Nissan's Robert Strassburger Named to 'Blue Ribbon' Panel
20 November 1998
Nissan's Robert Strassburger Named to 'Blue Ribbon' Panel to Study Vehicle Child Safety Restraints WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Robert Strassburger, Corporate Manager
of Technical Affairs for Nissan North America, Inc., was appointed today to a
new government panel that will develop recommendations on increasing vehicle
occupant protection for children ages 5-14, who are at greatest risk.
"I'm proud to have an opportunity to work beside representatives from the
auto, health, law enforcement and child restraint establishment on such an
important issue," said Strassburger.
Formation of the "Blue Ribbon Passenger Safety Panel on Protecting the
Forgotten Children," was announced today by National Highway Traffic Safety
Administrator Ricardo Martinez during a news conference at the U.S. Department
of Transportation.
"Gaps in child passenger safety and seat belt laws often leave older
children unprotected," said Martinez. "And for those children who are
buckling up, there is the issue of children being moved into seat belts
prematurely," he said.
According to NHTSA, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death
for children of every age from 6 to 14 years. In 1997, over 9,000 motor
vehicle occupants under 15 years old were involved in fatal crashes. Among
those who were fatally injured, 63 percent were unrestrained.
The new panel is a continuation of the original Blue Ribbon Panel on Child
Restraint and Vehicle Compatibility, which focused on increasing infant and
toddler vehicle restraint protection.
Older children are considered to pose a unique challenge to increased
child occupant protection because they may not yet fit "adult" safety belts.
According to NHTSA data, in most states, a 10-year-old child can legally ride
in the back seat unrestrained, simply because their occupant protection laws
apply only to front seat occupants.
Although booster seats are available for children who have outgrown child
safety seats, the NHTSA says they are not widely used and there are no safety
standards for such devices.
In addition to developing recommendations and strategies to increase
occupant protection use for older children, the new panel also will suggest
improvements and marketing strategies to reach this age group.
Because minivan owners are also concerned about safety, Nissan is
supporting the 1999 Quest with a major public service campaign in partnership
with the authors of the best-selling What to Expect parenting books. Called
"Quest for Safety," the campaign includes a free booklet, The What to Expect
Guide to Car Seat Safety, which is available through pediatricians' offices
and Nissan dealers nationwide, or by calling the Nissan Quest for Safety
Helpline at 1-800-955-4500. To date, more than a quarter of a million copies
already have been distributed.
Nissan has invested more than $2 billion in the U.S. to establish
facilities for its design, research and development, manufacturing, sales,
consumer and corporate financing and marketing operations. Nearly 70 percent
of the Nissan trucks and cars sold in America are built in America. Last
year, Nissan purchased more than $4.2 billion in parts and materials from
U.S.-based suppliers. Nissan employs more than 70,000 Americans,
approximately 12,000 directly and 58,000 at 1,250 Nissan and Infiniti
retailers nationwide. More information about Nissan North America Inc. and
the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found on-line at www.
nissan-na.com.
