90+ New Jersey Dealerships Participate in Child Safety Campaign

07/14/2009

DCF Partners with More Than 90 Car & Truck Dealerships to Promote WOODBRIDGE, N.J. – Department of Children and Families (DCF) Commissioner Kimberly Ricketts announced today, at the Miller Buick Pontiac GMC dealership in Woodbridge, this summer’s launch of New Jersey’s “Not Even for a Minute” public awareness campaign. This important campaign urges parents and caregivers to never leave children unattended in a vehicle, where temperatures can quickly rise to dangerous levels, especially in warmer summer months. “We hope this campaign and the department’s efforts will help avoid vehicle-related tragedies from happening in New Jersey,” Governor Jon S. Corzine said. “I urge all New Jerseyans to help us spread this message that can save a child’s life this summer.” “We are reminding parents that an unspeakable tragedy can happen in a manner of minutes,” DCF Commissioner Ricketts said. “No matter how busy caregivers get, they must never leave a child in a vehicle without a parent or caregiver.” A child left alone in a vehicle, even for a short time, is in danger of abduction, injury, dehydration and even death. Approximately 40 children die each year in the United States, and hundreds more are injured after being left unattended in a vehicle, according to a study published by Pediatrics, the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. One child died in New Jersey after being left in a vehicle last summer.  That same study noted that the temperature in a car can rise upwards of 19 degrees in just 10 minutes. The temperature inside a car can get dangerously hot, even in moderate weather with the windows slightly down.   DCF has partnered with the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers (NJCAR) to help spread this lifesaving message to families all across the State. Through this partnership, over 90 dealerships have stepped up to participate in this campaign and offered to distribute posters, strip cards, and newly developed car window clings in both English and Spanish.  A list of participating dealerships can be found below. “New car and truck retailers throughout New Jersey have always been among the first to lend their support when a community needs to promote an important message and none is more important than the safety of our children,” James B. Appleton, President of NJ CAR, said. “Dealers want consumers and their families to enjoy their vehicles and there is no better way than to promote car safety, from proper car-seat installation and wearing seatbelts to the dangers of intense temperatures that an enclosed vehicle can reach during the summer months. NJ CAR is very proud of the dealers participating in this very important program.” “Not Even For a Minute” outlines tips for parents to help keep kids safe around cars, including:   Never leave a child unattended in a car. Not even for a minute. Aways lock your car and secure the keys so that your kids can’t get to them. Warn your children about playing in and around cars. Install a trunk release mechanism so that kids can’t get trapped inside the trunk. Get your kids out of the car first, and then worry about unloading the groceries and items out of the car. Another key partner in this effort is the Department of Law and Public Safety’s (LPS) Division of Highway Traffic Safety, who have agreed to distribute materials at various child car seat safety checkpoints throughout the summer.  “As you’re traveling this summer, make sure your child is properly restrained in a federally-approved car safety seat, booster seat or seat belt and, when you reach your destination, immediately remove your child from the vehicle,” said Division of Highway Traffic Safety Director Pam Fischer.  “When re-entering the vehicle, make sure the car or booster seat isn’t hot to the touch.  Never put a child into a seat that has been sitting in a hot car for any period of time without allowing it to properly cool down.” DCF has also distributed safety campaign materials to the new Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC), AAA Clubs of New Jersey, state’s Family Success Centers, licensed child care centers, parent-teacher organizations, the New Jersey League of Municipalities and NJ 2-1-1.  In addition to these efforts underway, DCF is seeking community support to spread this important message. Community organizations and groups – such as churches, neighborhood associations, local businesses, municipalities, and school groups – are urged to help the state raise awareness and prevent tragedies this summer. If you or your organization is interested in helping DCF spread the message of car safety this summer, please contact the Office of Communications at 609-292-0422 and visit our Web site at: http://www.nj.gov/dcf/safety/campaigns/car.html.   ### Not Even For A Minute Participating Dealerships Autosport Honda 1051 Route 22 Bridgewater, NJ 08807 Belle Mead Garage 2454 Route 206 South Belle Mead, NJ 08502 Beyer Bros. Corp. 109 Broad Avenue Fairview, NJ 07022 Bob Maguire Chevrolet 840 Route 206 Bordentown, NJ 08505 Borough Chrysler Jeep 168 Hamburg Turnpike Wayne, NJ 07470 Bridgewater Volvo 1028 Route 22 Somerville, NJ 08876 Calerini Pontiac 385 Route 46 East Budd Lake, NJ 07828 Cambria Automotive Companies, Inc. 116 Talmadge Road Edison, NJ 08817 Cherry Hill Imports 2261 West Route 70 Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 Chrysler of Paramus 234 Route 4 East Paramus, NJ 07652 Circle BMW 500 Route 36 East Eatontown, NJ 07724 City Auto Park 4395 Route 130 South Burlington, NJ 08016 Coast Honda 2110 Route 35 Sea Girt, NJ 08750 Colonial Auto Mall 1121 Ocean Avenue Lakewood, NJ 08701 Crane Chevrolet 999 Route 46 Clifton, NJ 07013 Dayton Toyota 2291 Route 130 at 522 Dayton, NJ 08810 DeFelice Chevrolet 2506 Route 88 Point Pleasant, NJ 08742 Dodge Hyundai of Paramus 315 Route 4 West Paramus, NJ 07652 Douglas Buick Pontiac GMC 491 Morris Avenue Summit, NJ 07901 Douglas Infiniti 430 Morris Avenue Summit, NJ 07901 Downs Ford Lincoln Mercury Inc. 360 Highway 37 East Toms River, NJ 08753 East Coast Toyota 85 Route 17 South WoodRidge, NJ 07075 Englewood Auto Group 386 Grand Avenue Englewood, NJ 07631 Frank’s Pontiac GMC 325 Orient Way Lyndhurst, NJ 07071 Galaxy Toyota 750 Route 36 Eatontown, NJ 07724 Gearhart Chevrolet 281 East Route 46 Denville, NJ 07834 Globe Motor Car 1230 Bloomfield Avenue Fairfield, NJ 07004 Honda of Toms River Route 37 Toms River, NJ 07853 Honda Universe 1085 Route 88 Lakewood, NJ 08701 Hudson Honda 6608 Kennedy Boulevard West New York, NJ 07093 Hunterdon BMW 1080 Route 22 West Lebanon, NJ 08833 Irwin Lincoln Mercury Mazda 4000 Route 9 South Freehold, NJ 07728 Johnson Dodge Chrysler Jeep 481 Route 46 @ Naughright Road Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 07840 Kevil Chevrolet 412 Route 46 Budd Lake, NJ 07828 Konner Chevrolet 950 Bloomfield Avenue West Caldwell, NJ 07006 Larson Ford Suzuki 1150 Ocean Avenue Lakewood, NJ 08701 Lawrence Lexus 2630 Route 1 North Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 Lester Glenn Auto Group 101 Route 37 East Toms River, NJ 08753 Lexus of Bridgewater 1550 Route 22 East Bridgewater, NJ 08807 Liberty Hyundai 305 Route 17 North Mahwah, NJ 07430 Liberty Subaru 66 Kinderkamack Road Oradell, NJ 07649 Lilliston Chrysler Dodge Jeep 1501 North Second Street Millville, NJ 08332 Lincoln Mercury of Wayne 1910 Route 23 North Wayne, NJ 07470 Madison Honda 280 Main Street Madison, NJ 07940 Mahwah Honda 99 Franklin Turnpike Mahwah, NJ 07430 Malouf Buick Pontiac 1975 U.S. Highway 1 North Brunswick, NJ 08902 Malouf Chevrolet Cadillac 1950 U.S. Highway 1 North Brunswick, NJ 08902 Malouf Ford Lincoln Mercury 2210 U.S. Highway 1 @ Commerce Blvd. North Brunswick, NJ 08902 Manahawkin Chrysler Dodge 500 Route 72 Manahawkin, NJ 08050 Matt Blatt Suzuki 6211 Black Horse Pike Egg Harbor, NJ 08234 Meadowlands Nissan 45 Route 17 South Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 07604 Medford Ford 186 Route 70 Medford, NJ 08055 Mercedes Benz of Cherry Hill 2151 Route 70 West Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 Metro Honda 540 Route 440 North Jersey City, NJ 07305 Miller Buick Pontiac GMC 920 Route 1 North Woodbridge, NJ 07095 Miller Ford Lincoln Mercury 596 Route 38 Lumberton, NJ 08048 Miller Subaru 1592 Route 38 Lumberton, NJ 08048 Mt. Ephraim Chrysler Dodge 620 North Black Horse Pike Mt. Ephraim, NJ 08059 Multi Chevrolet 2675 Route 22 West Union, NJ 07083 Multi Subaru 2685 Route 22 West Union, NJ 07083 Nissan of Bergenfield 316 South Washington Avenue Bergenfield, NJ 07621 Perry-Egan Chevrolet, Inc. 1601 Simpson Avenue Ocean City, NJ 08226 Pointe Pontiac Buick GMC 91 North Virginia Avenue Penns Grove, NJ 08069 Precision Acura 3001 Route 1 South Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 Rassas Pontiac Buick, Inc. 395 Broad Street Red Bank, NJ 07701 Ray Catena of Union, LLC 2585 Route 22 West Union, NJ 07083 Red Bank Volvo 100 Newman Springs Road Red Bank, NJ 07701 Rossi Chevrolet 360 Route 31 Washington, NJ 07882 Royal Cadillac Hummer 334 Columbia Turnpike Florham Park, NJ 07932 Royal Pontiac Buick GMC 355 Route 23 Sussex, NJ 07461 Saturn of Bordentown 237 Route 130 Bordentown, NJ 08505 Saturn of Green Brook 270 Route 22 West Green Brook, NJ 08812 Saturn of Toms River 1199 Route 37 East Toms River, NJ 08753 Saturn of Union 2675 Route 22 West Union, NJ 07083 Schumacher Chevrolet 8 Main Street Little Falls, NJ 07424 Smith Motor Company 359 Route 31 South Washington, NJ 07882 Team Nissan, Inc. 1715 South Delsea Drive Vineland, NJ 08360 Town & Country Motors 701 Highway 202-206 North Bridgewater, NJ 08807 Towne Hyundai 3170 route 10 West Denville, NJ 07834 Towne Toyota 1499 Route 46 West Ledgewood, NJ 07852 Toyota Universe 1485 Route 46 East Little Falls, NJ 07424 Tri-County Lexus 700 Route 46 West Little Falls, NJ 07424 Verner-Cadby Ford 1240 Bloomfield Avenue Fairfield, NJ 07004 Warnock Dodge Chrysler Jeep 200 Bloomfield Avenue Morristown, NJ 07960 Warnock Dodge Chrysler Jeep 175 Route 10 East Hanover, NJ 07936 Warnock Ford 170 Ridgedale Avenue Morristown, NJ 07960 Warnock Lexus 130 Route 10 Whippany, NJ 07981 Werner Dodge 525 Highway 36 Belford, NJ 07718 Wigder Chevrolet, Inc. 606 Route 10 West Livingston, NJ 07039 Windsor Nissan 590 Route 130 South East Windsor, NJ 08520