Secretary Slater, CART Chairman Craig Announce Joint Safety Initiative |
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Topics: Rodney E. Slater, CART
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NHTSA
April 30, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHTSA 19-99
April 30, 1999
Contact: Rae Tyson
Tel. No. (202) 366-9550
NAZARETH, Pa.--To underscore their commitment to vehicle safety in communities across the country, U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater and Championship Auto Racing Teams Chairman and CEO Andrew Craig today announced a joint initiative that will deliver safety messages to the American public.
"This initiative will help improve safety throughout the United States by making safety information about vehicles more accessible, underscoring once again that safety is President Clinton's highest transportation priority," Secretary Slater said. "I am delighted that CART is joining us as a partner in conveying these important safety messages to the public-it will help prevent injuries and save lives."
Intended to help educate the American public through promotion and distribution of vehicle safety information developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the initiative will provide public service messages during television and radio race broadcasts, print messages in race event programs, and safety literature at CART race and Fan Fest events. In addition, two of CART's championship-winning drivers will be participating in special events and media activities throughout the year.
Slater and Craig were joined in making the announcement by NHTSA Administrator Ricardo Martinez, M.D., Ford Racing Marketing Manager Sam Scott and champion car drivers Michael Andretti and Jimmy Vasser, both of whom have taken part in U.S. Department of Transportation programs to communicate the importance of vehicle safety on and off the track.
"CART represents more than just racing cars - our drivers, teams and manufacturers are faced with safety issues every day," Craig said. "We have top notch safety and trauma teams in place to ensure the highest possible safety standards and care. By providing consumers with vehicle safety information, NHTSA is doing the same thing, and we all hope that drivers will pay attention."
NHTSA's latest vehicle safety information includes the Agency's new Buying a Safer Car brochure, complete with 1999 crash test results and ratings, as well as Buying a Safer Car for Child Passengers, which features tips and information on child-friendly safety features, safety seat compatibility and a convenient "Family Car Checklist" to use when shopping for a vehicle.
The announcement was made at Pennsylvania's Nazareth Speedway, where CART is conducting Round 4 of its 1999 season. CART owns, operates and markets the Fed-Ex Championship Series of 20 races, in five countries, on four continents. CART also owns and operates the PPG-Dayton Indy Lights Championship and the KOOL/Toyota Atlantic Championship.
Safety materials also are available to consumers by calling NHTSA at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT or by visiting NHTSA's web site at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov. CART noted that it, too, has a web site athttp://www.cart.com.
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