Nissan and U.S. Representative Mary Bono Kick-Off U.S. 'Baby Buggy Tour'
30 June 1999
Nissan and U.S. Representative Mary Bono Kick-Off U.S. 'Baby Buggy Tour' To Underscore Child Seat Safety During Driving Safety Week On a Quest for Safety Before Fourth of July Weekend, Nissan Sponsors
Special Event for Policymakers, Followed by a Car Seat Safety Clinic
WASHINGTON, June 30 -- According to the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 470 fatalities occurred on
the nation's highways during the Fourth of July weekend, 1997, including
dozens of children -- deaths that might have been prevented with the proper
use of child safety seats. In preparation for the busy holiday weekend and
the summer travel season, Nissan North America, Inc. is teaming up with
policymakers to continue to educate the public about the importance of child
seat safety and buckling up our nation's children.
Brown Bag Lunch for Safety
As the exclusive sponsor of the National Safety Council's "Driving Safety
Week" (June 27-July 4) and creator of the popular Quest for Safety car seat
safety campaign, Nissan, in partnership with U.S. Representative Mary Bono
(R-CA), is conducting a special "brown bag lunch" for legislators and child
passenger safety advocates. On June 30th at the House of Representatives
Child Care Center, Representative Bono and safety leaders from the National
Safety Council (NSC) and Nissan will address public officials about this
important issue. Students and parents from the Child Care Center also will be
in attendance.
In addition, Nissan will debut its Quest for Safety "Baby Buggy," a Quest
minivan colorfully wrapped with graphics from the Nissan-sponsored
instructional booklet -- The What to Expect(TM) Guide to Car Seat Safety. The
Baby Buggy will travel the country providing free, child safety seat check-ups
for parents and caregivers. Heidi Murkoff, co-author of the best-selling What
to Expect parenting books and Nissan's partner in the Quest for Safety
campaign, will be on hand to christen the Baby Buggy and demonstrate how to
properly install and use child safety seats.
"As a mother, I know that strapping your child into a car seat is often a
worrisome process, since the difference between correct and incorrect usage
could save or cost a child's life," said Bono. "I'm pleased to join Nissan in
their 'Quest for Safety,' as well as the National Safety Council, to make sure
parents take their responsibility seriously and learn everything they can
about car seat use. Nothing is more important than ensuring that our nation's
little ones are driven safely."
The Baby Buggy Tour Makes Its First Stop
Immediately following the "brown bag" lunch, Nissan will conduct the first
in a nationwide series of free car seat safety clinics for the public. From
4-6 p.m. at the Spring Valley Outpatient Center of Children's National Medical
Center, 4900 Massachusetts Ave N.W. - 50th St. Parking Lot (A facility owned
by W.C. & A.N. Miller), specially trained child passenger safety teams from
SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. will perform thorough examinations of each car's child
restraint systems.
Participants will receive a free goodie bag which includes the
Nissan-sponsored instructional booklet, The What to Expect Guide to Car Seat
Safety. Heidi Murkoff will be in attendance to autograph the booklets and
explain the importance of proper child seat safety.
To thank Children's National Medical Center for hosting the clinic, Nissan
will donate a one-year lease of a Quest minivan that will be used for
advocacy, community education, public health and safety outreach activities.
"With the help of Mary Bono, the National Safety Council, the What to
Expect authors, and countless other concerned policymakers and safety
advocates, we're making great strides in communicating the importance of this
crucial safety issue," said Jason Vines, vice president, corporate
communications, Nissan North America, Inc. "We are excited to take our 'Baby
Buggy' on the road, to help parents and caregivers ensure the safety of our
youngest passengers."
About "Quest for Safety"
Quest for Safety is conducted in partnership with the authors of the best-
selling What to Expect(TM) parenting books. Central to the campaign is the
free booklet, The What to Expect Guide to Car Seat Safety. The booklet is
available in both English and Spanish, and offers simple, step-by-step
instructions for parents. It answers questions parents commonly ask; from
when to switch to a front-facing seat, to what to do if a child resists
buckling up, to how long a child should stay in a booster seat.
Since the launch of Quest for Safety less than one year ago, Nissan has
distributed more than 600,000 booklets to parents and caregivers nationwide.
Any person interested in receiving a free copy of The What to Expect Guide to
Car Seat Safety may call the Nissan Quest for Safety Helpline at
1-800-955-4500.
Nissan's Quest for Safety campaign benefits The What to Expect Foundation,
which exists to help every mother have the best odds of a healthy pregnancy
and every baby have the best odds of a healthy start in life. The
Foundation's first program will provide low-literacy pregnancy guides and
videos free of charge to disadvantaged mothers across the country.
Nissan has invested $3 billion in the United States to establish
facilities for its design, research and development, manufacturing, sales,
consumer and corporate financing, and marketing operations. More than sixty
percent of the Nissan trucks and cars sold in America are built in America.
Last year, Nissan purchased more than $4.2 billion in parts and materials from
U.S.-based suppliers.
Nissan employs more than 70,000 Americans, approximately 12,000 directly
and 58,000 at 1,250 Nissan and Infiniti retailers nationwide. More
information about Nissan North America, Inc. and the complete line of Nissan
and Infiniti vehicles can be found on-line at http://www.nissan-na.com.
