New DOT Consumer Guide Makes Shopping for Safety Features Easier
11 December 1998
New DOT Consumer Guide Makes Shopping for Safety Features Easier WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Are you shopping for a new vehicle and
want safety features such as side impact air bags, anti-lock brakes, traction
control or daytime running lights? The Department of Transportation and AAA
today announced the release of a new consumer guide that makes it easier to
find the vehicle you are looking for.
"Safety features that once were offered only in expensive vehicles are now
common in many economy vehicles, so consumers should take advantage of the
increased safety that these features offer," said Ricardo Martinez, M.D., head
of the department's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
"Safety is President Clinton's highest transportation priority."
The new brochure, New Car Safety Features -- Valuable Information to Help
You Buy a Safer Car, presents detailed information on safety features for 1999
model year vehicles. With it, consumers and prospective purchasers can compare
descriptions and availability of safety features in different makes and
models.
The brochure should be especially helpful to those who are shopping for
compact or economy models. Features such as four-wheel anti-lock brakes, front
seat upper adjustable belts, traction control, seat belt pretensioners and
side air bags often are available in smaller, less expensive cars.
The brochure is the first in a series of 1999 NHTSA publications designed
to help consumers "shop for safety" when purchasing new vehicles. The other
publications are Buying A Safer Car, which presents government crash-test
results and safety features information, and Buying A Safer Car For Child
Passengers, which provides information to help parents make an informed
decision when purchasing a family vehicle.
The new brochure is available through the NHTSA Auto Safety Hotline,
1-888-DASH-TO-DOT (1-888-327-4326), and through the NHTSA Web site,
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
