LAS VEGAS — The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) has announced a partnership with the MyCarDoesWhat campaign — a research-driven campaign created by the National Safety Council and University of Iowa to help raise awareness of new vehicle safety features designed to prevent crashes and reduce deaths and injuries.

Research from the University of Iowa shows that most consumers are unsure about how potentially life-saving vehicle safety features work. It also shows that consumers are unlikely to fully and properly utilize the features if they are not introduced to them within the first 90 days of vehicle ownership. 

“While our cars are getting safer, we might not be taking advantage of the new safety features on our cars as much as we can be,” said NADA President Peter Welch. “A blind spot monitoring system can’t help you if you don’t have it turned on, and automatic emergency braking isn’t going to keep you safe if you think it’s a substitute for being an active, alert driver.

"As the main touch point for consumers considering new car purchases, dealers have a very natural role to play here," he added. "And by working together, hopefully we can close the consumer education gap, and achieve our shared goal of getting drivers to feel comfortable and confident with all their vehicles have to offer on the safety front.”

The MyCarDoesWhat campaign was created to educate consumers about how to best interact with safety features in order to promote safer driving experiences. The campaign uses multi-media educational tools, public service announcements, consumer-friendly videos and graphics, brochures, fact sheets, a game app and social media platform to educate drivers, according to the association.

“If motor vehicle crashes were a disease, vehicle safety technologies could be the cure,” said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. “Through this partnership, it is our hope that making these materials available to new car owners will pique their curiosity, and they will take the time to learn about the new technology they’re driving home.”

For more, visit the campaign’s website.