'Do The Buckle' Celebrates One Year Of Safety Eduacation
9 April 1999
'Do The Buckle' Celebrates One Year of Automotive Safety Education DaimlerChrysler's Safety Tour Marks its Anniversary at
1999 New York International Auto Show
NEW YORK, April 8 -- The "Do the Buckle" safety tour returns
to the New York Auto Show, one year after its launch, to highlight the
program's success and stress the importance of traveling safely with children.
In the past year, DaimlerChrysler's safety tour has traveled more
than 280,000 miles, attended 1,500 events, and reached millions of children
and adults with air bag and safety belt guidelines through lively
demonstrations and the "Do the Buckle" music video.
(Video: http://www.videonewswire.com/play?video=1998090201 )
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children in the
United States. In 1997, an average of seven children, 0-14 years old, were
killed and 908 were injured in motor vehicle crashes every day. Safety
experts believe more than 60 percent of those children were not properly
restrained.
During the New York Auto Show, DaimlerChrysler's "Do the Buckle" team will
demonstrate the importance of vehicle restraint systems through an interactive
display, hands-on exhibits and an MTV-style music video. The program's theme
song and video show kids it's "cool" to wear safety belts correctly. The
dance in the video incorporates the motion a person makes when they buckle a
safety belt.
Today there will be four live dance performances featuring young artists
from Robin Horneff's Performing Arts Center. The dance team will teach auto
show attendees how to "Do the Buckle." The presentation is in support of the
9th Annual World Traffic Safety Symposium. The focus of the symposium is
preventing injuries through smart technology and safe design. Speakers and
panel discussions include smart vehicles, roadway safety, enhancements to
driver performance, and hi-tech design solutions to safety issues.
"Every hour someone dies in America simply because they didn't wear a
safety belt," said Robert J. Eaton, DaimlerChrysler Chairman. "Safety belts
are the most effective means of reducing fatalities and serious injuries, and
sadly, many Americans aren't using them. We work hard to build safe cars,
trucks and minivans, but even the best safety devices will not work if they
are not used correctly."
The "Do the Buckle" display is located in the Chrysler/Plymouth exhibit
area. The safety team will be available throughout the public days of the
show to demonstrate how vehicle restraint systems work, talk about driver and
occupant safety, provide instruction on the proper installation of child
safety seats, and present the "Do the Buckle" music video.
A number of safety-minded companies support the program, including safety
belt manufacturer Takata, Inc., Continental Teves, a manufacturer of antilock
brake systems, and air bag manufacturer Autoliv.
Visitors to the Do the Buckle display also can learn about
DaimlerChrysler's other safety programs, including "Stop Red Light Running"
and the "Neon Drunk Driving Simulator."
"Stop Red Light Running" is a program emphasizing that red light running
can have the same deadly consequences as drinking and driving. The Neon Drunk
Driving Simulator visits high schools across the United States to demonstrate
the dangers of drinking and driving. All three nationwide campaigns help
fulfill DaimlerChrysler's goal of encouraging safe driving.
If you would like to learn more about "Do the Buckle" or would like a
minivan to visit a particular venue, call 1-877-TOBUCKY.
The 1999 New York International Auto Show is held at the Jacob Javits
Convention Center in New York City, April 3-11. The largest auto show in
America features more than 1,000 cars, trucks, and minivans; concept cars,
classic cars and exotic vehicles, and numerous vehicle safety exhibits.
