Governor's Office Of Highway Safety Caravan Rolls to Bibb, Peach Counties

Governor's Office Of Highway Safety Caravan Rolls to Bibb, Peach Counties

Multiple Events Planned to Promote Child Passenger Safety 

MACON, GA (Thursday, September 5, 2013) – On July 1, 2011, Georgia established a new child passenger safety law requiring children under the age of eight to be properly secured in the back seat of a motor vehicle in a car seat or booster seat. This law not only increased child restraint requirements for Georgia's children, but also created the need for parents and caregivers to reeducate themselves on how to transport children properly and safely.

In recognition of National Child Passenger Safety Week, September 15-21, the 2013 Traffic Injury Prevention Caravan will visit Bibb and Peach Counties from September 9-11. The Caravan is a cooperative effort between The Children's Hospital at The Medical Center of Central Georgia (MCCG), MCCG's Kohl's Kids Safety Zone, local law enforcement, Bibb County school administrators and teachers, the University of Georgia Traffic Injury Prevention Institute, the Georgia Department of Public Health, Office of Injury Prevention, Bibb County Health Department, the Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) and many other agencies.

"We are so excited to be rejoining our partners for such an important event. Our children are our most precious cargo and we need to make sure they're safe and secure every time they get in a car,” said GOHS Director Harris Blackwood.

A week of events designed to increase safety awareness will include law enforcement check points, child safety seat checks, educational classes for caregivers, and school safety presentations.

Monday, September 9

• The Caravan will host a car seat and child passenger safety presentation at L.H. Williams Elementary School, 352 Pursley Street in Macon, beginning at 8:00 a.m.
• The Children's Hospital and Georgia Traffic Injury Prevention Institute will host a rollover simulation at Tatnall Square Academy, 111 Trojan Trail in Macon, beginning at 8:00 a.m. All students will attend the rollover simulation and participate in an impaired vision demonstration to learn firsthand the dangers of driving while texting or while intoxicated.
• At 12:00 p.m. at Macon City Hall, Macon Mayor Robert Reichert will proclaim September 9 National Child Safety Day in Macon.
• At 1:00 p.m., The Children's Hospital and Georgia Traffic Injury Prevention Institute will host a second rollover simulation, at Northeast High School, 1646 Upper River Road in Macon.

Tuesday, September 10

• The Children's Hospital and Georgia Traffic Injury Prevention Institute will host a rollover simulation at Peach County High School, 900 Campus Drive in Ft. Valley, beginning at 1:30 p.m. All high school students will attend the rollover simulation and participate in an impaired vision demonstration to learn firsthand the dangers of driving while texting or while intoxicated.
• The Caravan will host a car seat and child passenger safety presentation at Byron Elementary School, 202 New Dunbar Road in Byron, beginning at 8:00 a.m.
• At 12:00 p.m., Byron Mayor Larry Collinsand Ft. Valley Mayor John Stumbowill proclaim September 10 National Child Safety Day in Peach Countyat The Medical Center of Peach County, 1960 Highway 247 Connector in Byron.

Wednesday, September 11

• Representatives will speak to students at Stratford Academy, 6010 Peake Road in Macon, beginning at 8:00 a.m.Students at the elementary schools will learn about proper booster seat use and school bus safety while high school students participate in the rollover simulation.
• The Children's Hospital at MCCG, in partnership with their Kohl's Kids Safety Zone injury prevention program and the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, will host a Child Passenger Safety Check from 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Northway Church on 5915 Zebulon Road (next to Walmart). This is a public event, and the entire community is encouraged to attend.

“We have found, through child seat checks similar to the one that will be held Wednesday, that three out of four car seats are not installed correctly. It is the hope of all those involved in the 2013 Traffic Injury Prevention Caravan that our community will continue to work together to ensure that our children remain safe and injury-free,” said Ashley Lord, Kohl's Kids Safety Zone Coordinator for The Children's Hospital at MCCG.

The Caravan is supported by a grant from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.