For immediate release
March 19, 2001
ABS PR 01-01

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ABS Tape Now Available With Spanish Captions

Research Triangle Park, N.C. - The ABS Education Alliance videotape is now available with Spanish captioning.

The English-language six-and-a-half minute instructional video, for use in driver education classrooms, provides instructions about the proper use of four-wheel anti-lock braking systems (ABS).

"The ABS education video is an important tool for teaching drivers how to safely and properly operate their anti-lock brakes," said Rosemarie Kitchin, the Alliance's executive director. "We've found that many drivers who have ABS-equipped vehicles have never learned the fundamental difference between conventional braking systems and ABS. This video is designed to teach correct ABS usage - and potentially save a driver's life in an emergency.

"The Alliance had good response to the brochure that we printed in Spanish," said Kitchin. "Given the prevalent use of video in education, and the increasing number of Spanish-first-language students, we thought it important to add Spanish captions to our tape."

The video has footage of students driving with and without ABS systems. It incorporates testimonials by adult drivers who have used ABS to successfully avoid a crash. It focuses on driver safety by emphasizing the most significant factors in 4-wheel ABS braking systems: A driver making a unplanned stop should always keep his foot firmly on the brake and apply continuous pressure while steering the car out of danger. The brake pedal pulsations the driver may feel and the mechanical noise the driver may hear are signals that ABS is working properly.

The Alliance's education tools include ¾ besides the ABS video and brochure in English and Spanish ¾ a complete curriculum about anti-lock braking systems' use, a brochure about intelligent stability and handling systems, and a curriculum about the stability and handling technologies. All materials are posted at the Alliance Web site, www.abs-education.org.

None of the Alliance material is copyrighted. The Alliance materials may be duplicated in their entirety and passed along to others at no charge.

Individuals or groups may order the video with Spanish subtitles from the Alliance Web site or by sending a check or money order for $8.95 (each) to ABS Education Alliance, PO Box 13966, 10 Laboratory Drive, Research Triangle Park, N.C., 27709-3966.

The video is also available with English subtitles for the same price. .

"Our goal is education and safety," said Kitchin. "We encourage users to copy and share our video."

For more information about ABS and intelligent stability and handling systems, visit the ABS Education Alliance Web site, www.abs-education.org.

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