ITT Automotive Brings 'Drive Safer America! Skid Pad Challenge' On Tour to Test the Skills of Michigan Drivers
17 July 1997
ITT Automotive Brings 'Drive Safer America! Skid Pad Challenge' On Tour to Test the Skills of Michigan Drivers
National Program Travels to Battle Creek, Midland
and Stevensville to Test, Educate Local Drivers
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., July 17 -- Families and race fans at
this year's ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix found the inaugural "Drive Safer
America! Skid Pad Challenge" to be a fun and exciting way to learn about safe
driving techniques. Now drivers in Battle Creek, Midland and Stevensville,
Mich. will get a chance to try it for themselves. ITT Automotive and AAA
Michigan are taking the challenge on the road.
The "Drive Safer America! Skid Pad Challenge" demonstrates first-hand the
effect and benefit of anti-lock braking systems during an emergency braking
situation. Spectators will have a chance to compare the maneuverability of a
vehicle equipped with an anti-lock braking system versus traditional brakes on
a 100 foot-long skid pad, covered with soapy water, used to simulate severe
driving conditions.
The "Drive Safer America! Skid Pad Challenge" venue in Stevensville will
be open to the general public. The Battle Creek venue will be for driver
education students. The Midland venue will be part of the City of Midland
Safety Picnic conducted for city employees. More demonstrations are planned.
Gerald Spray, AAA Michigan's Regional Community Safety Coordinator, and a
team of demonstrators will supervise drivers who want to test their knowledge
and ability to handle the four-wheel ABS braking system in a Chrysler Minivan.
The drivers are then challenged to maintain the same maneuverability in an
identical van with the four-wheel anti-lock braking system disengaged.
When the "Drive Safer America! Skid Pad Challenge" was first exhibited
during the ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix, the event drew hundreds of
spectators as more than 100 enthusiasts chose to participate, learning the
appropriate use and benefits of four-wheel anti-lock brakes during a severe
weather stop.
"Our message is simple, as an industry leader in developing automotive
safety technology and expertise, ITT Automotive is taking a greater role in
educating drivers about how to properly operate their vehicles," said Frank
Macher, president of ITT Automotive. "With the 'Drive Safer America! Skid Pad
Challenge,' we hope to make learning about safe driving interesting, exciting
and practical. We are delighted to be working with AAA Michigan in this
important task."
In February 1997, ITT Automotive launched "Drive Safer America!", a
national public education campaign designed to help drivers better understand
the proper techniques for driving safely year round. The campaign's primary
focus is educating drivers about four-wheel anti-lock brake systems and how to
properly use anti-lock brakes in emergency braking situations.
For a free "Drive Safer America!" brochure and/or an instructional video
about ABS, consumers can send a self-addressed, business-size envelope in care
of "Drive Safer America!", 645 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 630, Chicago,
Illinois, 60611, or call 1-800-694-5200. To learn more about "Drive Safer
America!", consumers can access the internet site located at:
http://www.ittautomotive.com/drivesafer.
ITT Industries and its subsidiaries' news releases are available at no
charge via fax and the Internet. For ITT Industries news and information on
the Internet, visit http://www.ittind.com; for ITT Automotive visit
http://www.ittautomotive.com. To receive releases by fax, call 800-758-5804,
extension 110006 for ITT Industries, or extension 437525 for ITT Automotive.
SOURCE ITT Automotive
