Automobile Accidents are Still One of the Top Ten Causes of Death
29 March 1999
Automobile Accidents are Still One of the Top Ten Causes of Death in America
The 1999 World Traffic Safety Symposium Hosts Key Leaders and Decision Makers
in this Controversial Field
WHITESTONE, N.Y., March 26 -- At no other time in history has
debate over automotive safety raged so fiercely in the court systems,
political arenas, design studios, and even the newspapers of our country.
Here in New York, for example, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has passed legislation
that allows law enforcement officials to seize the automobiles of intoxicated
drivers. Meanwhile, a Sport Utility Vehicle craze has swept the nation
leaving us to wonder just how safe these "station wagons on stilts" can be.
Providing a forum for the various opinions of experts from every end of the
automotive safety debate, the 1999 World Traffic Safety Symposium will focus
on Smart Technology & Safe Design.
The ninth annual Safety Symposium will take place on Thursday, April 8,
1999 in the Jacob Javits Center's Special Events Hall at the New York
International Auto Show. This year, a noteworthy group of safety experts will
explore some of the latest advances in technology through a series of
demonstrations and discussions dedicated to "Smart Vehicles and Roadways,
Societal Factors: Technology's Impact on Injury Prevention," and "Design
Solutions to Safety Issues."
Founded by the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association (GNYADA) in
1990, the World Traffic Safety Symposium is a forum where auto manufacturers,
traffic safety professionals, government regulators, and the media come
together to share ideas and propose solutions to decrease roadway deaths
and injuries.
An impressive panel of today's most influential newsmakers in the field of
safety research, design, and legislation has been assembled for this year's
Symposium. Among the featured attendees are:
-- Daniel Selke, Manager of Safety Engineering, Daimler Chrysler,
Mercedes-Benz Division
-- Byron Bloch, Automotive Safety Design Consultant
-- James Evan Hall, Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board
-- Edward Zellner, Cadillac/Raytheon Night Vision Design Team
-- Dr. August Burgett & Thomas Louizou, National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
-- Dr. George Bugliarello, Chancellor, Polytechnic University
-- Patricia Waller, Ph.D., Transportation Research Institute, University
of Michigan
-- Dr. Carl Valenziano, Director, Surgical Critical Care & Trauma,
Morristown Memorial Hospital
-- Charles Ukegbu, New York City Department of Transportation
-- William Shapiro, Director, Regulatory Compliance & Environmental
Affairs, Volvo
-- Stephanie Faul, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
-- Mark Kulewicz, Director, Traffic Engineering & Safety Services,
Automobile Club of New York
"We're all thrilled to have such a powerful group of people participating
in this year's World Traffic Safety Symposium," said Mark Schienberg,
executive vice president, GNYADA. "This is the one venue where manufacturers,
government officials, and safety engineers from around the world can come
together, all with one common goal -- to decrease the number of roadway deaths
and injuries that occur each year."
The 1999 New York International Auto Show -- North America's last major
auto show of the century -- will be an impressive collection of cutting-edge
design and remarkable innovation. Four floors of exhibitors are expected to
feature new automotive products, including more than 35 vehicle manufacturers.
Nearly 1,000 cars and trucks will be on display, filling more than
810,000 square feet of exhibit space. In addition, the 1999 NYIAS expects a
record-breaking number of World, National, and Regional vehicle debuts.
1999 NYIAS Media Days are March 30, 31, and April 1. Dealer/Industry
Preview Day is April 2.
The Show opens to the public on Saturday, April 3 and runs through Sunday,
April 11. The World Traffic Safety Symposium is April 8.