collaboration with State Farm to deliver essential education and vital safety devices directly to the communities and families who stand to benefit most.”
Sonya Robinson, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility at State Farm, emphasized State Farm’s long-standing commitment to safety, stating, “State Farm is deeply committed to auto safety leadership, recognizing the continuum of safety From Car Seat to Driver’s Seat™. We deeply value our partnership with Safe Kids Worldwide® and commend their dedication to educating families and working tirelessly to ensure more children are kept safe on every road, every day.”
For a comprehensive list of dates and locations for upcoming Good Neighbor Car Seat Safety checkup events, please visit: Good Neighbor Car Seat Safety checkup events.
About Safe Kids Worldwide
Safe Kids Worldwide is a global nonprofit dedicated to protecting children from preventable injuries, a leading cause of death for children ages 0-14. Safe Kids works to build equitable and sustained systems that support injury prevention in all communities. For more information, visit safekids.org.
About State Farm®
For over a century, State Farm’s mission has been to support communities and help people manage risk and recover from the unexpected. State Farm and its affiliates are the largest providers of auto and home insurance in the United States. With over 19,400 agents and 67,000 employees, State Farm serves more than 91 million policies and accounts, offering a wide range of insurance and financial services products. Ranked No. 44 on the 2023 Fortune 500 list, State Farm remains committed to its mission of being a good neighbor in communities across the country. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com.
