NTSB -- NTSB ACTING CHAIRMAN SAYS KEEP SAFETY FIRST AS THE SUMMER SEASON BEGINS

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NTSB PRESS RELEASE

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National Transportation Safety Board

Washington, DC 20594

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 21, 2009

SB-09-24

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NTSB ACTING CHAIRMAN SAYS KEEP SAFETY FIRST AS THE

SUMMER SEASON BEGINS

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As we approach the beginning of another summer travel season,

National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Mark V. Rosenker

today reminded all Americans that a few simple safety precautions

can keep us safe while we spend time with family and friends.

Rosenker emphasized the importance of safety on our waterways

by encouraging the use of personal flotation devices (PFDs) for

recreational boaters. Every year more than 700 boaters die on U.S.

waterways, and about 70 percent of those are by drowning. Most of

those that drowned were in small boats, those less than 21 feet

long. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the use of PFDs (life

jackets) would have prevented at least 80 percent of those drowning

deaths.

"It has been proven that life jackets will save many more lives if our

family members take that extra step to wear them when boating,"

said Rosenker.

Rosenker again urged Virginia and Wisconsin, the only two states

that do not require children to wear PFDs while boating, to enact

such legislation this year. Wisconsin is currently considering such

a law.

Highway transportation accounts for more than 90 percent of all

transportation fatalities in the United States. The NTSB has long

advocated a series of safety improvements for highway travel,

including mandatory seat belt laws, age-21 drinking laws and child

restraints.

Like PFDs for those on boats, being properly restrained in an

automobile is the best way to protect every person in a vehicle.

Unrestrained vehicle occupants are ejected 29 percent of the time.

When totally ejected, 74 percent are killed. When vehicle

occupants use seat belts, only 1 percent of the belted population is

ejected. When buckling up children, remember that children up to

8 years old need to be in a child safety seat or booster seat

appropriate for their height and weight.

"All of these safety measures take just a moment to remember and

act upon," said Rosenker. "All of us should do our part to make

this holiday weekend and all those to come a safe and enjoyable

one."

For safety alerts on boating and highway transportation please visit

the NTSB Web site at http://www.ntsb.gov/alerts/alerts.htm.

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Media Contact: Keith Holloway, 202-314-6100

hollowk@xxxxxxxx

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