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                  AUTOMOBILE SAFETY FOUNDATION

               INTERNATIONAL AUTO SAFETY EMERGENCY

                             WARNING

                         STEERING LOCKS!

                 Public service announcement from
                 the Automobile Safety Foundation
                 (ASF) a non-profit organization



The auto steering lock was introduced in the United States in
1969 as an anti-theft device, to prevent auto theft. That year
a half million vehicles were stolen. Since that time auto theft
has risen dramatically. Two million cars were stolen in the U.S.
last year, proving the steering lock to be a complete failure.
They are also a deadly hazard.

Steering lockup on moving vehicles causes harm and death
worldwide.

                         DOUBLE DANGER:

(1) Inadvertent lockup

For over twenty five years automobiles have been equipped
worldwide with this spring-loaded steering lock, and drivers have
never been administered operation training. The following WARNING
is printed in the CALIFORNIA DMV HANDBOOK: "NEVER TURN OFF THE
IGNITION OF YOUR VEHICLE WHEN IT IS STILL IN MOTION. THIS COULD
CAUSE THE STEERING TO LOCK AND YOU WOULD LOOSE CONTROL OF YOUR
VEHICLE."

The V.S. National Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated
in the Federal Register April 5, 1988, that they continue to
receive reports of serious injuries and fatalities from
inadvertent steering lockup.

There are six universal steering locks. Five of these utilize
a safety device to prevent inadvertent lockup.

Steering lock operation education can prevent inadvertent lockup.

(2) Sudden Lockup

The spring loaded design of the steering lock, is innately
dangerous. All springs will wear out or spring eventually,
therefore steering locks can malfunction or self activate at any
time. Locksmiths, consumer complaints, and accident reports
attest to this fact.

The steering lock poses an international safety emergency, and
should be abolished worldwide. Meanwhile there is an urgent need
to warn and educate drivers about steering lock operation.

For those that would like more information about this safety
emergency, ASF recommends the following reading:
(order from bookstore -- Baker & Taylor) 

1) STEERING LOCKS!  ISBN 0-9639964-8-7

2) MACHINATION  ISBN 0-9639964-7-9

These books contain complete steering lock operation instruction
and much more.

ASF encourages you to voice concerns to your government
and news media.

Tax deductable contributions to help ASF address this safety
matter can be sent to: 

ASF
P.O. BOX 905
Del Mar,  CA 92014