Free Child Safety Seat Inspection Service Offered in the New York Area
18 April 2000
DaimlerChrysler Opens Its Free Child Safety Seat Inspection Service To Every Child in the New York Area; Announces Fit for a Kid Available Today at Five New Local Dealers
NEW YORK, April 17 Beginning today, five new
DaimlerChrysler dealers in the New York area officially open the doors of its
free, permanent child safety seat inspection service-Fit for a Kid-to all
families, no matter what make or model vehicle they drive.
Whether you drive a Ford, Honda, Toyota, or any other vehicle,
participating Fit for a Kid dealers will inspect your child safety seat at no
charge. Vehicle crashes are the leading killer of kids and studies show more
than 80 percent of children in safety seats are not correctly buckled in.
"With Fit for a Kid, DaimlerChrysler is taking its commitment to safety to
new heights," said Jim Holden, president of DaimlerChrysler. "Fit for a Kid
offers a simple, understandable solution to a serious problem with an
unmatched, personalized safety service."
Working with Fisher-Price and the National Safety Council, DaimlerChrysler
is the only automaker that provides free child safety seat inspections at
permanent locations throughout the United States with Fit for a Kid. The
service is now open at 15 Five Star dealers in the New York area. These
dealers join more than 450 DaimlerChrysler dealers across the country who
offer this lifesaving service. Thirty-seven inspectors have been trained in
New York, with more than 750 nationwide.
"Our dealers are excited about offering Fit for a Kid as a public safety
service to our entire community," said Mark Engelsdorfer, zone manager for
DaimlerChrysler in the New York area.
Fit for a Kid will be available nationally in 1,000 Five Star(1)
dealerships by the end of the year -- creating the capacity to inspect an
estimated 800,000 child safety seats a year. In New York, the service could
help an estimated 12,000 children a year.
In January 1999, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) called on
automakers and others to create a national system of permanent child safety
seat fitting stations. DaimlerChrysler is the only company to meet that
challenge.
"By making its Fit for a Kid child safety seat fitting stations available
to every family in America, DaimlerChrysler will save countless children from
needless injury and death," said Jim Hall, NTSB chairman. "I salute
DaimlerChrysler and its dealers for their remarkable commitment to safety. I
urge every parent and caregiver to take advantage of DaimlerChrysler's program
and have their children's safety seats inspected at the earliest opportunity."
To illustrate the problem and the need, DaimlerChrysler recently released
the results of a national survey of 600 drivers who regularly transport small
children. The survey found that 96 percent of respondents felt very or
somewhat comfortable that they always install and use their child seats
correctly. In contrast, actual safety seat inspections show that only 20
percent of children in safety seats are, in fact, properly buckled in. The
survey found that 40 percent of adults did not know about the misuse problem,
and more than 70 percent said they were likely to use the Fit for a Kid
service.
According to DaimlerChrysler Senior Vice President Sue Cischke, "Fit for a
Kid is designed to be a convenient, personalized service for today's busy
parents." She said appointments can be scheduled by calling toll free
1-877-FIT-4-A-KID or clicking on http://www.fitforakid.org to find a nearby dealer
and then calling a dealer directly. Each inspection takes 20-30 minutes.
According to Hall, "This could be the most important 20 minutes of your
child's life."
Fisher-Price and the National Safety Council work with DaimlerChrysler on
this child safety commitment. Fisher-Price provides child passenger safety
expertise and loaner seats. The company also is offering discounts on Safe
Embrace Convertible Car Seats and Booster Car Seats to caregivers who discover
during the inspection that their current seat is not safe.
The National Safety Council coordinates the inspector training and record
keeping. 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 American Automobile Association.
To increase awareness of the problem and to encourage seat inspections,
DaimlerChrysler recently announced a promotional partnership with Arthur, the
star of a best selling book series and the number one children's television
program on PBS.
Fit for a Kid is one of several DaimlerChrysler safety initiatives. Other
safety programs include The Back is Where It's At, Stop Red Light Running, Do
the Buckle, and The Neon Drunk Driver Simulator. DaimlerChrysler also is a
partner in the Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign.
1. Five Star dealers are certified through DaimlerChrysler's trademarked
process for ensuring customer service excellence. Hallmarks of the program
include a commitment to properly trained and satisfied employees, customer-
focused sales, service and parts processes, comprehensive customer follow-up,
and clean, well-organized facilities.
Fit for a Kid
Participating Dealers in the New York City Market
Adzam Auto Sales
519 Bedford Road
Bedford Hills, NY 10507
* Begnal Motors CPJ
515 Albany Avenue
Kingston, NY 12401
Borough Jeep Chrysler Plymouth
168 Hamburg Turnpike
Wayne, NJ 07470
Central Avenue Chrysler Plymouth
1840 Central Park Avenue
Yonkers, NY 10710
Chrysler Plymouth Jeep of Stamford
840 East Main Street
Stamford, CT 06902
Croton Dodge
365 South Riverside Avenue
Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520
Di Feo Chrysler Plymouth Jeep
599 Route 440
Jersey City, NJ 07304
* Nanuet Chrysler Plymouth Jeep
60 Route 304
Nanuet, NY 10954
Remsen Dodge
Highway 35 & Bedle Road
Hazlet, NJ 07730
* Robert Green CPDJ
Route 17 East Exit 107
Rockhill, NY 12775
* Salerno Chrysler Plymouth Dodge
3655 Route 202
Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
* Sawyer Motors CPDJ
Ulster Avenue
Saugerties, NY 12477
Seaview Jeep Buick
810 Highway 35
Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Westbury Jeep Chrysler
110 State Street
Westbury, NY 11590
Yonkers Avenue Dodge
500 Yonkers Avenue
Yonkers, NY 10704
For more information about participating dealers in the New York City
market, please call Joan O'Malley at 914-578-2237.
* Indicates that the dealer was recently added to the Fit for a Kid
service.