President Clinton Makes Proposal on Child Passenger Safety

02/18/97

Reuters reports that On Saturday President Clinton proposed that the federal government require automobile manufacturers to include a universal system to attach child safety seats in new vehicles.

In his weekly radio address, Clinton said, "this system, developed by a blue-ribbon commission of industry and consumer groups, will make safety seats easier to install and more secure on the road. It will save young lives."

The proposal would require every new car to come equipped with standard latches in the back seat designed specifically to fasten to car seat buckles. Carmakers would also have to include universal attachments to secure the top of child safety seats to the car's interior. Car seats would be locked in place from top to bottom.

The proposal is based on an idea forwarded by a blue-ribbon panel of experts formed by the Transportation Department to address problems with child safety seat installation and use.

The Air Bag Safety Campaign--a public-private partnership of car and safety seat manufacturers, insurance companies, government agencies and health and safety advocates--came out in support of Clinton's proposal: Janet Dewey, the Campaign's executive director wrote in a statement, "the president's remarks demonstrate his understanding that enforcement of child passenger safety laws is essential to protect children from crash-related injuries and the risk from air bags."

The White House issued a fact sheet that said not all 100 models of safety seats available fit all 900 passenger vehicles. The White House estimated that 80 percent of parents fail to properly secure children in seats or fully attach seats to vehicles.

Clinton said the new proposal would be open to public comments next week. If approved, the new safety system could be on the market by 1999. He said, "with this plan, we're moving closer to the day when safe, well-attached car seats will be the rule of the road."

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel