NAACP joins the SAFE KIDS Campaign to put more children in car seats

New Crisis, The, Nov/Dec 2001 by Petrie, Phil W

The NAACP continues its partnership with General Motors and the National SAFE KIDS campaign to distribute car seats to needy families. On Oct. 25, the association hosted a conference for a nationwide car safety seat distribution campaign in the Roy Wilkins Auditorium at NAACP national headquarters in Baltimore. General Motors, the United Auto Workers (UAW) and the National SAFE KIDS campaign were co-sponsors.

On Oct. 27, NAACP branches followed up with clinics on the proper installation and use of car seats. Thousands of seats were then given to low-income families attending the clinics. The NAACP began the program in 1998, with the Detroit branch playing a major role. Since then, 50,000 seats have been distributed nationwide through the NAACP.

According to the campaign, each year approximately 1,800 children ages 14 and under are killed as occupants in motor vehicles, and more than 280,000 are injured.

- Phil W. Petrie