* Seat belts: Perhaps the most preventable cause of death in the event of an SUV rollover is ejection from the vehicle. Eighty percent of deaths in SUV rollovers occur because occupants are unbelted.
“The guidelines appear to be simple, but they are the foundation for preventing rollovers and saving lives,” says Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller. “While the size and strength of SUVs may give people a feeling of invincibility, the reality is that they require very different handling than regular cars.”
Launched in January, the ESUVEE Safety Campaign is a national education program to combat the increasing trend toward SUV rollover accidents, particularly among younger drivers. The 50-state Campaign has created events and initiatives throughout 2005 designed to raise public awareness of the issue and to decrease the number of victims of such incidents. The Campaign has attracted the attention of the major national daily newspapers and the three network morning shows, and is supported by a number of prominent organizations, including Consumers Union (publisher of Consumer Reports), trafficschool.com and Weather.com.
“We are pleased with the widespread support and nationwide recognition the campaign has received,” says Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist. “We want people to understand that traveling with family and extra luggage can significantly alter an easy drive, making it much more challenging and risky.”
To underscore the importance of SUV safety, the Campaign’s Web site (www.esuvee.com) recently launched the Esuvee Challenge Course, an interactive game that highlights the handling differences between SUVs and regular cars. The game promotes awareness -- in an engaging and entertaining way -- of how various conditions affect the vehicle, subjecting the driver to changes in terrain type, tire pressure and cargo.
The Esuvee Challenge Course can be played on the Campaign’s Web site, www.esuvee.com. The site also features additional safety tips, a chance to take the “safe SUV driving pledge,” and details about upcoming SUV Safety Days around the country.
Courtesy of ARA Content
