FRANKFORT, Ky. — National Vehicle Safety Recalls Week is March 6-12 – an ideal time to check whether your motor vehicle is among nearly 50 million cars and trucks on the road today with unrepaired safety recalls.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, in partnership with the National Safety Council, encourages every Kentucky vehicle owner to use the occasion to check their recall status and schedule a free repair if needed.
“Safety is our No. 1 priority,” KYTC Secretary Jim Gray said. “One of the most effective ways to increase your personal safety is proper maintenance of your vehicle, and that includes taking a minute or two to check whether your vehicle is the subject of an open recall.”
In Kentucky, those chances are better than 1 in 5, with 21.6% of vehicles on the road today having unrepaired safety recalls.
Many recalls involve defective parts that can pose life-threatening risks to drivers or passengers. Led by NSC, the “Check to Protect” campaign encourages all vehicle owners to proactively check their recall status and, if necessary, schedule a free repair at a local dealer as soon as possible. Owners are encouraged to check for recalls every time the vehicle is serviced.
“Whether leaving for an errand or a long road trip, it is a critical part of safety to prepare your vehicle before you depart for your destination,” said Lonny Haschel, senior program manager with the Mobility Safety Impact Program at NSC. “Start by checking your vehicle for open safety recalls. It is important for the safety of all road users – both inside and outside the vehicle – and is easy to do. NSC encourages every driver to check their vehicle for an open recall and get it repaired for free as soon as possible, so they can drive safely knowing their vehicle is in good working condition for all involved.”
Drivers can easily learn whether their vehicles have an open recall by visiting CheckToProtect.org and entering a photo of their license plate or by entering the license plate number and state. Drivers may also enter the 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number. Information entered is used only to identify open recalls.
All recalls are free to have repaired at authorized dealers, regardless of where the vehicle was purchased. For more information on safety recalls, visit CheckToProtect.org.
Check to Protect is a national campaign, bringing together a coalition of automakers, traffic safety partners, state DMVs and others. The coalition is led by the National Safety Council and encourages drivers to check the recall status of their vehicle and have open recalls fixed immediately.