New Government Document Shows Autos Safer Than Ever

WASHINGTON, March 15 -- A high percentage of new 2005 model year passenger cars, pick-up trucks, sport utility vehicles, vans and minivans offer advanced safety technology, according to a new government report.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 2005 "Buying A Safer Car" publication reveals that:

  * 75 percent of 2005 models are available with head protection side air
    bags, up nearly 50 percent from 2004.

  * 71 percent of 2005 models are available with chest side air bags, up 11
    percent from 2004, and up 145 percent from 2003.

  * 90 percent of side air bags available in 2005 have been designed in
    accordance with the automobile industry's rigorous Side Air Bag Out-of-
    Position Design Guidelines.

  * 51 percent of 2005 models are available with Electronic Stability
    Control, up 11 percent from 2004, and up 629 percent from 2003.

  * 76 percent of 2005 models have innovative seat belt reminder systems as
    standard equipment. Implementation of this innovative technology began
    with the 2004 model year.

"Consumers today have more choices available to them than ever when it comes to advanced automotive safety technology," said Robert Strassburger, vice president of vehicle safety and harmonization for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. "Increased public awareness of safety features, rapidly advancing technologies, and voluntary industry cooperation to improve vehicle-to-vehicle crash compatibility have made this all possible. Consumers are the ultimate beneficiaries."

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers is a trade association of nine car and light truck manufacturers including BMW Group, DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Mazda, Mitsubishi Motors, Porsche, Toyota and Volkswagen. For more information on ultra-clean vehicles, visit http://www.autoalliance.org/.