Study: Auto Safety Improving

    --March 21, 2001--

TOPIC:	A report released this week by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety claims that cars are getting safer. About half of 1999-2001 models tested in a 40 mph frontal crash test reportedly earned good ratings, compared with one in four for the 1995-1998 models, a story by CNN said. According to experts in the story, many of the safety improvements are due to automakers that have incorporated crash-test performance, government requirements and consumer information tests into their designs.
EXPERTS:	ExpertSource can offer several highly qualified experts to comment on this story:

Mr. Henrik Fisker, is currently the president and chief executive officer of Designworks/USA, a subsidiary of BMW and is one of the world's premier design firms. Designworks/USA is headquartered in Newbury Park, California with a European office in Munich, Germany. Mr. Fisker assumed responsibility for day-to-day operations of Designworks/USA in January 2000. Previously he served as the director of BMW automotive design for the firm from 1997 to 2000. Prior to joining Designworks/USA, Mr. Fisker was a designer at BMW Technik GmbH, BMW's advanced design studio in Munich, from 1989 to 1992, where his work included the BMW electric show car interior. Mr. Fisker was employed from 1992 to 1997 by BMW AG (BMW headquarters design center) where he designed the exterior of the Z07 show car for the Tokyo Auto Show '97 and the exterior of the Z8 Roadster production car that was launched as the new "James Bond" car in 1999. Mr. Fisker received his design degrees from the Art Center College of Design and the University of Switzerland.PR: kristen@phelpsgroup.com

    Dr. Russel Brantman has 25 years experience in Occupant & Vehicle Safety Engineering, with 15 years expertise in Airbag Systems. For the past 11 years, he was Technical Vice President - Airbag Systems at Breed Technologies, where he helped take the company from a $5M producer of Sensors, to a $500M producer of Airbag Restraint Systems. He was responsible for creating Breed's comprehensive Airbag System Design & Test Capability. He provided Technical Direction for Restraint System Designs and Advanced Restraint Concepts. His knowledge base includes occupant protection and vehicle crashworthiness; crash sensing; airbag & seatbelt system design; inflator development; and product safety and risk analysis. Dr. Brantman has 8 Restraint System Technology Patents, over 50 Technical Reports & Presentations, and is a contributing author to the SAE Recommended Practices for Inflatable Restraints. russb@tampabay.rr.com