Speech

SAFE KIDS Campaign

Remarks of Governor Judy Martz
Power Chevrolet - Helena
5/9/2003

***Check Against Delivery***

It’s great to be here with my friend Mike – Senator – Cooney – head of Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies – and all of you to help kick-off the National Safe Kids Campaign in Montana.

Keeping our kids safe is one of the most important things we can each do and each of us has a responsibility to do just that.

I’d like to share with you a letter I received just the other day from Doctor Martin Eichelberger,President of the National Safe Kids Campaign…..

“On behalf of the National Safe Kids Campaign and our more than 300 state and local coalitions nationwide, I want to thank you for signing SB 217, an upgrade to Montana’s child passenger safety act into law.”

As you know, motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths among children ages 14 and under. Each year, more than 1,650 child occupants ages 14 and under die in motor vehicle crashes and more than 228,000 are injured as occupants in motor vehicles.

Unrestrained children are more likely to be injured, to suffer more severe injuries and to die in motor vehicle crashes than children who are unrestrained.”

As we come together today to kick-off our SAFE KIDS Campaign in Montana, we should note that strong occupant protection laws that are consistently enforced are one of the best ways to prevent injuries and save children’s lives.

Montana’s new law --- SB217 --- will require that children ages 6 and under and weighing 60 pounds or less be properly restrained in a child safety seat. This will go a long way to keeping kids safe on the roads.

And for us adults, don’t forget to buckle up! We are responsible for educating our kids and setting a good example for them.

Thank you for inviting me to join this campaign. Have a great day.