NEW YORK, NY, (NAMC) - The Advertising Council, in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Buena Vista Worldwide Home Entertainment, announced today the launch of new public service advertisements (PSAs) designed to encourage all Americans to wear seat belts.
The PSAs, part of the Ad Council’s longstanding seat belt education campaign with NHTSA, prominently feature characters from Disney/Pixar’s CARS, such as Lightning McQueen, Sally and Mater to help deliver the critical message of wearing seat belts in a family friendly way.
The seat belt is the single most effective protection against death and injury in a car crash, according to NHTSA. Research has found that lap/shoulder safety belts, when used, reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45%. In 2005, 31,415 occupants of passenger vehicles were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes. Of the 29,186 passenger vehicle occupant fatalities for which restraint use was known, 16,172 (55%) were unrestrained.
Since 1982 when the Ad Council launched the Seat Belt Education campaign, seat belt usage has increased from 14% to 82% and more than 85,000 lives have been saved by seat belts.
The new PSAs are designed to raise awareness among all drivers and passengers, including children, about the importance of buckling up at all times. The campaign also seeks to educate part-time seat belt users that there is never a safe time to be unbuckled. The PSAs feature the tagline “Every trip. Every time.” and direct audiences to visit
www.nhtsa.gov for more information.
The campaign, which features television spots, including Spanish-language advertising, and web banners, will be distributed to media outlets nationwide this month. Per the Ad Council’s model, the PSAs will appear in advertising time and space donated by the media.
“The Ad Council is thrilled to partner with Disney/Pixar and NHTSA in an effort to continue the success of our Seat Belt Education campaign,” said Peggy Conlon, President and CEO, the Ad Council. “We believe that these PSAs will help educate adults and children that a seat belt is always a necessity and in doing so continue to save lives.”
“You don’t get a chance to save thousands of lives simply by waving a magical wand or using digital animation,” said NHTSA Administrator Nicole Nason. “Everyone, everywhere, should buckle up on every trip every time. It is a proven fact: Seat belts save lives.”
The U.S. Department of Transportation/National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation, is responsible for reducing deaths, injuries and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes. NHTSA investigates safety defects in motor vehicles, sets and enforces fuel economy standards, helps states and local communities reduce the threat of drunk drivers, promotes the use of safety belts, child safety seats and air bags, investigates odometer fraud, establishes and enforces vehicle anti-theft regulations and provides consumer information on motor vehicle safety topics. Booster seat information is available at www.boosterseat.gov. The main website is www.nhtsa.gov.
Buena Vista Worldwide Home Entertainment
Buena Vista Worldwide Home Entertainment is a recognized industry leader. Buena Vista Worldwide Home Entertainment is the marketing, sales and distribution company for Walt Disney, Touchstone, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax, Dimension and Buena Vista DVDs.
The Advertising Council
The Ad Council (
www.adcouncil.org) is a private, non-profit organization with a rich history of marshalling volunteer talent from the advertising and media industries to deliver critical messages to the American public. Having produced literally thousands of PSA campaigns addressing the most pressing social issues of the day, the Ad Council has effected, and continues to affect, tremendous positive change by raising awareness, inspiring action and saving lives.
Non-Profit 
