Active Vehicle Safety Takes Stage at Lifesavers 2004

SAN DIEGO, March 30 -- Bill Kozyra, president and CEO of Continental Teves North America, speaking to participants during the Lifesavers 2004 conference today in San Diego, encouraged support of continued efforts to bring active vehicle safety to the forefront of highway safety initiatives in North America.

Kozyra explained that focusing on passive systems such as airbags and seat belts to reduce the severity of injuries once accidents occur continues to be important. But, active safety systems that are increasingly finding their way onto new vehicles due to advancements in microelectronics, must be of equal focus. Antilock brake systems, electronic stability control (ESC), and active rollover protection are examples of equipment available today that can help reduce crashes and injuries on America's roads. Future vehicles will include adaptive cruise control and lane departure systems, as well as pedestrian protection systems. The ultimate goal is to prevent crashes, reduce injuries and save lives, he concluded.

"We are in the midst of a revolution in smart vehicle safety equipment," said Kozyra. "The revolution is building on the successes of passive safety systems. It began with the introduction of electronic brakes followed by stability management systems in the mid 1990s. This will soon be followed by a fusion of both active and passive systems that can help to further prevent crashes and injuries," Kozyra continued.

In effect, the vehicle of the future will have electronic reflexes, with each step enabling the next one. ESC is the foundation for these coming improvements in networking active and passive safety systems that can help "anticipate" crashes and help drivers maintain control.

Recent independent studies, including one released earlier this month by the University of Iowa, conclude that ESC helps save lives. In the Iowa study, conducted on NHTSA's National Advanced Driving Simulator, it was shown that 34 percent more drivers were able to maintain control when driving vehicles equipped with ESC. Other studies conducted by the Swedish National Road Administration, DEKRA Automotive Research (Germany), Mercedes and Toyota yielded similar positive results for the technology. In addition, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. have recently said they will make ESC standard on all 15-passenger vans, following a recommendation of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The NTSB also made several recommendations including the addition of ESC as standard equipment on all passenger vehicles, should NHTSA research in the U.S. come out positively.

Active vehicle safety is a topic that will continue to be at the forefront for the automotive safety community for the near future, with Continental taking an active role in educating consumers about available equipment that can help prevent crashes and save lives. Two of Continental's initiatives are its Safely There and Drive Safer America consumer awareness campaigns.

Lifesavers is the premier national highway safety meeting in the United States dedicated to reducing the tragic toll of deaths and injuries on our nation's roadways. Starting in the early 1980s, the Lifesavers conference attendance has grown steadily, drawing over 1,700 participants in 2003. Each year, the Lifesavers Conference has become even more relevant and timely, providing a forum that delivers common-sense solutions to today's critical highway safety problems. The conference addresses a wide range of safety topics, from child passenger safety and occupant protection to roadway and vehicle safety and technology. It offers the latest information on advances in highway safety, highlights successful programs and draws attention to emerging safety issues.

Continental Automotive Systems, headquartered in Frankfurt/Main Germany, is a unit of Continental AG, Hanover, Germany. With 2003 sales of approximately $13 billion (US), the Continental Corporation is a major supplier of brake systems, chassis components, vehicle electronics, tires and technical rubber products. Continental Automotive Systems' North American operation is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich. For additional information, visit these websites: www.conti-online.com and www.contitevesna.com .