Takata Sponsors MADD's Tie One On For Safety Campaign For Third Consecutive Year

Takata to Present Contribution at MADD's National Conference in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Takata, the world's largest manufacturer of seat belts, is teaming up with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) for the third straight year to be the national presenting sponsor of MADD's Tie One On For Safety holiday ribbon campaign. Takata Vice President of Sales and Marketing Bob Kittle will present a contribution in the amount of $150,000 to MADD President Glynn Birch during a ceremony at MADD's National Conference on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2005 at the Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C.

The Tie One On For Safety campaign encourages motorists to tie a ribbon to their vehicles during the Thanksgiving to New Year's holiday season as a pledge to drive safe and sober, and to always buckle up while in a vehicle. While the campaign runs during one of the busiest on the nation's roads with a high incidence of alcohol-related traffic fatalities, the message to drive safe, sober and buckled up resonates well beyond those months into a year- round crusade.

"At Takata, we're in the business of saving lives, and our goal is to reduce traffic fatalities by constantly educating people on the critical importance of wearing a seat belt," said Kittle. "Ninety percent of the fatalities on our roads are caused by drunk drivers or failure to wear seat belts, so it is only natural that we work with MADD to save lives."

The color of this year's ribbon will be silver to commemorate MADD's 25th anniversary. The silver ribbon will be unveiled immediately following the ceremony with Takata.

According to early results from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) 2004 Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the number of alcohol-related fatalities in the U.S. dropped by 2.4 percent compared to 2003, the second consecutive year-to-year decrease and the first time in five years the number of fatalities fell below 17,000. In addition, with the national seat belt usage rate reaching 80 percent, fatalities of unrestrained passenger vehicle occupants declined in 2004 by 3.4 percent over 2003.

Takata has been the national presenting sponsor of the Tie One On For Safety ribbon campaign since 2003. The partnership prompted MADD to enhance the campaign with reminders that the seat belt is the best defense against a drunk driver. It also inspired the first change to MADD's well-recognized red ribbon since the program's inception: the addition of a buckled seat belt image.

Takata's involvement with MADD is just one example of the many safety commitments the company upholds. Takata continues to seek and build relationships with partners who share the common vision of reducing traffic fatalities.

Takata is the world's largest provider of safety belts and a leading global automotive safety systems supplier. Takata offers a full line of seat belts, frontal and side impact airbags, steering wheels, safety electronics including rollover protection and crash avoidance systems, and a broad range of interior trim components. Takata's U.S. automotive safety headquarters are in Auburn Hills, Mich. For additional information, please visit http://www.takata.com/ .