WILMINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Representative John Carney today announced a total of $78,399 for the Delaware Department of Transportation from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Child Safety and Child Booster Seats Incentive Grant program for the 2011 fiscal year.

“This important funding will help protect our most precious cargo, our children,” Senator Carper said. “Every year, far too many children die tragically in car accidents as a result of improperly installed and maintained seat restraints. This grant gives Delaware families the resources and training they need to properly install these life-saving devices to make sure that their children are protected.”

“Protecting our children from harm works best when the government and families work together,” Senator Coons said. “As a senator and a father of three young children, I am always looking out for ways to protect our kids. By educating parents on proper child safety procedures in motor vehicles, we will help reduce the number of children who are seriously injured or killed in tragic auto accidents.”

“Properly used child restraints prevent thousands of car accident fatalities each year,” Congressman Carney said. “ Families of all income levels should be able to provide the safety and security their children need in the case of an accident. I’m hopeful that this grant funding will encourage more Delawareans to drive safely andhelp more parents protect their children while on the road.”

Child Safety and Child Booster Seats Incentive Grants are available to states that require any child under eight years of age riding in a passenger motor vehicle be secured in a child restraint, unless the child weighs more than 65 pounds or is 4 feet 9 inches or taller. The grant funds may be used for purchase and distribution of child restraints to low-income families, enforcement of child restraint laws, training on use of child restraints, and educating the public concerning the proper use and installation of child restraints.

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