THP Receives 1,000 Stuffed Bears From ATT Pioneers

Nashville, Tennessee — Volunteers with the AT&T Pioneers Nashville Life Member Club donated 1,000 stuffed “Buckle Bears” to the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) in hopes of reminding parents to properly secure their children in cars, trucks and other vehicles on Tennessee roads.  The bears, along with crayons and coloring books, were presented to THP Colonel Mike Walker and members of the Tennessee Highway Patrol at the AT&T Tower in downtown Nashville this morning at 10:00 a.m.

Tennessee State Troopers assigned to counties in the Lawrenceburg and Nashville districts will each received five or six bears to carry in his or her patrol unit.  The Troopers will give the bears to children whom they discover are not properly restrained while riding in a vehicle.

“The Department of Safety is truly excited about receiving these bears,” said Safety Commissioner Dave Mitchell.  “I hope they will serve as a reminder to children and their parents or guardians that it is imperative they buckle up each time they get into the car.  We appreciate all the hard work and effort that went into making them.”

The Buckle Bears were handmade by retired volunteer members of the AT&T Pioneers Nashville Life Member Club.  It took 41 members 3,651 hours of volunteer time to stuff and sew all the bears.

“We are proud to continue working with the Tennessee Highway Patrol to educate parents and children of the importance of buckling up,” said Gary Buchanan, Buckle Bear project manager. “Giving back to our communities is a core value at AT&T and the AT&T Pioneers.”

The bears have shoulder belts and buckles that were donated by State Farm Insurance.  The coloring books were created by Doralynn Lowe.  Ms. Lowe is a Tennessee native who currently resides on St. Simmons Island in Georgia where she is a painter.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children. Last year, 14 children under the age of five were killed in car crashes in Tennessee.  One-third of them (4 out of twelve) were not restrained. Two were pedestrians.  Research has shown that child safety seats reduce the chance of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants (less than one year old) and by 54 percent for toddlers (one to four years old) in passenger cars.

“We get highly upset when people don’t take care of or feed or clean children when they should.  That’s child abuse,” stated Col. Mike Walker.  “Let me tell you, there’s no difference in that and transporting a child down the highway unrestrained.  That’s child abuse.”

The distribution of the Buckle Bears and coloring books comes at a time when children are heading back to school.  The Tennessee Highway Patrol is dedicating approximately 850 work hours to enforce its 3rd annual Back to School Enforcement Effort.   Troopers, including members of Command Staff, will closely be watching school zones, buses and passenger vehicles and cracking down on motorists who disregard laws designed to protect children, including properly restraining children in vehicles.

AT&T Pioneers are employees and retirees who volunteer time to enhance the communities where they work and live.  Their main focus is to provide immediate help when it is needed, along with education and community programs that improve quality of life.  There are seven Pioneer councils and 21 Life Member Clubs across the state of Tennessee.  More information about the AT&T Pioneers is available at http://www.att.com/gen/corporate-citizenship?pid=7737

For more facts, figures and safety tips, please visit our website: www.tennessee.gov/safety.

For Further Information Contact:

Gary Buchanan, President                                              Leslie Eatherly, Public Affairs
AT&T Pioneers Nashville Life Member Club               State Farm Insurance
(615) 973-3927                                                                 (615) 692-6189
buchang@bellsouth.net                                                  leslie.eatherly.ghcz@statefarm.com