Mitsubishi Motors and Kids Safety First to Conduct Safety Seat Checks at Mitsubishi Dealerships Nationwide During Busy Summer Travel Season

CYPRESS, Calif., July 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of the busy summer travel season, Mitsubishi Motors and Kids Safety First (KSF), in conjunction with Dorel Juvenile Group USA, a division of Dorel Industries Inc. (TSX: DII.B, DII.A), will host child safety seat inspection events at Mitsubishi dealerships in nine states – Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Virginia, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Washington.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children 3 to 14 years old. Four children in the U.S. are killed in crashes each day and 529 additional children are injured. National data show that 73% of child restraints are critically misused, and last year's Kids Safety First events saw a 92% misuse rate. When used properly, child restraints reduce the likelihood of an infant under the age of 1 being killed in a vehicle crash by 71%, and by 54% for toddlers one to four years old. Booster seats reduce injuries by 45% over seat belts alone for children ages four to eight. While many states have enhanced their requirements for child restraint use, recent studies show that only half of children ages four through eight ride in any type of child restraints.

At the Kids Safety First events this summer, families will receive hands-on instruction from certified child passenger safety technicians on how to properly select, install and use their child restraint systems. Certified technicians have been through extensive training with a national standardized course, and have field experience.

"We founded Kids Safety First to educate parents and caregivers about the proper use of child safety seats and booster seats," said Jorgen Weterrings, co-founder of the CA-based 501(c)(3) organization.  "As parents of young children, we experienced first-hand the confusion parents often face in selecting and using the right child safety seats as their children grow and age."  

The all-volunteer, grassroots, non-profit organization provides free automotive child safety materials to police, fire and rescue, hospitals, schools and pre-natal centers throughout the United States. Weterrings and KSF co-founder PK Shrivastava collectively have over 40 years of experience in automotive technology and safety.  

Dorel Juvenile Group USA is also partnering in the effort by donating $15,000 worth of car seats to the effort, which will be used to replace unsafe and expired seats to ensure that children leave the events as safely as possible. Dorel is the largest manufacturer of children's car seats globally, with 90 percent of the Company's North America car seats produced in Columbus, Indiana. Dorel's portfolio of leading car seat brands includes Cosco, Safety 1st, Eddie Bauer and Maxi-Cosi.  

"At Dorel, everything we do is dedicated to helping provide a safer world for children," said Dave Taylor, President of Dorel Juvenile Group US. "We gladly participate in car seat checks across the country, providing resources to our fellow advocate community."

To date more than 4 million sets of KSF materials have been distributed across the country. For additional information or to order materials please visit www.kidssafetyfirst.org.

The scheduled child passenger safety inspection stations are as follows:

GEORGIA – Atlanta area

Don Jackson Mitsubishi
August 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
4000 Jonesboro Road
Union City, GA 30291

Jim Ellis Mitsubishi Marietta
July 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
1195 Cobb Parkway South
Marietta, GA 30060

Douglasville Mitsubishi
August 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
7488 Douglas Blvd.
Douglasville, GA 30135

INDIANA – Indianapolis area

Andy Mohr Mitsubishi
August 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
13927 Trade Center Drive
Fishers, IN 46038

WASHINGTON, DC AREA

Shirlie Slack Mitsubishi
July 9 from noon to 3 p.m.
3475 Jefferson Davis Hwy
Fredericksburg, VA 22408

King Mitsubishi-Md
July 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
16160 Frederick Road
Gaithersburg, MD 20877

OHIO – Columbus area

Columbus Mitsubishi-North
August 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
8600 N. High Street
Columbus, OH 43235

Columbus Mitsubishi-West
August 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
3880 Fishinger Blvd.
Hilliard, OH 43026

Ricart Mitsubishi
August 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
4255 South Hamilton Road
Groveport, OH 43125-9332

ILLINOIS

Continental Mitsubishi
July 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
5800 S. Lagrange Road
Countryside, IL 60525
708-354-1400

O'brien Mitsubishi Normal
August 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
1601 Fort Jesse Road  
Normal, IL 61761
888-483-3446

MINNESOTA – St. Paul area

White Bear Lake Mitsubishi
August 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
3400 Highway 61
White Bear Lake, MN 55110

MISSOURI

Joe Machens Mitsubishi
August 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
500 Vandiver Drive
Columbia, MO 65202

WASHINGTON – Seattle area

Younker Mitsubishi
August 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
3820 E Valley Road, South
Renton, WA 98057

SOURCE Kids Safety First; Mitsubishi Motors