WQXE News

National Child Passenger Safety Week will be observed across the country from September 15 through 21, and Governor Andy Beshear is encouraging Kentuckians to take the basic steps to protect their children when on the road. 

The governor said the state would be joining observation of the week during his Team Kentucky Update Thursday. Beshear said the annual awareness campaign encourages drivers to make sure they are using car seats properly, something the latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show is not always the case.

“It shows that 46 percent of car seats are being misused around the United States,” Beshear said. “I mean, think about that. We have car seats to protect our children. I think everyone wants to protect their child when they’re putting them in a car seat. That means we should really think about the fact that so many of them are being misused, and get the information out there.”

Beshear encouraged Kentuckians to talk with a NHTSA-approved expert to make sure their child is using the right seat, and to attend a car seat check up event which is typically hosted by area fire and health departments.

“To find out more about checkup events and car seat resources, visit KentuckyHighwaySafety.com and click the Safety Programs tab,” Beshear said. “Folks, this won’t take you long. It’s a couple of websites and maybe spending a few minutes at a checkup, but if 46 percent of people are misusing car seats, it might be you, and I know you want what’s best for your child.”

Beshear said on the positive side, seat belt use in Kentucky is up 3.4 percent over the last two years, and highway fatalities are down 15 percent from last year.

The United Way of Central Kentucky celebrated the kickoff of its annual fundraising campaign at the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce’s September luncheon, with United Way President and CEO Christa Shouse delivering the keynotes address and organizations that benefit from United Way support set up at the Pritchard Community Center.

Shouse said the annual campaign is about expanding resources.

“The goal, certainly, is as always to raise more money because there are so many needs out there that we don’t even get to scratch the surface of because the need is that great, but I really want to increase awareness of our presence in the community, what that means, and have more people join up with us, whether they’re giving money or they’re volunteering their time, their expertise, we need all of that,” Shouse said.

Shouse said the organization knows the community is struggling, and while that puts a strain on fundraising it makes community support even more important.

“Through our services and partnering agencies, we’ve seen a 48 percent increase in needs over the year of funding before that, and we’re also seeing fundraising go down, and I think it’s just indicative of the climate we’re in right now,” Shouse said. “People are struggling and we see that, and so we’re here to help make a difference.”

The United Way says services from organizations that rely on United Way support benefited more than 60,000 residents across five counties last year. Shouse said the money raised in the campaign has a direct impact.

“One of the best things that we can boast is that it stays here,” Shouse said. “People want to know where their money goes and I’m here to tell you it stays here, and we’re very open and transparent about what we do with those dollars.”

Visit www.unitedwayck.org or contact the United Way of Central Kentucky to learn more.