DaimlerChrysler Launches MADD 20th Anniversary Tour
9 February 2000
DaimlerChrysler Launches MADD 20th Anniversary National Neon Drunk Driving Simulator TourDALLAS, Feb. 9 -- Dallas area youth and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) National Board members will experience the sobering effects of the Neon Drunk Driving Simulator as DaimlerChrysler kicks off the 2000 Simulator tour honoring MADD's 20th anniversary. The nationally-known safety program allows high school students to experience firsthand the dangers of "driving drunk" without taking a sip of alcohol. The Simulator tour features a fleet of specially equipped Dodge/Plymouth Neons that can be "programmed" with the driver's weight and a hypothetical number of drinks. As a result, steering and braking responses are delayed -- producing an effect similar to the slowed mental and physical responses of a driver under the influence of alcohol. With these impairments, the driver attempts to negotiate an obstacle course -- without hitting the orange pylons or the pedestrian figures that "pop up" along the way. The specially equipped Neons will visit more than 250 schools across America and help educate teens about the dangers of underage drinking and impaired driving. At each school, students will create their own Victim Tribute Panel to local victims of impaired and drunk driving. The panels will form a "Wall of Remembrance" and will be presented at the MADD National Youth Summit to Prevent Underage Drinking 2000 in Washington, DC in October. WHAT: DaimlerChrysler and MADD kick-off the 2000 Neon Drunk Driving Simulator tour WHEN: Friday, Feb. 11, 9:15 a.m.-10:30 a.m. WHERE: Highland Park High School, 4220 Emerson (parking lot) WHO: -- A.C. (Bud) Liebler, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing for Dodge and Chrysler/Plymouth/Jeep brands, DaimlerChrysler -- Millie I. Webb, MADD National President WHY: Impaired driving is still a major problem among American youth. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for young people in the U.S. and 28 percent of young drivers involved in fatal crashes in 1998 had been drinking (NHTSA, 1999). Underage drinking is the No. 1 drug problem among American youth. VISUALS: -- Student and MADD National Board members maneuvering vehicles through obstacle course -- DaimlerChrysler executives and MADD National Board members cutting anniversary cake, and unveiling first Victim Tribute Panel -- Specially equipped and decaled Neon and tour trailer CONTACT: Sheila Gruber McLean of DaimlerChrysler, 248-512-2986 or Kimberly Shults of Golin-Harris, 312-729-4286, or Tresa Hardt of MADD, 214-744-6233, ext. 245.