Secretary of transportation Rodney E. Slater Air Bag Safety Campaign press Conference

Rodney E. Slater, United States Secretary of Transportation
February 10, 1998

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHTSA 05-98
Tuesday February 10, 1998
Contact:  Tim Hurd
Tel. No. (202) 366-9550

REMARKS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY
SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION RODNEY E. SLATER
AIR BAG SAFETY CAMPAIGN PRESS CONFERENCE
FEBRUARY 10, 1998
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Let me take a moment to thank Ms. Janet Dewey and Dr. Ric Martinez for their leadership in keeping child passenger safety in front of the American public.

Today I am pleased to announce that The Air Bag Safety Campaign has been extended to the year 2000. And with that extension comes a new name: The Air Bag and Seat Belt Safety Campaign. It will also have a new and broader mission: working to increase seat belt use among drivers and children.

All of us know, that air bags and seat belts must be used in combination to be most effective. So I am delighted by this news.

Let me say that I cannot think of a better opportunity than now, during National Child Passenger Safety Week, to announce this latest initiative to keep our children safe while traveling on our streets and highways.

The study, just released today, confirms, what we know to be true, that children do as their parents do. Drivers who do not buckle up are far less likely to make sure children are buckled. The numbers speak volumes. Adult behavior dictates safe behavior in cars.

Now, let me speak first as a parent. Children are so smart. My five-year-old parrots me in every way imaginable. Bridgette only has to see me do it once -- the good AND the bad -- for it to become habit. `Well, Daddy does it.' So every time, without fail, I buckle up and so does she. I cannot think of a more important habit to mimic.

As Secretary of Transportation, safety is my Department's top priority -- our North Star. President Clinton agrees. As many of you know, early last year, the President called for a plan to increase seat belt use nationwide. We looked around the world -- at Canada, at Australia, and at Western European nations -- and saw that 90 percent of their citizens wear belts.

Sadly, as most of you know, one in three Americans do not buckle up.

So we announced a bold strategy to increase seat belt use to 85 percent by 2000. And by 2005, we want belt use at 90 percent. Clearly our Buckle Up America program and these fresh efforts today, will help get us there.

High visibility law enforcement also will help. Every state and the District of Columbia, for example, has child safety seat laws on the books. So, parents, it is your responsibility AND it is the law to use those seats properly.

I am confidant that today's new Air Bag and Seat Belt Safety Campaign will help us meet, and I hope, exceed, our national goals.

I cannot say it enough -- adult behavior has a direct impact on our children's safety. We will not get our youth buckled up without getting drivers buckled up.

Clearly, each and every one of us is a role model for America's youth.

We must make safety everyone's North Star. Together, with our partners, many of you are here today, and the American public, we will succeed. I know our best days are yet to come.

Thank you very much.

Source:  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)