Saved by the Belt Award
Friday, December 21, 2001 Raleigh

Mr. Wayne Richard Marks of Nashville, NC, will receive the Saved by the Belt award from the Governor's Highway Safety Program on Friday, December 21, 2001, at 10:00 a.m. at Highway Patrol Troop C Headquarters in Raleigh. The award is presented to people who have survived automobile crashes because they used their seatbelts. In preparing for his child's birth, Mr. Marks stopped by Troop C Headquarters during the month of August and received instructions on how to properly install his child restraint system. Trooper Chris Morris inspected the child seat to ensure the seat was installed correctly. On November 17, 2001, Mr. Marks and his child Kaylan were involved in a traffic collision in Raleigh at Capital Boulevard and Millbrook Road. The vehicle overturned as a result of the collision, but Kaylan was not injured. Mr. Marks credits the North Carolina Highway Patrol and Trooper Morris for the safety of his child and is encouraging all parents to check their child restraint seats to ensure they are installed correctly.

Colonel R. W. Holden, Commander of the Highway Patrol, will also speak to remind motorists that traffic collisions are the number one cause of death among children age 14 and under in North Carolina. With so many motorists taking to the highways instead of flying this holiday season, traffic is expected to be heavy. The purpose of the press conference is to raise awareness of the importance of following North Carolina's strict laws requiring children to be in either child safety seats or seat belts. We will have child safety seat experts there to demonstrate for you the proper installation and placement of a safety seat.

The press conference will be held at 10:00 a.m. at Troop C Headquarters. The address is 1831 Blue Ridge Road. If you need directions, please call 919-733-3911. We encourage you to join us and help tell the public how we can work together to save children's lives during this holiday time of travel. If you have any questions, please call my office at 919-733-5027. Thank you.