September 22, 2022
Transurban, the operator of the 495, 95 and 395 Express Lanes, Safe Kids Fairfax County and State Farm Agent Kenya Z. Knight today announced they are hosting a free Child Passenger Seat (CPS) safety check on Thursday, October 6, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Gum Springs Community Center in the 95 Express Lanes corridor.
The event will leverage a community partnership between transportation, healthcare and insurance companies to expand the reach of free CPS inspections, typically offered by first responders. The partners aim to help children in Fairfax County stay safe while in the car by educating parents and caregivers.
Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will deliver a range of services at the event:
Transurban also announced it will donate resources for the checkup event that will help to keep the youngest citizens in Fairfax County safe. From infant to preteen, these free resources will provide local families with hundreds of years of child passenger protection.
“Working together to improve road safety strengthens the communities we serve, which is core to Transurban’s mission,” said Amanda Baxter, senior vice president, Virginia market and operations at Transurban North America. “By collaborating with community partners like Safe Kids Fairfax County and State Farm Agent Kenya Knight, we can support our neighbors with resources to protect children on the road.”
Research from Transurban finds that 74% of people in the Greater Washington Area are driving with self-installed car seats or boosters — critical child safety products that haven’t been placed or inspected by a certified technician. This is especially concerning since 46% of car and booster seats are used incorrectly, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“We appreciate Transurban’s investment in child passenger safety, adding to our common goal of keeping our kids safe,” said Linda Watkins, Safe Kids Fairfax County Coalition Coordinator. “With Transurban’s and State Farm’s generous contributions, we are supporting our communities with awareness, education and tangible change.”
“State Farm is excited to contribute child seat inspections for the CPS safety check, building on our commitment to safety and community,” said Kenya Knight, State Farm Insurance Agent. “Following Child Passenger Safety Week, we are excited to continue the momentum with seat safety checks and educational resources.”
The Gum Springs Community Center is located at 8100 Fordson Road in Alexandria.
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About the Express Lanes operated by Transurban
The 395, 95, and 495 Express Lanes provide drivers in Northern Virginia with faster and more predictable travel options. The Express Lanes stretch more than 53 miles through northern Virginia. Thanks to a public-private partnership between the Virginia Department of Transportation and Transurban, the Express Lanes give drivers reliable travel choices on the region’s most congested roadways.
About Safe Kids
Safe Kids Worldwide is a nonprofit organization working to protect kids from preventable injuries, the number one cause of death for children in the United States. Safe Kids works with an extensive network of more than 400 coalitions in the U.S., including Fairfax County, and with partners in more than 30 countries to reduce traffic injuries, drownings, falls, burns, poisonings, and more. Safe Kids also engages in advocacy efforts to make kids safer at the federal, state, and local levels. Since 1988, Safe Kids has helped reduce the U.S. childhood death rate from unintentional injury by nearly 60 percent. Learn more at SafeKids.org
About State Farm
For 100 years, the mission of State Farm has been and continues to be to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams. State Farm and its affiliates are the largest providers of auto and home insurance in the United States. For more information, please visit StateFarm.com