Pedestrian Safety Spotlight: Forum Hosted by Motor Vehicle Lighting Council, Nov. 11 in Washington D.C.

  What:  Pedestrian Safety Spotlight:
         An informational forum hosted by the Motor Vehicle Lighting Council

  When:  Friday, Nov. 11
         9:00 a.m. breakfast, 10:00 a.m. presentation/press conference

  Where:  National Press Club Building, 13th Floor, Lisagor Room,
          Washington D.C.

  Why:

The U.S. Congress' latest directive to NHTSA is to more closely study reducing pedestrian fatalities. Each year approximately 5,000 pedestrians are killed along U.S. roads and another 70,000 pedestrians are injured in traffic crashes, according to a 2003 NHTSA report. Most pedestrian fatalities occurred at night (65 percent).

New automotive lighting technologies can help improve nighttime pedestrian safety. The informational forum -- conducted by a university researcher, an auto engineer and a leading doctor of Ophthalmology -- will explore:

  *  What is known about pedestrian fatalities
  *  Benefits of new lighting technologies
  *  Suitable lighting requirements for all drivers' vision as the majority
     of the driving public grows older.