'Do The Buckle' Campaign Reminds Families About Auto Safety During Holidays
8 December 1998
'Do The Buckle' Campaign Reminds Families About Auto Safety During Holidays Campaign Brings Life-Saving Air Bag and Safety Belt Messages to Tampa
TAMPA, Fla., Dec. 8 -- An unfortunate statistic these days is
that every hour someone dies in America simply because they didn't wear a
safety belt. Research has shown that wearing a safety belt is the most
effective way to reduce fatalities and serious injuries in a motor vehicle
crash. But still, many drivers and passengers do not wear them. In fact, in
the state of Florida, only 59 percent of drivers and passengers use safety
belts, nine percent below the national average, which is already low at
68 percent.
During the holidays, more people travel the nation's roadways than any
other time of the year. This holiday season, DaimlerChrysler's "Do the
Buckle" team is touring the United States reminding families about the
importance of wearing safety belts and buckling kids in the back seat.
Featuring a fleet of Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth minivans, the tour
brings safety messages (wear your safety belt, kids in back, air bags save
lives) to schools, malls, day care centers and local events. The minivans
give safety demonstrations, the "Do the Buckle" song and dance (through a
video) and other fun safety messages to diverse audiences.
A "Do the Buckle" minivan will be in the Tampa market during the next
week. "According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA), failure to wear a safety belt contributes to more fatalities than any
other single traffic related behavior," said Jerry Ferrara, a "Do the Buckle"
driver in the Tampa market. "Not only that, but adults who don't buckle up
send children a very deadly message. If a driver is unbuckled, 70 percent of
the time children riding in that vehicle won't be buckled either."
The program's theme song, dance and video, "Do the Buckle," play off the
tune and lyrics from the '70s hit "Do the Hustle" and incorporate the motion a
person makes as they reach over their shoulder and across their torso to
buckle a safety belt. In the video, Bucky, a lively, animated character,
comes to life to help people of all ages understand the importance of safety
belts. The video also features an introduction by Bill Nye, the star of the
weekly Disney production "Bill Nye the Science Guy," and Robert J. Eaton,
DaimlerChrysler Chairman.
The exterior of the minivans feature colorful graphics and a variety of
safety messages. The interior is equipped with a monitor for viewing the "Do
the Buckle" music video and other safety videos.
A number of safety-minded companies are supporting the campaign including
Takata Inc., a manufacturer of safety belts, Continental Teves, a manufacturer
of antilock brake systems, and Autoliv, a manufacturer of air bags.
According to NHTSA, an estimated 5,500 lives could be saved each year by
increasing the level of safety belt usage in the United States to 90 percent.
Yet, only 68 percent of Americans wear safety belts. By contrast, Germany
stands at 95 percent.
"Do the Buckle" is the second phase of DaimlerChrysler's successful
consumer education outreach, and supports President Clinton's plan to increase
safety belt usage to 90 percent by 2005.
Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth minivans were the first to meet all 1998
passenger car safety standards, the first to provide driver and passenger air
bags, and the first with integrated, or built-in, child safety seats.
Family auto safety is as simple as A-B-C... Always Buckle Children in the
back seat and buckle yourself in, too. To learn more about "Do the Buckle" or
to have a minivan visit your town, call toll free 1-877-TOBUCKY
(1-877-862-8259).
