DaimlerChrysler is First Automaker To 'Exceed Safety Expectations'
7 December 2000
National Transportation Safety Board Says DaimlerChrysler Corporation is First Automaker Ever To 'Exceed Expectations' on Safety Recommendation
NTSB Officially Closes Recommendation for Child Seat Fitting Stations
As DaimlerChrysler's 'Fit for a Kid' Service
Becomes Available in All 50 States
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Dec. 7 DaimlerChrysler Corporation
has become the first automaker ever in the 33-year history of the National
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to receive the "exceed expectations" status
from the safety agency for its response to a safety recommendation. The NTSB
granted DaimlerChrysler this historic distinction for its groundbreaking Fit
for a Kid child safety seat inspection service, which this month became
available in all 50 states.
The unprecedented safety status was given to DaimlerChrysler as the NTSB
officially closed its Safety Recommendation H-99-3 to the automaker. That
recommendation included a call for all automakers and others to combat the
dangerous and widespread problem of child safety seat misuse by supporting and
establishing child safety seat fitting stations nationwide. The
recommendation remains open for all other recipients.
"With the establishment of Fit for a Kid-its free child safety seat
service-DaimlerChrysler Corporation surpasses what we hoped for, in terms of
quality and scope, and does so at no cost to families," said Jim Hall, acting
chairman of the NTSB. "DaimlerChrysler's Fit for a Kid sets a standard for
the auto industry worldwide. It delivers a much-needed lifesaving service to
American families in a manner fully responsive to the Safety Board's
recommendation."
Hall noted that the five-member Board voted unanimously to grant the
"exceeds expectations" status to DaimlerChrysler, although that designation
has never been bestowed on any automaker in the history of the NTSB. Of more
than 10,000 NTSB recommendations made, only 18 have been closed with the
status "exceeds expectations."
"As the NTSB closes its recommendation, DaimlerChrysler makes Fit for a
Kid available to the vast majority of the American families at over 700
locations in all 50 states," said Sue Cischke, senior vice president,
regulatory affairs and passenger car operations, DaimlerChrysler Corporation.
"Making Fit for a Kid available in every state has taken a tremendous amount
of hard work by our dedicated partners, employees, dealers and inspectors.
Keeping kids safe is our gift to all children and families."
Fit for a Kid is a free child safety seat inspection service offered to
anyone by appointment at participating Chrysler/Jeep(R)/Dodge dealers.
DaimlerChrysler Corporation delivers the Fit for a Kid service in a
partnership with Fisher-Price and with the support of the National Safety
Council (NSC). Families can find a nearby Fit for a Kid dealer by calling
toll free 1-877-FIT-4-A-KID or clicking on the Web site
http://www.fitforakid.org.
Fit for a Kid addresses a serious problem. It is believed that eight out
of every ten children riding in child safety seats are not buckled in right.
The NTSB estimates that everyday 10 million children are riding in incorrectly
restrained child safety seats and are at risk of serious injury or death in
the event of a crash.
Launched less than a year ago, Fit for a Kid is now available at 707
Chrysler/Jeep(R)/ Dodge dealerships in 142 U.S. markets. Nevada and Vermont
were the last two states to be trained in the service. Through an intensive
year-round training schedule led by the NSC, now nearly 1,250 inspectors have
been trained through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations'
child passenger safety curriculum and certified by the American Automobile
Association (AAA).
Since the February 2000 national launch of Fit for a Kid, nearly 20,000
children have had their car seats inspected for proper fit and installation
through participating Chrysler/Jeep(R)/Dodge dealers. Already, seven of these
children have the service to thank for protecting them in a crash.