National Road Tour Seeks to Prevent Vehicle Rollovers, Injuries and Deaths
WASHINGTON, July 23 -- "Americans have heard the warnings about the danger of rollovers. Now, they need to hear how they can avoid these deadly crashes, and we're going to be the messenger," the head of automotive supplier Continental Teves said today. He estimated that 5,000-6,000 deaths and $35 billion in economic costs could be prevented each year if electronic stability control was widely available in the U.S.
"Ten years ago, air bags for frontal crash protection were just beginning to become available on all makes and models. Today, it's standard equipment and together with safety belts thousands of lives are being saved and tens of thousands of serious injuries prevented. It's time to phase in electronic stability control to help prevent rollovers and other serious crashes," company President and CEO Bill Kozyra said.
At a news conference in Washington, D.C., Kozyra said, "Consumers need to be informed about its remarkable ability to prevent crashes from happening. Once informed, they will demand it on their next new vehicle."
He unveiled the company's Safely There mobile exhibit, the focal point of a multi-million dollar company commitment to crash prevention, especially rollovers. It will travel to major cities around the country to demonstrate electronic stability control. It features interactive, multi-media displays, and visitors can even "test drive" a vehicle with/without electronic stability control in a sophisticated, Disney-like driving simulator.
Kozyra predicted that visitors would be impressed after the experience because electronic stability control makes such a difference in how a vehicle handles during unexpected and often dangerous driving maneuvers. "One automotive writer said it was like having an invisible hand come to his rescue. I think most consumers would like to have that kind of help if something starts to go wrong."
"While only 3 percent of crashes in the U.S. are rollovers, they are particularly deadly events, accounting for 23 percent of the annual death toll," Kozyra said. "The evidence is compelling that electronic stability control could prevent many of these tragedies."
Studies of crash data in Germany indicated vehicles with electronic stability control were involved in almost 30% fewer single vehicle crashes. Single vehicle crashes account for more than over 40% of motor vehicle fatalities in the U.S. A reduction of 30% could save more than 5,000 lives per year. The same study reports a 15% reduction in all crashes which could save Americans as much as $35 billion a year. Studies in Japan and Sweden showed similar results. These studies were conducted by very credible sources -- Mercedes, Toyota, The Swedish National Road Commission, and DEKRA, a renowned German Automotive Research firm.
"But unfortunately, only about 6 percent of vehicles in the U.S. now offer electronic stability control, and mostly only on expensive vehicles," Kozyra said.
Kozyra explained that motor vehicle safety should to be viewed in three phases. Phase One is avoidance of dangerous situations. Phase Two involves maintaining control after trouble begins. And, Phase Three is protection when a crash is unavoidable (seat belts, air bags, etc.).
"Preventing a crash from happening always should be the primary goal of motor vehicle safety efforts. That's precisely what electronic stability control does -- it helps keep you and your family from becoming crash statistics," he said.
"It uses sensors to apply brakes to specific wheels automatically when it senses an out-of-control situation," he explained.
Preventing rollover crashes is a priority with Congress, NHTSA, NTSB and other safety organizations because more than 10,000 people are killed in these crashes, and tens of thousands are injured each year. Safety belt use is the best protection once a rollover event begins. But preventing a rollover or other loss-of-control crash from happening in the first place is the focus of Continental's safety tour.
The tour theme, Safely There, literally means helping people get to their destinations safely by using all available safety equipment combined with sensible driving.
Between now and December, the Safely There truck will be a moving safety billboard as it travels 12,000 miles to 15 states (major population centers) and educates millions of consumers. With its slide out body sections, the truck expands to 85' x 40'. In addition to the driving simulator, there are 3-D visuals and video testimonials by highway safety leaders.
Among the popular venues that the truck will attend are the Sea Fair in Seattle; Rocky Mountain Balloon Fest in Denver; and Fall Festival of the Arts in Tempe, AZ. A list of tour destinations is attached.
Continental is a major supplier of brake systems, chassis components, vehicle electronics, and tires and other rubber products. For more information about the Safely There tour and electronic stability control, visit www.conti-online.com or www.contitevesna.com.
Safely There Tour Timeline
* Washington, D.C. 7/23 Launch event News Conference
* Seattle, WA 8/1 - 8/3 Seattle Sea Fair
* Concord, CA 8/6 and 8/7 Systron & Donner
* Auburn Hills, MI 8/13 - 8/15 Continental HQ
* Birmingham, MI 8/16 and 8/17 Woodward Dream Cruise
* Denver, CO 8/19 - 8/24 Rocky Mountain Balloon Festival
9/4 - 9/7 Business and Professional Woman
* Chicago, IL 9/9 and 9/10 Entrepreneurial Women's
Conference
* Philadelphia, PA 9/17 - 9/20 Emergency Nurses
* Atlanta, GA 9/23 - 9/28 Women's Health Summit
* Orlando, FL 10/11 - 10/19 Southern Women's Show
* Lake Placid, NY 10/25 - 10/29 NY State Highway Safety
Conference
* Boston, MA 10/30 Women's Power Seminar
* Tucson, AZ 11/12 - 11/15 Driving School Association of
America National Conference
* Tempe, AZ 12/4 - 12/8 Fall Festival of the Arts
* Charlotte, NC 12/17 - 12/30 Continental Tire Bowl
