Call for Entries to the First Los Angeles County-Wide Traffic Safety Poster Contest for All Enrolled Students in Grades Kindergarten Through Third

400,000 Children's Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Workbooks to Be Distributed to Schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District, and as a Sunday Insert in La Opinion Newspaper

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 22 -- Hyundai Motor America together with the California Office of Traffic Safety; Los Angeles Police Department; Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)-- School Safe Traffic Zone, the Commission for Children, Youth and Their Families and Safe Moves, a non-profit organization dedicated to traffic safety education, announced today a call for entries to the first county-wide traffic safety poster contest. The competition is part of an in-school custom publication developed in partnership with La Opinion newspaper, educating K-3 students and their parents on traffic safety issues, while incorporating a poster contest to increase students' traffic safety awareness and bring out their creativity skills. Students are encouraged to pull from personal traffic related experiences for the poster subject content leading others to safety through example.

The publication presents children with graphic stories featuring the Hyundai Traffic Safety Mascot - Kangaroo, while presenting parents and teachers with written stories on the traffic safety subjects. The final page includes the contest entry information as well as an opportunity to name the Traffic Safety Kangaroo. A total of 400,000 handbooks will reach students from the LAUSD, non-LAUSD schools, childcare centers and as an insert in the Sunday edition of La Opinion Newspaper.

The poster contest is divided in two categories, category 1 for students enrolled in grades K - 1 and category 2 for grades 2 - 3. Each category will be judged and awarded separately. The prizes for each category are: Winner will receive a $500 US Savings Bond and framed poster, 1st runner up will receive a $250 US Savings Bond, 2nd runner up will receive a $100 US Savings Bond and six honorable mentions will each be awarded a $50 US Savings bond. Each participant will receive a Hyundai Safetyville Certificate of Completion. Entries will be accepted until February 15, 2005 and winners will be announced in April of next year.

In an effort to further safe guard children around schools, the Los Angeles Police Department together with the Commission for Children, Youth and Their Families initiated the Safety Valet Program when an investigation of community complaints at or around elementary schools revealed the need for crossing guards or traffic controls. However, most schools do not meet the criteria set by the Department of Transportation for a paid crossing guard. Therefore, the need for the volunteer Safety Valet and Crossing Guard Programs became a necessity for the control of traffic and pedestrians around schools. The Safety Valet and Crossing Guard Programs are composed entirely by volunteers costing little to taxpayers.

Traffic Safety Workbook/Poster Contest -- Partner Quotes

"As an auto manufacturer, Hyundai Motor America wants to keep families safe when operating motor vehicles and help reduce the alarming statistics related to motor-vehicle fatalities and injuries among Latinos," said Ariel Garcia-Linares, Hyundai Motor America representative. "Hyundai Motor America is proud to support the Los Angeles Latino community by reaching out to parents and guardians and encouraging them to play an active role in these programs. By building a stronger bond between government, the community and the private sector, our children will live in a protected and safe environment to study and play."

"I join Hyundai Motor America; LAUSD-School Safe Traffic Zone; Commission for Children Youth and Their Families; Safe Moves; and La Opinion in urging all parents and caregivers to study and share the Traffic Safety workbook material with their children," comments Captain Richard A. Meraz, Los Angeles Police Department. "Educating children and their parents or caregivers about traffic safety -- pedestrian and bicycle safety -- is one of the most effective methods to eradicate child pedestrian fatalities."

LAUSD-School Safe Traffic Zone Projects Director, Tana Ball, added, "Children are our most precious gem and should be guarded from traffic hazards. But yet, we send them out into the streets with no training or understanding of traffic safety and the devastating effect a vehicle can have on a child as well as the whole family if injured or killed. Parents need to learn as much as the children regarding traffic, bus, train safety and stranger danger."

The Commission for Children, Youth and Their Families Executive Director, Terry Ogawa, states, "Every child in Los Angeles should reach adulthood having experienced a safe, healthy and nurturing childhood that prepares him or her to become a responsible and contributing member of the community reaching their full potential."

Safe Moves Executive Director, Pat Hines, states, "Children living in Los Angeles County are exposed to many perils in their lives including crime, malnutrition and disease, but traffic collisions pose the most clear and eminent lifelong danger to children. In fact, a child born today is more likely to lose his or her life through a traffic collision than any other cause. Education is the key to preventing traffic-related deaths and injuries among children and with innovative programs and promotion, we have an opportunity to make the streets of Los Angeles County safer for our youngest commuters whether they are walking, riding a bicycle or traveling in the car."

About LAUSD-School Safe Traffic Zone

School Safe Traffic Zone Projects, is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the Business, Transportation & Housing Agency. School Safe Traffic Zone implements traffic safety educational programs for students K-12, and their parents throughout Los Angeles Unified School District reaching approximately 350,000 parents and students yearly. Additionally, the program conducts child passenger safety seat inspections/installations and parent education to insure that children are transported to school properly restrained, whether a seat belt, infant seat, child seat or booster seat.

About Safe Moves

Safe Moves, established in 1986, is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that is nationally recognized as a leading authority on traffic safety education. All programs are provided to all public and private schools in Los Angeles County. Safe Moves educates approximately 35,000 students per month in Los Angeles County. Safe Moves also has programs in San Diego County, Orange County, Santa Clara County, Sacramento County, Ventura County and San Bernardino County.

About Hyundai's Hispanic Traffic Safety Campaign

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for Hispanics ages 1-34, and the third leading cause of death for all ages surpassed only by heart disease and cancer. Hispanics are also less likely than non-Hispanics to wear a seat belt. Research has shown that lap/shoulder belts, when used properly, reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger. In addition, pedestrian accidents are the second leading cause of death and serious injury to children in California; over 60% of all the children involved are Hispanic.

As the Hispanic population continues to increase, a greater proportion of future crash injuries and fatalities may come from the Hispanic community. To help reduce motor vehicle-related injuries and fatalities among Latinos, Hyundai launched the ABCs of Traffic Safety in the fall of 2003 to raise awareness and educate families on precautionary measures. Hyundai Motor America's Traffic Safety Campaign focuses on educating consumers on the proper use of safety belts and child restraints, as well traffic laws and pedestrian safety.

About Hyundai Motor America

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Hyundai cars and sport utility vehicles are sold and serviced by Hyundai Motor America through more than 640 dealers nationwide. For more information about Hyundai Motor America, please visit www.hyundaiusa.com.