The law requiring drivers to wear seat belts celebrates its 30^th anniversary this month in the UK. Since then, seat belt use has increased dramatically and many lives have been saved.

Soon after the law went into effect in 1983, 90 percent of drivers and front-seat passengers were buckling up.  These high rates of seat belt use have been sustained since that time.

When wearing seat belts became compulsory for all rear-seat occupants in 1991, there was an immediate 30 percent increase in usage -- from 10 percent to 40 percent.

A TRW product life cycle management expert served as a keynote speaker at Woodward Inc.'s annual leadership conference last month.  Woodward is a Colorado-based supplier of energy and aerospace control systems.

Joan Hart, director of Cost Engineering, Program Management and Engineering Quality for TRW, addressed 80 members of Woodward's top leadership team.  Hart discussed the evolution and management of program management at TRW, including monthly status reviews, metrics, the launch project reporting database and functional audit.

Requiring automakers to make the latest collision prevention technologies standard equipment on all new cars and trucks could reduce fatal highway accidents by more than half, according to the US National Traffic Safety Board (NTSB) in an announcement this week.

TRW Automotive's North American Aftermarket Group made news at the recent Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) when it launched an all-makes premium chassis program in the North America aftermarket. 

Imagine never again having to pound a vehicle's steering wheel in search of the horn.  TRW's new frustration-free electronic horn is activated by simply touching a conductive area on the steering wheel airbag cover. 

Special coatings transform the airbag cover into a three-dimensional electrical conductive surface.  It can detect the position of a finger or hand and send a signal to an electronic control unit - resulting in horn activation that requires no force.

The US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood visited TRW Automotive's global headquarters in Livonia, Michigan, in late September.  LaHood received an update on TRW's efforts to deliver advanced, affordable safety to drivers and passengers in the US and globally.

While at TRW, the Secretary and distinguished visitors, including David Strickland, Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, received a tour that included:

A seven-day 'Ride & Drive' event enabled nearly 200 engineers and other employees from 12 global automakers to experience 18 vehicles with TRW's latest technologies and systems on them.   The event took place at the company's test track in Locke Township, Michigan, earlier this month. 

Attendees represented GM, Ford, Chrysler, Hyundai-Kia, Nissan, Honda and Toyota.  Customers from several German and Chinese OEMs, plus members of the media, also attended.  Most of the visitors were from the U.S., but some came from as far away as Mexico, Germany, China and Korea.   

A fun, interactive TRW iPhone application is teaching children in China the importance of road safety... and is honing their English skills as well.

The app moves through a series of driving scenarios, where users identify unsafe behaviors by clicking on designated areas of the screen.  When risky behaviors are selected, the app advances to the next scenario.  Two optional soundtracks -- either English or Chinese - narrate the story line and provide hints.  Popup windows explain why certain behaviors are not safe.

TRW Automotive videos and animations highlighting the company's cognitive safety systems are now captured on the popular YouTube website for immediate access globally.

The TRW Automotive Channel on YouTube features a series of short pieces, each several minutes in length.  These include a TRW "branding" video, image film and "road map" that outlines TRW's development of safety systems technology.  Viewers will also find videos about specific technologies, such as the latest braking systems and lane departure warning.