PHOENIX, June 16, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- U-Haul, North America's number one choice for do-it-yourself movers, is partnering with the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) in the "Don't Trash Arizona" Campaign. U-Haul is joining with MAG to encourage residents of Arizona to secure their loads and make the state a safer and cleaner place to live.
In August 2006, MAG launched "Don't Trash Arizona," a litter education and prevention program to help reduce the amount of litter on Valley and state freeways. As part of this program, MAG is seeking to educate citizens about the importance of securing their loads, since according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, unsecured loads are responsible for about 25,000 accidents each year in North America. For its part, U-Haul is supporting MAG by hanging posters and handing out brochures at all of its locations in Arizona advising customers to secure their load and "Don't Trash Arizona."
"U-Haul partnering with MAG was a natural fit," stated Bob Wesson, vice president of U-Haul Center Sales and Operations Support. "U-Haul believes in the "Don't Trash Arizona" Campaign, as our employees and our customers want our communities to be a safer and cleaner place to live."
MAG Vice Chair Mary Manross, who also serves on the Transportation Policy Committee, says road debris can be deadly.
"Unsecured loads are responsible for dozens of fatalities in the U.S. every year," said Manross. "Not only does roadway debris cost us in innocent lives and serious traffic accidents, it also costs us many hours of wasted time due to traffic delays that take us away from our work and our families," she said. "We are grateful to U-Haul for helping us spread this message to their customers right at the point when they are preparing to rent trucks and trailers, when it can have the most impact."
U-Haul takes pride in offering all the proper items for securing a load, i.e., tie downs, ropes and tarps. Anyone can purchase these items at any U-Haul center throughout North America or by visiting U-Haul online at www.uhaul.com. U-Haul center personnel are ready to answer any questions you may have about securing loads. And for more information on the "Don't Trash Arizona" Campaign including ways to "Secure Your Load," please visit www.DontTrashAZ.com.
Make sure your belongings and family are safe. Secure your load - it's the law!
Note to editor: A media presentation will be taking place on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at the U-Haul Center Cave Creek, 20618 North Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, Arizona 85024. Please contact Shanna Wolfe at 480-710-7891, to schedule a time for a one on one interview.
Since 1945, U-Haul has been the undisputed choice for the do-it-yourself mover, with a network of more than 15,650 locations in all 50 United States and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul customers' patronage has enabled the Company to maintain a fleet size of 96,000 trucks, 75,000 trailers and 35,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers more than 387,000 rooms and more than 34 million square feet of storage space at more than 1,075 owned and managed facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the consumer's number one choice as the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry. U-Haul supplies alternative-fuel for vehicles and backyard barbecues as one of the nation's largest retailer of propane.
The U-Haul International, Inc. logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5134