As Traffic Deaths Hit 13-Year High and Congress to Make
Life-Death Decisions on Highway Bill
Crash Survivors to Urge Long-Awaited Action on Senate-Passed Bill
to Curb Deadly Rollover Crashes, Occupant Ejections, Vehicle Roof Crush,
and Violent Mismatch of SUVs and Cars in Crashes
Safety Advocates to Unveil 'Crash Tax' Burden on Americans
From Rising Tide of Road Deaths and Provide State-by-State
Data on Vehicle Rollover Fatalities
WHAT: NEWS CONFERENCE where nationally renowned pollster Lou Harris
will release the findings of a new Harris Poll gauging American
public opinion on major auto safety issues, and crash
survivors and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
(http://www.saferoads.org/) will urge Congress to take long-
awaited action to stem the rising tide of highway deaths by
enacting a Senate-passed bill with 10 vital safety features to
reduce deadly rollover crashes, occupant ejection, vehicle roof
crush, the violent mismatch of crashes between SUVs and cars, and
other safety remedies.
Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 cause of death of Americans ages
1 to 34. Traffic fatalities hit a 13-year high in 2003. Deaths
involving vehicle rollover crashes also are on the rise.
Advocates will provide national and state data on total traffic
deaths and rollover crash deaths, and will unveil the "Crash Tax"
burden on citizens resulting from road deaths and injuries.
Vehicle safety provisions in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and
Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA) passed the U.S.
Senate in February, but were not included in the House
bill. House and Senate conferees are meeting to work out the
differences in this multi-year, multi-billion dollar
transportation bill. A decision may come before Congress goes on
summer recess.
WHEN: Monday, July 12, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. EDT
WHERE: National Press Club (Holeman Lounge), 529 14th Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C.
WHO: LOU HARRIS, national pollster
JUDITH LEE STONE, President, Advocates for Highway and Auto
Safety
DENA AND PATRICK PARKER, Childress, TX. On August 29, 2001,
Patrick Parker, then age 37, became a quadriplegic when his 2001
pickup truck crashed, rolled over and the roof caved in.
MIRIAM CINTRON, West Palm Beach, FL. On November 7, 1997, her
19-year-old daughter Angie was killed near Orlando when her SUV
rolled over and the roof crushed in.
CARRIE THORNTON, age 20, Marietta, GA. On March 28, 2004, four of
her best friends at the University of Alabama were riding in a
SUV that rolled over while on spring break in Florida: Lauren
Braddy (Raleigh, NC) and Christin Lancaster (Tuscaloosa, AL)
died; Hannah Jones (Dothan, AL) and Mary McGinness (Lookout Mt.,
GA) were injured.
JOAN CLAYBROOK, President, Public Citizen
ALAN MANESS, Federal Affairs Director & Associate General
Counsel, State Farm Insurance Companies