U.S. Classrooms to Receive Unique Air Bag Safety Course

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AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Dec. 13, 1996 -- In the wake of recent public concern about air bags and children, Chrysler Corporation (NYSE: C), the American Automobile Association (AAA), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) announced today that schools and day care centers across the U.S. will receive special educational materials on air bag safety. The campaign is one of the largest efforts of its kind ever conducted, and will be supported by a host of other prominent safety, law enforcement and medical organizations.

A letter announcing the "ABC's of Air Bag Safety -- The Back is Where It's At" educational program will be sent to more than 300,000 teachers, principals, school board and PTA presidents representing some 160,000 day care and private and public elementary schools across the nation. The materials developed by Chrysler and Lifetime Learning Systems of Fairfield, Connecticut, and with guidance from safety experts and educators, will be delivered to schools in January.

"Our message is simple: air bags are life-saving devices and saving lives every day," said Chrysler Chairman and CEO Robert J. Eaton. "But special precautions must be taken when driving children in air bag equipped vehicles. Children risk injury if they are unbelted, belted improperly or otherwise too close to the instrument panel when an air bag inflates. Parents and children alike need to know that to play it safe, kids need to ride in the back seat whenever possible. Infants in rear-facing child seats must ride in the back seat, no exceptions."

The ABCs of Air Bag Safety is structured to encourage good safety habits in children through traditional classroom learning. Concerns about air bags, prompted by the deaths of more than 30 children, motivated Chrysler, AAA, AAP and other organizations to join forces to educate parents and children alike on proper occupant protection. Teaching safety in the classroom during the formative years provides an opportunity to instill positive attitudes and behavior that students will retain for life. Professionally-developed instructional materials ensure that the lessons are age-appropriate and prepared in usable formats for teachers.

"It's never too early to begin teaching children about the importance of auto safety," said AAA President Robert L. Darbelnet. "Despite all of our efforts, almost 60% of children killed in vehicle crashes are unrestrained. We believe this training program will go a long way toward reducing these numbers. Our involvement continues AAA's long history of work in child passenger safety."

"As a child health safety advocate, the AAP enthusiastically supports ways to educate both children and parents about automobile safety," said AAP President Robert Hannenmann, M.D. "The ABCs of Air Bag Safety materials emphasize the importance of children riding in the rear seat of an automobile because it is the safest place for them to be."

The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also is supporting the program and asking its ten regional offices to promote it in states and communities. NHTSA reports that air bags have saved more than 1,500 lives, but warns that certain safety rules need to be followed for maximum benefit and to prevent injury or death to children. The agency advises that children age 12 and under should ride in the back seat, either in a child safety seat or using the vehicle's lap/shoulder belts, depending on the child's age and weight.

"Many parents understandably are concerned about air bags and want information on how their children can ride safely," said NHTSA administrator Dr. Ricardo Martinez, a board-certified emergency physician. "They also want their children to be able to make smart choices about personal safety. This important educational campaign delivers on that need, and should become the forerunner of continuous efforts to make safety a routine part of classroom learning."

The ABCs of Air Bag Safety educational materials will seek to convince children that it is "cool" to sit in the back seat, using the slogan, The Back is Where It's At! Included in the comprehensive package for teachers are brochures explaining why the back seat is the safest place for children to ride, an instructional video, teachers' guides, wall posters, colorful stickers for the children to use, and more than 30 million take-home pamphlets so parents will better understand the importance of requiring their children to ride in the back seat.

In addition, each student will receive a "Family's New Year Resolution" pledge form designed to encourage a family discussion -- and decision -- that all children will ride in the back seat, buckled up.

Although Chrysler is enabling the program by providing the funding, with the advice and counsel of the AAA and the AAP, many other organizations with an interest in education and highway safety, in addition to NHTSA, are supporting it enthusiastically. Included are the American Federation of Teachers, Emergency Nurses CARE, International Association of Chiefs of Police, Fraternal Order of Police, National Association of Governors' Highway Safety Representatives, the Air Bag Safety Campaign, National Safety Council, Optimist International, and the American Medical Association.

ON THE INTERNET: Visit Chrysler's Media Relations Web Site at http://www.media.chrysler.com for additional Chrysler news.

CONTACT: Jason Vines, 810-512-2704, or Michele Tinson, 810-512-2725, both of Chrysler