NADA's 'Boost for Safety' Campaign Kickoff in Texas Draws Large Turnout NHTSA Administrator Runge Praises Dealer Initiative

PASADENA, Texas, Sept. 24 -- The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) yesterday launched its national "Boost for Safety" campaign to raise awareness of how to protect children in automobile crashes.

"Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children between four and eight years old," said National Highway Traffic Safety Administration chief and keynote speaker Dr. Jeffrey Runge at a press conference. "This campaign will raise awareness of the life-saving benefits of child booster seats."

The campaign kickoff event was held at Monument Chevrolet in Pasadena, Texas, and was attended by nearly 500 people, including area parents, high school students, and law enforcement officials. SAFE KIDS of Greater Houston inspected 113 child safety seats -- a record for the organization. Texas was chosen to launch the campaign because 61 percent of children aged four to seven who are killed in auto crashes statewide are unbelted -- nine percentage points above the national average.

The event was designed to highlight the October booster seat events to be conducted by dealers nationwide as part of the campaign.

"As dealers, we are in a unique position to deliver life-saving messages to the driving public," said NADA Vice Chairman Jack Kain. "And that's what we're doing."

NADA has provided its 20,000 dealer members with step-by-step guidance on hosting a child safety seat inspection event using certified technicians.

For more information on booster seat safety and the campaign, visit http://www.nada.org/boostforsafety.

The National Automobile Dealers Association, founded in 1917 and based in McLean, VA, represents approximately 20,000 franchised new car and truck dealers holding nearly 43,000 separate franchises, domestic and import.