The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

RH&A Launches Innovative Internet Auto Safety Document Service

15 June 1998

RH&A Launches Innovative Internet Auto Safety Document Service 
    ARLINGTON, Va., June 15 -- Ralph Hoar & Associates has
introduced DocShop, an innovative, on-line auto safety research and document
retrieval service.
    "Our goal is to use the Internet to help consumers, insurers, engineers,
researchers and lawyers get NHTSA documents quickly, easily and
inexpensively," said Ralph Hoar, president of Ralph Hoar & Associates.  RH&A
is an Arlington, Virginia product safety consulting firm.
    "NHTSA's doing a fairly good job of using the Internet to let people know
what kind of information the government has about a wide range of vehicle
safety problems.  Knowing that the government has the information is just half
the battle," Hoar said.  "Making it easy and inexpensive for people to
actually get the documents is what we're doing with DocShop."
    RH&A has developed an interface with seven NHTSA databases: Recalls,
Defect Investigations, Consumer Complaints, Compliance Reports, Service
Bulletins, Crash Test Reports and Videos and Interpretation Letters.  From
within the DocShop system, valuable navigation tips and a simple order form
are displayed alongside NHTSA's website.  DocShop users can perform unlimited
searches on NHTSA's databases and, after they've identified the items they
want, easily place an order for them.  Price quotes for certified documents,
certified interpretation letters and complete defect investigation reports are
also available at no obligation to buy.  Delivery is 10 days, a 72-hour rush
service is also available.
    To use DocShop, Internet users logon through The Safety Forum, RH&A's
Internet Division and domain (http://www.safetyforum.com). There is no access
fee and no obligation to buy.
    "We believe that DocShop will be one of the most important aids to those
interested in obtaining hard to get, relevant information and therefore the
truth about what the car companies are up to," said DocShop user Attorney
Robert Palmer, in Springfield, Missouri.  "It is vital that all of us who are
interested in consumers' rights have access to this extremely easy to use and
complete resource," he added.
    RH&A, celebrating 10 years as a product safety consulting firm, is best
known for its work to get Chrysler to fix minivan latches and other efforts to
improve vehicle safety.