Kids Do the Buckle During National Child Passenger Safety Week
17 February 1999
Pensacola Kids Do the Buckle During National Child Passenger Safety WeekDaimlerChrysler's Do the Buckle Campaign Brings Life-Saving Air Bag and Safety
Belt Messages to Pensacola Elementary Schools
PENSACOLA, Fla., Feb. 16 -- Did you know that motor vehicle
crashes are the leading cause of death to children (0-14 years), taking the
lives of 2,656 children and seriously injuring 282,000 more in 1997?
DaimlerChrysler's Do the Buckle safety tour is addressing this problem in
Pensacola during the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA)
National Child Passenger Safety Week (February 14 -- 20).
(Video: http://www.videonewswire.com/play?video=1998090201 )
During NHTSA's National Child Passenger Safety Week, a theme closely tied
to Buckle Up, America! Week (May 24-31, 1999), DaimlerChrysler's Do the Buckle
team will stress the importance of properly restraining children in a vehicle
through an interactive display, hands-on exhibits and a MTV style music video.
The safety tour features a fleet of Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth minivans,
and strives to teach kids that it's "cool" to Do the Buckle through the
Do the Buckle theme song and music video. The tune and lyrics play off the
'70s hit Do the Hustle, and the dance in the video incorporates the motion a
person makes when they buckle a safety belt.
"Adults who don't use safety belts send children a very deadly message,"
said Cheryl Jemmot, a Do the Buckle driver in the Pensacola area. "According
to NHTSA, if a driver is unbuckled, 70 percent of the time children riding in
that vehicle won't be buckled either. We're here in the Pensacola area to
stress that failure to properly restrain a child is nothing short of child
neglect."
Child fatalities and injuries due to improper or failure to restrain
children in vehicles is a serious problem in the United States. In 1997,
there were 604 occupant fatalities among children 5 years of age. Of those
604 fatalities, an estimated 329 (54 percent) were totally unrestrained.
The Do the Buckle 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. 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's Chairman.
A number of safety-minded companies are supporting the campaign, including
safety belt manufacturer Takata Inc., Continental Teves, a manufacturer of
antilock brake systems, and air bag manufacturer Autoliv.
According to NHTSA, an estimated 5,500 lives could be saved each year by
increasing the level of safety belt use in the United States to 90 percent.
Yet, only 69 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 use to 90 percent by 2005.
If you would like to learn more about Do the Buckle or would like a
minivan to visit a particular venue, call 1-877-TOBUCKY.
