Consumer Reports -CR- Says Government Should Expand and Improve its Crash-Testing Program; CR Says Consumers Need Even Better Crash-Protection Information
YONKERS, N.Y.--March 12, 2002--HOW CONSUMERS REPORTS (CR) TESTS CARS:
| -- | CR maintains its IMPARTIALITY by buying all the cars it tests from dealers, just as consumers do, accepting no ads, and barring the commercial use of its reports. |
| -- | CR automotive EXPERTS test all cars at our track and on public roads, for performance, convenience, and comfort, with safety in mind. |
| -- | CR surveys its subscribers to provide RELEVANT information on auto reliability, dealer satisfaction, and more. |
| -- | CR is published by Consumers Union, an INDEPENDENT, NON-PROFIT champion for consumers. |
Crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have had a dramatic impact on improving vehicle safety. However, it is time for the government to set new safety benchmarks and expand its crash-testing program.
A CR analysis also found that not all vehicles earn comparable scores in both IIHS and government tests. In fact, 13 cars, trucks, and minivans that have current ratings of four or five stars in NHTSA's full-frontal tests received a Poor rating in the IIHS offset frontal test. Safety experts agree that both types of frontal test are critical. But, with two separate entities conducting the tests, manufacturers are able to tout a positive rating without mentioning a negative one in their ads. Consumers Union (CU), the non-profit publisher of Consumer Reports, strongly believes that the government should conduct both test programs, placing all such safety testing under one federal agency and all the results in one place.
"There's no question that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's crash-testing program has led to safer cars on the road," says R. David Pittle, Senior Vice-President for Technical Policy at Consumers Union. "In 1985, just 30 percent of the 94 vehicles rated received high frontal-crash scores. In 2001, that number jumped dramatically--90 percent of the 138 new vehicles rated were awarded four or five stars, the top ratings. Clearly, NHTSA's making these test results public has produced a strong incentive for automakers to improve how well their vehicles protect in a crash. But the limitations we've found with current crash tests indicate that it's time for the government to set new safety benchmarks. By improving and expanding its crash-testing program, NHTSA will provide consumers with the critical safety information they need to make more informed choices."
Currently, NHTSA performs two types of crash tests and makes the test results available free to the public through its New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). The agency performs a side-impact test done at 34 mph that gauges a vehicle's ability to protect occupants if hit from the side. It also conducts a full-frontal test done at 35 mph to determine how well vehicle restraints such as seat belts and air bags protect front occupants. The results are reported using a five-star rating system with five stars being the best.
The IIHS, an organization supported by the insurance industry, performs an offset-frontal crash test at 40 mph, which measures vehicle intrusion into the driver's area to evaluate how well the vehicle's structure protects the driver. The IIHS rating scale is Good, Acceptable, Marginal, and Poor.
Based on its analysis of consumer needs, Consumers Union believes that an improved, more comprehensive NHTSA New Car Assessment Program should be developed and implemented by:
| -- | Conducting offset crashes similar to those used in the IIHS tests. While the IIHS currently provides useful offset crash testing, we believe the government should take on the long-term responsibility of consistently providing broad safety and crash-protection information to consumers on all vehicles available for purchase. |
| -- | Being more inclusive. Add more injury data, including neck-injury results. Also, use crash dummies like those required in automakers' compliance crash tests, which include five crash dummies that simulate the current medium-sized adult male, plus a small (108-pound) adult female, and children ages 1, 3, and 6 years. |
| -- | Incorporating actual rollover testing. For more than a decade, CU has urged NHTSA to develop an on-road rollover test, which the agency is mandated to do by November 1, 2002. |
| -- | Addressing crash protection in rear impacts by updating the standard for front-seatback strength in rear-end crashes, then adding rear-end collisions to NHTSA's tests. While rear-impact crashes account for only six percent of fatal accidents, they cause more than 20 percent of all injuries. |
| -- | Having the money to expand testing. NHTSA's crash-test budget of $4 million equates to just 25 cents for each vehicle sold in the U.S. annually. CU believes that the NCAP test program is worth more than that. |
NEW RULES FOR MANUFACTURERS--TOUGH ENOUGH?
The government and the IIHS are not the only ones that perform crash testing. While the results are not published, manufacturers must ensure that their vehicles pass a series of government certification crash-tests before they can be sold. NHTSA recently overhauled the minimum performance standards that cars must meet before they hit the market, which will be phased in starting next year for 2004 models. And while they include many new improvements, Consumers Union remains concerned with the government's decision to allow automakers to crash-test vehicles with unbelted dummies at a reduced speed of 25 mph, instead of the previous 30 mph. The organization believes that 25 mph is too slow and that the tests should be conducted at 30 mph.
The article titled "Crash Course" will be available free on www.ConsumerReports.org and includes a sidebar on seatbelts, their latest technology, and current legislation to increase usage.
The April Auto Issue ($4.95) goes on sale March 19th through June 19th and is generally available where magazines are sold. It may also be ordered online at www.ConsumerReports.org/newcars.
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Several Consumer Reports April issue stories and corresponding news releases are accessible to journalists via fax on demand. To request instructions, send an e-mail to opi@consumer.org or call 914-378-2430. Available stories: Crash Test, Top Picks, Best & Worst Used Cars, and a fact sheet, "Anatomy of a Rating."