During the Tennessee Highway Safety Office's Annual Awards ceremony for the law enforcement agencies in the Cumberland Region, numerous agencies and personnel were honored for their actions and service, including Tennessee Deputy of the Year and Officer of the Year. This year, the staff of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Safe Journey Program was recognized for their dedicated service and willingness to support other law enforcement agencies and organizations throughout East Tennessee and North Carolina.
HCSO Safe Journey Technicians’ Becky Campbell and Sharon Patten were on hand to receive the Cumberland Region “Making a Difference” Child Passenger Safety Award for their role in making the Safe Journey Program one of the best in the state. The HCSO “Safe Journey” program addresses occupant protection and the correct use of child passenger safety devices (car seats) through public and professional education and awareness.
Safe Journey is an education outlet for community organizations and agencies interested in offering child passenger safety information and education to families and care givers of young children. The staff of Safe Journey conducts weekly car seat checkpoints in Hamilton County and surrounding areas.
Motor vehicle crashes continue to be the leading cause of unintentional injury and death to children under the age of 14. Child restraints (car seats) reduce the risk of death in passenger cars by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers. Booster seats reduce the risk of injury by 59% compared to seat belts alone.
According to Safe Kids Worldwide, 4 out of 5 cars seats are not used correctly. The Center for Disease Control states, “There is strong evidence that child-safety laws, safety seat distribution, and education programs are effective in increasing safety seat use.”Each member of the Safe Journey team are certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians.
The “Safe Journey” program is funded through a grant from the Tennessee Highway Safety Office, and administered through the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. The HCSO Safe Journey Program conducts weekly car seat checkpoints throughout Hamilton County the first (4) Tuesday’s of each month.