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FIA, AvD [Automobilclub von Deutschland] and Bridgestone join together for road safety

Michael Schumacher, as FIA representative for road safety in Hockenheim, launched the world-wide road safety campaign "Think Before You Drive" today.

The world-wide automobile association, FIA, and its FIA-Foundation, under the patronage of their president Max Mosley, have taken on the cause of the EU initiative to reduce the accident rate and started the world-wide road safety campaign "Think Before You Drive". The tyre maker Bridgestone has come forth as main sponsor for the campaign, which is organized and lead in this country by the Automobile Club of Germany (AvD), as founding member of the FIA.

The accident rate in Germany is better than ever, but the number is still too high. The most important causes for the 417,923 accidents in the year 2004 are failure to adapt speed (72.372), not keeping enough distance (47.679), right-of-way accidents (61.521), alcohol (21.096) and driving while on drugs, as well as the lack of safety for passengers; also air pressure and lack of the tires (1.316). Tiredness and dozing off for a second are a cause for approximately 1/5 of the accidents. 

Think Before You Drive wants to fight the recognized main risks:  

      - Seat-belts, which are not fastened, incorrectly used or defective,

      - the lack of child safety,

      - the incorrect positioning of headrests,

      - alcohol, medication and drugs.

Lack of tyre pressure and the condition of tyres are central to the campaign, which also keeps tabs on distractions at the wheel and failure to keep to speed limits.

"In the previous year alone, 5842 people were killed in road accidents. That is 5842 people too many", said AvD President Wolfgang-Ernst Fürst zu Ysenburg in the introduction. "Therefore the AvD is working as the German partner of the world-wide safety campaign "Think Before You Drive" and is following through on numerous actions, along with the FIA-Foundation and Bridgestone, in order to increase awareness of the dangers."

Habit and over-estimation of one's ability, along with a lack of information, are the main causes of traffic accidents.  As "Think Before You Drive" - experts provide a crash test dummy with the aid of the internet, informational brochures and comics that makes known the risk factors that can lead to serious or even fatal accidents and how to correctly assess them. And it gives tips on how drivers can avoid them without much trouble.

     - Headrests can be correctly positioned in no time at all: this prevents neck-spinal column injuries, which often have

       life-long consequences. 

     - Seat-belts should be used correctly.

     - Children should always be properly secured.

     - Pay attention to the correct tire [tyre] pressure: to aid that, the campaign offers free tyre pressure checking

       through large events throughout the whole federal territory.

     - Refrain from using alcohol and drugs.

     - Avoid distractions from the phone, navigation etc..

Every life counts. On account of this the AvD, in the name of Michael Schumacher, the FIA, its President Fürst zu Ysenburg and the campaign partners, offered to make the goals of the campaign known. "Think Before You Drive" makes sure that safety awareness is brought to as many people as possible.

Original article, in German, from the AvD (this page has been translated, above, by a DSA volunteer)  [SMc] 

More on the global 'Think Before You Drive' Campaign (in English) from the FIA Foundation

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     German road users have been asked to ‘Erst Denken Dann Lenken’ by Michael Schumacher at the launch of the German Think Before You Drive campaign.

     The Ferrari driver and 7 times Formula One world champion briefed journalists on the messages of the road safety advice campaign at the German Grand Prix in Hockenheim, at an event organised by the German automobile club AvD.

     The FIA Foundation seatbelt slide [known in the USA as the 'Convincer'] operated by Bridgestone at the grand prix circuit was a success once again, with thousands of people experiencing the stunning impact of [even] a low speed crash.

     The AvD / Bridgestone countrywide campaign also began at street level, with a Ferrari Formula One car displayed in a nearby shopping centre serving as a magnet to attract shoppers, who then received a Think Before You Drive leaflet and were offered a tyre safety check. A few people doing their early morning food shopping were unimpressed with the multi-million dollar car, but the vast majority of shoppers promptly responded to invites to have their tyres checked....    [SMc]