Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Joins Corporate Leaders to Advocate for Holiday Safety; Farmers Insurance, Nissan and Wal-Mart Encourage Greater Consumer Awareness

MONTEREY PARK, Calif.--Dec. 9, 2005--At a press conference held today, Los Angeles County Assistant Sheriff Paul Tanaka encouraged consumers throughout Southern California to become advocates for public safety. Tanaka was joined by corporate leaders from Farmers Insurance, Nissan and Wal-Mart Stores to highlights ways in which consumers can play a more proactive role in protecting themselves and their loved ones.

"On behalf of Los Angeles County Sheriff Leroy Baca and everyone in law enforcement, we want to do everything in our power to encourage all residents of the southland to become consumer advocates for safety," said Tanaka. "In order for everyone to have a happy, memorable and safe holiday season, consumers should take precautions to ensure that their holidays are not marred by unexpected accidents, theft or fraudulent activities."

According to reports published by National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 42,000 people were killed in the estimated 6.1 million police-reported motor vehicle traffic crashes, and another 2.7 million people were injured. California, according to the National Safety Council (NSC), was named one of six states that have seen an increase in traffic fatalities that are alcohol related and are near the threshold of being listed among the top-15 states with the largest number of deaths due to alcohol impaired driving.

"The holiday season between Halloween and New Year's Day is a dangerous time for pedestrians and drivers," said Luisa Acosta-Franco, director of community affairs at Farmers Insurance. "With greater driver and pedestrian awareness, consumers can make a difference in safeguarding their families and loved ones."

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and Farmers Insurance representatives said even simple actions can improve driver and pedestrian safety. Among the suggestions offered to consumers were:

For cars and trucks:

-- Check windshield wipers and defrosters

-- Stock vehicles with emergency supplies

-- Check battery and all vehicle fluids

-- Service all cars and vehicles regularly

-- Inspect tires for wear and proper inflation

-- Plan all travel and travel routes in advance

-- Ensure that driver and all passengers wear seatbelts

-- Install child safety seats properly

For pedestrians:

-- Wear light, bright clothing

-- Wear reflective gear or clothing to alert drivers

-- Follow all traffic and pedestrian rules

-- Cross only at crosswalks and only when it is safe

-- Travel with others whenever possible

Consumers must also be vigilant when it comes to protecting their homes and personal finances. Each year, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department receives dozens of complaints about identity theft, stolen credit cards, holiday scams, burglaries, and home invasion robberies. Many thieves recognize that with the holidays consumers are in the spirit to spend with cash and/or credit.

"Although we are concerned about all consumers at this time of year, immigrants with limited English language capabilities are often targeted by thieves and scam artists," said Tanaka. "Robbers prey on immigrants because they believe they are too afraid to report a crime to law enforcement and, with cultural and linguistic barriers, they may also worry that they will not be able to communicate properly with law enforcement officials."

Safety concerns were also cited by Wal-Mart Stores, one of the nation's leading retailers. Each year, children are injured needlessly by holiday decorations, packing material, and toys.

"During the holidays, consumers are primarily focused on selecting the right gifts for their loved ones or entertaining friends and family," said Linda Blakley, senior communications manager at Wal-Mart Stores. "Since we care so much about our customers, we are here to remind them about a few steps they can take to ensure that everyone they care about has a healthy and happy holiday season."

Some holiday tips from Wal-Mart include:

Holiday Decorations

-- Check electrical lights each year to ensure they are in proper working order (and before they are used as holiday decorations)

-- When purchasing trees, make sure they are fresh and properly watered

-- Keep holiday trees away from furnaces, fireplaces and candles

-- Keep holiday lighting away from young children; lights can be swallowed or cause injuries to children

Toys

-- Check all toys to ensure that they do not have removable parts that can be swallowed.

-- Keep packing material away from small children. Styrofoam packing can cause choking.

-- Use plastic plugs in electrical sockets to prevent shock to small children.