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Invest a Penny in Your Child's Safety

10 February 1998

Invest a Penny in Your Child's Safety

    FULLERTON, Calif., Feb. 10 -- Go ahead.  Invest a penny in
your child's safety.  Check your tires; if Lincoln's entire head is visible
when the penny is inserted between tire treads, it's time to replace your
tires.  This may be the best investment you can make in your family's safety
during Child Passenger Safety Week.
    "Improving tire safety is one of our most important tasks," says Dan King,
Director of Marketing for Yokohama Tire Corporation.  "In addition to
replacing worn tires, parents should check tires for proper inflation.  The
correct inflation is found on a placard inside most vehicles, and not on the
tire itself."
    Beyond checking tires, parents should perform other safety checks on a
regular basis.  These checks include looking for cracks or wear on windshield
wipers, belts and hoses, and looking for brake wear.
    While vehicle condition is very important, parental responsibility is also
necessary for child safety.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration:

    *  Infants and small children should never ride in a front seat equipped
       with an airbag.
    *  Infants should face the rear in a proper-size safety seat.
    *  Small children should face the front in a proper-size safety seat.
    *  Older children and all adults should wear seatbelts and shoulder
       harnesses.

    Yokohama Tire Corporation manufactures, markets and distributes a complete
line of products for high performance, light truck, passenger car, commercial
truck and bus, as well as off-the-road mining and construction applications.

SOURCE  Yokohama Tire Corporation