NHTSA pursuing tougher crash standards
Getting a five-star crash test rating will get a whole lot tougher with a new proposal from the Bush Administration that would put into effect a requirement for side-impact testing.Grade inflation is one of the reasons behind the change, and with 87% of all vehicles earning a four- or five-star rating, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) admits that its rating system lacks influence in the car-buying decision (and we all know how much a government agency hates not having sufficient influence).
In addition to a side-impact test that might replicate a broadslide slide into a pole or tree, NHTSA is considering adding weight to the barriers to simulate impacts with heavier vehicles, increasing the speed used in crash tests, and modifying crash-test dummies to better represent smaller female occupants.
[Source: Detroit News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
apt34 3:53PM (1/09/2007)
This is good news... hopefully manufacturers will start making side airbags as standard as driver's airbags have become.
I also appreciate that they will be updating their crash tests to show what really happens when our waste happy *cough* SUV-happy culture runs into the rest of America.
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cs 6:58PM (1/09/2007)
Yes, but how about some more stringent driver training here in this country. I'm all for safe cars, but I'd much prefer to SHARE the road with safer more skilled drivers. It's not a hard to implement tougher licensing standards too.
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Mike 4:38PM (1/09/2007)
""" (and we all know how much a government agency hates not having sufficient influence). """
If it was up to Autoblog there would be no safety and fuel economy regulations by the government.........and i am pretty sure banning all carmakers that make quality cars would also be on agenda.
Basicaly anything a person who has had Rick Wagoners and Bill Fords thang in his mouth would do.....Autoblog would do.
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ME 5:28PM (1/09/2007)
This change making side airbags the norm would be good, but more likely I see it as "forcing" the manufacturers to make larger and heavier vehicles than they already are, and to me that is the opposite of the direction we need to go. :(
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chewy 11:08AM (1/10/2007)
Good job. I was thinking about the exact same thing with many vehicles getting top marks.
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Kwyjibo 7:45PM (1/09/2007)
All we really need is:
- Slower traffic keep right
- Only pass on the left
- Semi trucks and Buses stay one lane over from exit/on-ramp lane, in one line
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motorman 8:35PM (1/09/2007)
if we could outlaw drugs and booze 50% or more of these accidents would be eliminated. there was a good safety device in cars a few years ago,the car would would not start or run unless the seat belts were fastened. the owners screamed to have it removed so why should the auto companies worry about saving these peoples lives with added expense to all car owners like all these air bags. a lot of deaths would prevented if everyone wore their belts
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whofan 10:16PM (1/09/2007)
"Yes, but how about some more stringent driver training here in this country. I'm all for safe cars, but I'd much prefer to SHARE the road with safer more skilled drivers. It's not a hard to implement tougher licensing standards too."
And tell the 16 year olds who just got their license to put down the cell phones and drive.
Im all for safe cars, but a car is only as safe as the person operating it.
like blaming ATV`s for being unsafe, because 8 year old kids are getting killed on them.
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whofan 10:05PM (1/10/2007)
"Yes, but how about some more stringent driver training here in this country. I'm all for safe cars, but I'd much prefer to SHARE the road with safer more skilled drivers. It's not a hard to implement tougher licensing standards too."
And tell the 16 year olds who just got their license to put down the cell phones and drive.
Im all for safe cars, but a car is only as safe as the person operating it.
like blaming ATV`s for being unsafe, because 8 year old kids are getting killed on them.
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zetha 11:58AM (1/10/2007)
this is why 2 door coupes are like 3500lbs these days
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Phil 1:35PM (1/10/2007)
Bleeding heart ninnies oxymoronic demands:
At the same time as upping fuel economy requirements by 100%, let's have our self-perpetuating beauracracies require NO damage whatsoever to occupants in 70 MPH CRASHES, adding 1500 lbs to the average automobile, not to mention another $3000 to the price. Then go home and pack ourselves into the 4 Priuses our family uses on a single driver basis and pat ourselves on the back at a drug-and-alcohol induced orgy. Then get on the road afterwards.
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