NHTSA TO HOLD JULY 10 PUBLIC MEETING ON BOOSTER SEAT EDUCATION PLAN |
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NHTSA
June 29, 2001
MEDIA ADVISORY
Friday, June 29, 2001
Contact: Tina Foley
Tel. No.: (202) 366-9550
On July 10, 2001, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will hold a public meeting to discuss the development of a five year strategic booster seat education plan to begin in November 2001.
NHTSA said the intent of this meeting is to allow the sharing of viewpoints, information, and ideas on this important subject among all interested members of the public, including industry, government, and advocacy groups. Topics to be discussed include, but will not be limited to, educational programs, program effectiveness and evaluation, target audiences, program delivery, challenges, and funding sources.
The public meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 10, beginning at 10 a.m. in room 2230, Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC.
The public is invited to participate in the meeting in any of four ways: by making a presentation at the meeting, by submitting written comments to be included in the public record, by submitting suggestions for topics to be included on the meeting agenda, and by attending the meeting. NHTSA anticipates that the published plan will lead to an increase in the use of booster seats by improving consumer awareness of the safety benefits of booster seat use, the importance of using booster seats, as well as enforcing the laws in those states that have upgraded their child restraint laws to include booster seats for children 4 to 8 years old.
The Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation (TREAD) Act requires the Secretary of Transportation to develop a five year strategic plan to reduce the deaths and injuries caused by failure to use appropriate booster seats in the 4 to 8 year old age group. TREAD requires that this plan be completed by November 2001.
People wishing to make a presentation at the meeting should contact Tami Levitas at Tlevitas@nhtsa.dot.gov by July 3, 2001. Written requests to speak at the public meeting and suggestions for items to be included in the meeting agenda must be received by that date. Submit written comments to the DOT Docket Management System, U.S. Department of Transportation, PL 401, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20590-0001. Comments should refer to Docket Number NHTSA-01-9785 and be submitted in two copies by July 13, 2001. Comments may also be submitted to the docket electronically by logging onto the DOT Docket Management System website at http://www.nhtsa.gov/exit.cfm?link=http://dms.dot.gov. Click on ``Help & Information'' to obtain instructions for filing the comment electronically. In every case, the comment should refer to Docket Number NHTSA-01-9785.
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