Washington, D.C. — Safe Kids Worldwide® and General Motors have been recognized with the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award for the Safe Kids Buckle Up program. Each year, examples of international road safety initiatives that demonstrate outstanding achievement and innovation are given public recognition through these prestigious awards.
The Safe Kids Buckle Up (SKBU) program, supported by General Motors, was recognized for its focus on safety for children in and around the vehicle. The SKBU program has protected millions of children through car seat check-up events and inspection stations, car seat distribution, a vehicular heatstroke prevention campaign, the Spot the Tot initiative, an annual national awareness campaign and additional efforts to reach vulnerable populations.
“I have been most impressed by the work of Safe Kids Worldwide to support road safety,” His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent wrote in a congratulatory letter to Safe Kids. “I am especially delighted to see the success of the ‘Buckle Up’ Programme in the United States and as its development in China and other countries. The long-standing public-private partnership with General Motors is particularly encouraging. I am therefore delighted to recognize this outstanding achievement with my road safety award.”
“Vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death and injury for children in the United States and countless more children are injured or killed around the world,” said Torine Creppy, president of Safe Kids Worldwide. “Thanks to the unwavering support of General Motors, the Buckle Up program has grown into the most comprehensive child passenger safety program in the world. While we are humbled by this award, we look forward to the work and the challenges that remain in our shared mission of protecting every child, no matter where they live.”
Since its inception more than 20 years ago, the SKBU program has hosted more than 156,266 educational events across the country, reaching more than 29 million families. These activities have resulted in more than 784,000 car seats distributed to families in need and more than 2.55 million car seats checked. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, the SKBU program has also evolved to provide life-saving resources and virtual and online education to families.
“The longstanding relationship between Safe Kids Worldwide and General Motors is unique and demonstrates the power of collaboration and commitment to the mission of protecting children on the roads,” said John Capp, Director, Global Vehicle Safety Technology & Strategy at General Motors. “We are excited to continue our life-saving work together to prevent injuries and save the lives of children on the roads.”
About Safe Kids Worldwide
Safe Kids Worldwide is a nonprofit organization working to protect kids on the road, at home and at play. Preventable injuries are the No. 1 cause of death for children in the United States and an epidemic around the world. Safe Kids works with an extensive network of more than 400 coalitions in the U.S. and with partners in more than 30 countries to reduce traffic injuries, drownings, falls, burns, poisonings and more. Join our effort at safekids.org.
About General Motors
General Motors (NYSE:GM) is a global company focused on advancing an all-electric future that is inclusive and accessible to all. At the heart of this strategy is the Ultium battery platform, which powers everything from mass-market to high-performance vehicles. General Motors, its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Baojun and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries can be found at https://www.gm.com.