Holden says "Buckle Up Kids"

GM Holden has launched a new safety initiative to improve the security of children in cars, called "Buckle Up Kids".

The new scheme has been kicked off in Victoria and according to Holden has been designed to educate parents and caregivers to correctly adjust and fit child restraints.

Holden aims to educate Victorian families with the Buckle Up Kids program by offering the service to owners of all vehicles, and not just its own models. RACV research shows up to 70 per cent of child restraints are incorrectly fitted.

As part of the program, Holden is holding several seminars at kindergartens and pre-schools where it will offer a free child restraint checking service (see below for details), which Holden's Manager for Vehicle Structure and Safety Integration, Steve Curtis, said was crucial safety factor for children travelling in cars.

"To be fully effective, a child restraint has to be properly fitted. Buckle Up Kids gives practical support and advice to Victorian families so they feel comfortable that the child seat they have bought is also properly installed," explained Curtis.

"In addition to parents, we're also encouraging grandparents and other carers of children to check that they know how a restraint should be fitted in their own vehicles as we know many families share restraints between cars.

"Each time a seat is moved, it must be properly reinstalled in the vehicle."

The various Buckle Up Kids seminars will be attended by professional fitters to show attendees how to properly fit child seats and restraints, complete with written summaries and easy-to-follow instructions.

Upcoming Buckle Up Kids events:

For more details on the Buckle Up Kids initiative, or to apply for a Buckle Up Kids event at your local community group, check out Holden's Buckle Up Kids website.

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