Drive Safer America! Statement

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- The following statement is being issued by Drive Safer America!:

We have reviewed the preliminary Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data released yesterday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regarding traffic deaths and injuries in 2003. We are concerned to see that although the fatality rate -- the accepted measure of risk on the road -- remained unchanged for the third straight year, the actual number of fatalities rose again this year. This underscores what some have been saying that we may be reaching the point of diminishing returns regarding how much more can be gained by concentrating on making vehicles themselves safer after they crash.

Crash protection is important, but not to the exclusion of doing all that is humanly possible to prevent crashes from happening in the first place -- an approach that's been largely ignored for many years.

We believe the next big breakthrough for highway safety is in the area of crash prevention. Rapid developments in electronics are making possible reliable safety enhancements that can make driving much safer and more enjoyable. Again this year, NHTSA attributed much of the increase in fatalities and injuries to vehicle rollovers, mostly in SUVs. Technologies such as electronic stability control (ESC) now available on a wide variety of new vehicles (standard on some, optional on others) could literally turn the tide on the rollover crash situation in America, preventing 25 - 35 percent of rollover crashes from occurring. Other new safety features such as adaptive cruise control, brake assist, lane departure warning, active rollover protection and others will follow and will help prevent tragedies on the roadway.

We look forward to helping educate consumers about the introduction of these new safety technologies and how they work to save lives.