Free Vehicle Inspection and Child Passenger Safety Information Offered to Honda Owners

Free Vehicle Inspection and Child Passenger Safety Information Offered to Honda Owners in April

TORRANCE, Calif., April 3 -- Honda dealerships nationwide are inviting owners to participate in Honda Car Care Days this April. In conjunction with the National Car Care Council's "National Car Care Month," participating dealers will provide Honda owners a free, 40-point inspection to help ensure their Honda is safe and running properly. In addition, Honda has partnered with SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. (www.carseat.org) to provide child passenger safety information to each owner who visits a participating dealer.

"Safety is a top concern for Honda, so we want to help educate motorists that vehicle maintenance is an important part of car ownership and a vital step in ensuring a vehicle's safe operation," said John Petas, senior vice president of American Honda's Parts and Service Division. "But we also know that vehicle maintenance is only one part of the equation, so we've partnered with SafetyBeltSafe to help raise awareness about the proper use of safety belts and child safety seats."

Honda-trained technicians at participating Honda dealers will offer free, 40-point inspections looking at the vehicle's major systems including the engine, brakes, drivetrain, suspension and steering components. Each owner will be provided a detailed, written report on their vehicle's condition and expert advice on future care and maintenance, as well as a special Honda Mini First Aid Kit (while supplies last).

According to the National Car Care Council, neglected maintenance leads to more than 2,600 deaths and nearly 100,000 disabling injuries each year. Tires and low or improper fluid levels were among the top failures last year at the more than 400 Car Care Council check lanes during National Car Care Month. In fact, 21 percent of vehicles were found to have improperly inflated tires, while 23 percent had low or contaminated brake fluid.

In addition to the vehicle inspection, each participating dealer will have a supply of the SafetyBeltSafe brochure that provides valuable information about child seat installation as well as the 5-Step Test for booster seats. "We've been advocating for child passenger safety for more than 25 years," said Stephanie Tombrello, executive director of SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. "It makes a big difference when corporations like Honda are willing to help educate the public about the proper use of child safety seats."

A major SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. effort is to raise awareness about booster seat safety, encouraging motorists to use the 5-Step Test to determine if an older child is ready to ride without a booster seat. The five steps are:

  1) Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?
  2) Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
  3) Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?
  4) Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
  5) Can the child stay seated correctly for the whole trip?

"We know that boosters reduce injuries by 60 percent for children ages 4-8, yet parents are often in a hurry to be done with booster seats." said Tombrello. "If the answer to any of the five questions in the 5-Step Test is no, then the child is safest using a booster seat for proper safety belt fit."