NTSB Press Release

National Transportation Safety Board
Office of Public Affairs

NTSB RELEASES BOOKLET OUTLINING TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ISSUES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

December 7, 2000

Washington, D.C. - Today, the National Transportation Safety Board announced the publication of the booklet "Putting Children First." The publication outlines past and current problems involving transportation safety for children and youths, and reviews transportation safety improvements brought about by Safety Board recommendations.

Highway crashes are the leading cause of death for children in this country. Since the Safety Board's inception in 1967, more than 100 recommendations have been made on ways to improve the safety of America's children on the nation's highways, our waterways, and in our air.

"During my tenure at the Safety Board I have had countless conversations with parents whose children have been injured or died in traffic crashes," said Jim Hall, NTSB Acting Chairman. "They all emphasize that they don't want another family to endure a similar tragedy and that they are frustrated at how difficult it is to ensure the safety of their children when traveling by automobile."

Some of the issues discussed in the 35-page report are the dangers air bags pose to children, the need for permanent child safety seat fitting stations, car designs that focus on child safety, the need to strengthen construction standards of passenger vans used for school activities, the benefits of zero alcohol tolerance for drivers under age 21, and the need for child restraints in aviation.

"The Safety Board is working hard to change the way Americans think about the safety of our smallest passengers and to move the country towards a child-safe culture," Hall said. "The Safety Board urges every citizen and every government office to foster a safety culture that puts child transportation safety at the top of the safety agenda."

Copies of "Putting Children First" are available on the Safety Board's web site at www.ntsb.gov and from the NTSB's Public Inquiries Section, 490 L'Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington, DC, 20594, (202) 314-6551 or (800) 877-6799.

NTSB Media Contact:
Terry N. Williams
202-314-6100
williat@ntsb.gov

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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent federal agency charged with determining the probable cause
of transportation accidents, promoting transportation safety, and assisting victims of transportation accidents and their families.