MACON — The Lanier Child Passenger Safety Task Force recently received a 2014 Buckle Up, America! Award.

The award was presented by the Georgia Traffic Injury Prevention Institute, part of the University of Georgia’s College of Family and Consumer Sciences Extension, and the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.

The Buckle Up, America! Awards recognize individuals, agencies, community and civic groups who work to reduce injuries and prevent fatalities in Georgia through involvement with traffic safety, seat belt and child safety seat awareness initiatives.

The Lanier Child Passenger Safety Task Force was nominated in the community partner category.

The task force was founded in 2007 by child passenger safety technician instructors from several agencies including the Forsyth County Fire Department, Safe Kids Forsyth, Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County and the Georgia State Patrol.

Don Bower, the institute’s project director, presented the awards with Harris Blackwood, director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.

Blackwood said in a statement that the local task force “demonstrated how to effectively address traffic injury prevention and involve other organizations in a community effort.”

Kim Martin, training coordinator with Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County, noted that the local task force members are “dedicated to reducing fatalities in northeast Georgia.”

“Since the task force was created, over 500 public safety personnel have been trained as car seat technicians, including Georgia State Patrol Troop B state troopers,” she said. “Injuries from motor vehicle crashes are the No. 1 killer of kids ages 1 to 14.”