Free Child Safety Seat Inspections for Customers by Appointment
14 December 1999
DaimlerChrysler Launches 'Fit for a Kid' in Richmond, Williamsburg, Hampton Roads Areas: Free Child Safety Seat Inspections for Customers by Appointment; DaimlerChrysler is World's First Automaker to Offer Child Safety Seat Inspections as a Customer Service Working With Fisher-Price and the National Safety CouncilRICHMOND, WILLIAMSBURG, and HAMPTON ROADS, Va., Dec. 13 -- On any given day in the Richmond, Williamsburg and Hampton Roads areas, an estimated eight out of ten children are at risk in safety seats that are not properly secured. Help has arrived with a new DaimlerChrysler service called Fit for a Kid. Now, DaimlerChrysler customers in the Richmond, Williamsburg and Hampton Roads areas will be able to have their child safety seats checked-for free, by appointment. It is the first service of its type in the world. The service is a partnership with Fisher-Price and with the support of the National Safety Council. "Traffic crashes are the leading killer of kids," said Susan Cischke, senior vice president, regulatory affairs and passenger car operations, DaimlerChrysler. "Each year, about 1,000 children eight years of age and under are killed on our nation's roads. Well-intentioned parents simply do not realize that they may be installing their child's safety seat incorrectly. With Fit for a Kid, we want to help prevent countless injuries and deaths among children." DaimlerChrysler's new Fit for a Kid safety seat inspection service will serve more than 12,800 children a year in the Richmond, Williamsburg and Hampton Roads areas. By the end of 2000, the service will create the capacity to inspect more than 800,000 seats a year, compared to about 30,000 inspected in 1998 at community events throughout the nation. Fifteen dealers offer the service in these areas. To find a nearby dealer, customers can call 1-877-FIT-4-A-KID or click on http://www.fitforakid.org. Then they can call the dealer directly to make an appointment. "With Fit for a Kid, DaimlerChrysler has set a new standard for child passenger safety for the entire auto industry worldwide," said Jim Hall, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). "Incorrect installation of child safety seats is a serious problem, and if every automaker follows the leadership shown by DaimlerChrysler, the problem will be addressed." In January 1999, the NTSB issued a nationwide challenge to develop a network of permanent child safety seat fitting stations. DaimlerChrysler's Fit for a Kid is a direct response to the NTSB's call to action, and DaimlerChrysler is the only automaker in the world to respond with a comprehensive solution. Joining that solution is Fisher-Price, which will lend its child safety expertise and products to help make the program possible. Fisher-Price is contributing Safe Embrace car seats as loaner seats for customers who need them. The company also is offering discounts on Safe Embrace Convertible Car Seats and Booster Car Seats to customers who discover during the inspection that their current seat is not safe. Safe Embrace car seats were selected for the program because of their design innovations and safety features, such as a built-in tether strap. "Every Fisher-Price product represents an on-going commitment to safety and helping families get the best possible start in life. A significant part of that commitment is our line of Safe Embrace car seats," said Ken Mitchell, senior vice president lifestyle products, Fisher-Price. "Now, Fit for a Kid has taken child passenger safety to a new level and established a model for both the motor vehicle and child safety seat industries. We are very proud to be a partner in this nationwide initiative." The National Safety Council is coordinating the Fit for a Kid inspector training. "Traffic fatalities and injuries among children are an epidemic. In addition to 1,000 fatalities a year, traffic crashes injure an estimated 50,000 children under eight. Fit for a Kid is part of the vaccine," said National Safety Council Executive Director for Public Affairs Chuck Hurley. More than 2,000 new child safety seat inspectors will join the 25 in the Richmond, Williamsburg and Hampton Roads areas by the end of 2000-doubling the number of inspectors in the United States. Each inspector undergoes an intensive 32-hour course using the current Standardized Child Passenger Safety Training Program, developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Once inspectors complete the course, they are certified through AAA. "Our dealers are excited about Fit for a Kid," said Tom Loveless, Zone Manager for DaimlerChrysler dealers in the Richmond, Williamsburg and Hampton Roads areas. "Everyday our customers ask questions about safety seats and where to go for help. Now, we will be able to give our customers the expert help they need." Loveless said the service will be available initially at Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Plymouth dealers. Mercedes dealers are expected to offer the service next year. DaimlerChrysler also will make available to customers and install-free of charge-top tether hardware. Tethers are designed to improve forward-facing child seat performance in crashes by limiting the forward motion of the car seat. Fit for a Kid is one of several DaimlerChrysler safety initiatives. Other safety programs include The Back is Where It's At, Do the Buckle, The Neon Drunk Driver Simulator, and Stop Red Light Running. DaimlerChrysler also is a partner in the Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign. Fit for a Kid Participating Dealers for the Richmond, Williamsburg and Hampton Roads Area Green Gifford Motor Corp 2747 N Military Highway Norfolk, VA 23518 Greenbrier CPJE 1414 S Military Highway Chesapeake, VA 23320 Greenbrier Dodge 1717 S Military Highway Chesapeake, VA 23320 Haynes Jeep Chrysler/Plymouth 9520 W Broad Street Richmond, VA 23294 Pence CPDJ 11409 Washington Drive Ashland, VA 23005 Pomoco Auto Group (Hampton) 4116 W Mercury Blvd. Hampton, VA 23666 Pomoco Auto Group (Newport News) 12629 Jefferson Avenue Newport News, VA 23602 Quinn Motors Highway 17 Gloucester, VA 23061 Rappahannock Motors, Inc. 16057 James Madison Parkway King George, VA 22485 Starr Motors 2584 Pruden Blvd. Suffolk, VA 23437 Tysinger Motors 2712 Magruder Blvd. Hampton, VA 23666 Virginia Beach Dodge 3443 Virginia Beach Blvd. Virginia Beach, VA 23452 Whitten Bros 10701 Midlothian Pike Richmond, VA 23235 Williamsburg Dodge 7277 Richmond Road Williamsburg, VA 23188