Electronic Stability Control Saves Lives; Continental's Safely There Exhibit Rolls into Seattle
SEATTLE, Aug. 1, 2003 -- More than 700 rollover accidents occur in the United States every day, and in 2002, 10,666 people died in rollover crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently announced that overall traffic fatalities are at the highest level since 1990, and 82 percent of the total fatality increase in 2002 was attributed to rollovers.
While many have heard about these startling statistics, what most Americans have yet to hear is Continental Teves has the ability to help prevent those violent events from happening in the first place -- potentially saving 5,000 to 6,000 lives, tens of thousands of injuries and $35 billion in economic costs annually with an active vehicle safety technology called Electronic Stability Control (ESC), which is available at local car dealers today.
Continental Automotive Systems, the world's leading manufacturer of electronic stability control, is showcasing its safety technology this weekend at SEAFAIR in Seattle to safety experts, state troopers and the general public with its traveling "Safely There" touring exhibit.
From Friday, August 1 through Sunday, August 3, Seattle-area consumers will be able to experience the "Safely There" exhibit's interactive, multi- media displays, and visitors can even "test drive" electronic stability control in a sophisticated futuristic 3-D simulator ride. The brightly colored orange exhibit will be located through the weekend on the south turn lot at SEAFAIR on the corner of 49th Street and Lake Washington Blvd.
"We have what could be considered a medical breakthrough in helping prevent rollover casualties with electronic stability control," says Bill Kozyra, president, Continental Teves North America, "and we believe once the general public is aware this technology exists, they will demand it on their next new vehicle."
Kozyra sees a historic parallel with electronic stability control and air bags. Ten to fifteen years ago, there were many news conferences and consumer education efforts as air bags were advocated as a way to reduce the number of injuries and deaths in frontal crashes. Today, air bags are standard equipment. Everyone now takes them for granted -- because the safety benefit is hidden until needed in a crash.
Electronic stability control is similar safety equipment -- out-of-sight until you get into a situation where you need it. In the words of one journalist, "it is the greatest feature of the car you'll never know saved your life." With electronic stability control, it works automatically and you arrive home safely, perhaps not knowing that you narrowly missed becoming a crash statistic.
"I believe there is too much emphasis in this country on protecting people after a crash occurs," says Kozyra. "Job One should be to avoid the crash altogether. What consumers need to hear -- and deserve to hear -- is what's available to help prevent rollovers and avoid other kinds of out-of-control situations that lead to injuries and deaths."
Continental is confident that once consumers learn about electronic stability control, they will demand it on their next new vehicle, but only when an educated public knows what's available. While electronic stability control is made available on nearly half of all vehicles, only about 6 percent of vehicles on the road today in the U.S. are currently equipped with this safety advantage.
In Europe and Japan, crash deaths are declining much faster than in the U.S. Recent studies of crash data in Germany indicate that vehicles with electronic stability control were involved in almost 30 percent fewer single vehicle crashes. If such a reduction took place in the U.S., approximately 5,000-6,000 lives would be saved annually. The same study reports a 15 percent reduction in all crashes. That could translate to a $35 billion reduction in economic costs in our country. Studies in Japan and Sweden showed similar results, as did studies conducted by Mercedes, Toyota, the Swedish National Road Commission, and DEKRA, a well-respected German automotive research organization.
Armed with this compelling information, Continental is taking the electronic stability control message directly to American consumers. Between now and December, the "Safely There" exhibit will be a moving informational focal point and highway billboard, traveling 12,000 miles to the 15 most populous states in the country. It's part of a multi-million dollar campaign to educate the public -- women in particular -- about how they can prevent themselves and their families from becoming rollover victims, regardless of what kind of vehicle they drive.
Continental Teves, headquartered in Frankfurt/Main Germany, is a unit of Continental AG, Hanover, Germany. With 2002 sales of approximately $12 billion (US), the Continental Corporation is a major supplier of brake systems, chassis components, vehicle electronics, tires and technical rubber products. Continental Teves' North American operation is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich. For additional information, visit these websites: www.conti-online.com and www.contitevesna.com .
Safely There Tour Timeline
* Seattle, WA 8/1 - 8/3 Seattle SEAFAIR
* 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
