NHTSA

Monday, May 19, 2008 -- Despite a decade of gains in daytime seat belt use, research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that nighttime belt use continues to be much lower, particularly among young drivers.

The annual Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement campaign, launched today by NHTSA Administrator Nicole R. Nason, will focus on nighttime belt use when the odds of being killed in a motor vehicle crash are three times greater. The campaign runs from May 19 to June 1.

Monday, May 12, 2008 - New research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has found June through August to be the deadliest time of year for 15-passenger van occupants, due to rollover crashes. Statistics show that 31 percent of fatal rollovers involving 15-passenger vans occur during the busy summer travel months.

NHTSA Administrator Nicole R. Nason is urging all 15-passenger van users to take appropriate safety precautions when taking to the road during this busy travel season.

“The last thing we want is a summer outing to turn into a tragic memory,” Nason said.

2009 Subaru Forester received the highest possible safety rating for both frontal and side-impact crash tests for all seating positions

CHERRY HILL, N.J., May 21, 2008 -- Subaru of America, Inc. today announced that the 2009 Subaru Forester earned the highest rating in the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) crash tests. The Subaru Forester received five stars in both the frontal and side-impact crash tests for all seating positions.

2009 Subaru Forester

LIVONIA, Mich., May 21, 2008 -- TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (NYSE: TRW) is star struck. Thirty of the 2008 model year vehicles that have earned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) five-star rating in side-impact crash tests feature TRW's side or curtain airbags. These 30 vehicles range in size from compact cars to full sized pick-up trucks and sport utility vehicles.

The NHTSA side-collision impact crash test measures the performance of the vehicle and restraint system in the event of a side-impact collision. Five stars is the highest rating a vehicle can achieve.

2008-04-22 -- GM statement on NHTSA proposed 2011-2015 Fuel Economy (CAFE) targets: "GM intends to meet the tough, new national CAFE standards of 35 mpg for cars and trucks combined by 2020, a dramatic increase of 40 percent. NHTSA’s proposed rule lays out the first set of standards toward this target. GM will work with NHTSA throughout its rulemaking process on the yearly targets and the sensible mechanisms needed to meet this challenge.”

Chevy Volt Concept Car: GM is significantly expanding its development work on electrically driven vehicles like the Chevy Volt and fuel cell vehicles.

Background

NEW YORK, March 18, 2008 – Most cars at auto shows are highly polished and gleaming, except one – a 2008 Ford Taurus that crashed into a 1 million pound wall at 35 mph en route to the Jacob Javits Convention Center. Deliberately.

Crash-Tested 2008 Ford Taurus Shows Safety Leadership at 2008 NYIAS: Ford Taurus earns the highest available rating of five stars in frontal and side crash tests; earned five stars for rollover resistance from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Highlights:
* Crash-tested Ford Taurus on display at Ford’s New York International Auto Show stand

- MINI Cooper Scores 5 Stars for Driver-Side Impact and Roll-Over
- 4 Stars for Front Impact and Rear-Side Impact

Woodcliff Lake, NJ, February 27, 2008 -- The second generation MINI Cooper hardtop earned impressive scores for front and side impact and roll-over testing in the latest National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) testing.

In the NCAP side impact testing, the 2008 MINI Cooper received a 5-Star rating for front seat occupant side-impact protection - the highest rating issued by NHTSA. In the same test the MINI Cooper received a 4-Star rating for rear seat occupants.

Overview

Feb. 4, 2008 -- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducts critical behavioral and vehicle programs, and provides grants to the States for the administration of highway traffic safety programs. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for people in the United States ages 2 through 34. In 2006, motor vehicle crashes claimed 42,642 lives and accounted for over 90 percent of transportation-related deaths. The economic cost of motor vehicle crashes is estimated to be more than $230 billion annually.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008 -- A new five star government rating system will grade child safety seats on how easy they are to properly install, and will help guide parents and caregivers in choosing the right car seat to keep their children safe, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters announced today.

Secretary Peters and National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator Nicole Nason outlined the new star rating system at an Arlington, Va., fire station today, and released new star ratings for 78 child safety seats currently on the market.

Thursday, January 24, 2008 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today issued a modification of its proposed new roof crush standard to request public input on whether both sides of a vehicle roof should be tested and meet minimum forces.

If adopted, the two-sided testing would require manufacturers to design vehicle roofs that withstand at least 2.5 times the weight of the vehicle on both sides of the roof as an alternative to testing just one side. A proposal, announced in August 2005, would require auto makers to build vehicle roofs to withstand a force equal to 2.5 times the vehicle weight, as applied to only one side. The proposed roof strengthening would apply to vehicles weighing up to 10,000 pounds.

January 24, 2008, RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – The Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), the Transportation Safety Equipment Institute (TSEI) and the Motor Vehicle Lighting Council (MVLC) jointly submitted a petition asking the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to reconsider certain changes made to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, which specifies requirements for motor vehicle lighting.

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 11, 2007 – Results from a five-year study aimed at finding ways to develop, demonstrate and evaluate methods to help minimize the risk of driver distraction and enhance the effectiveness of crash warning systems in vehicles are expected to be released in early 2008 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Highlights:
* NHTSA’s SAfety VEhicles using adaptive Interface Technologies (SAVE-IT) research project is investigating ways to reduce distraction-related crashes and improve the effectiveness of safety warning system.
* On-going, two-phase research program began in 2003 and is scheduled to be completed in 2008.
* In-vehicle research continues at Ford’s state-of-the-art Virtual Text Track Experiment (VIRTTEX) lab.

December 5, 2007, RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Stephen R. Kratzke, the Associate Administrator for Rulemaking, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), will be a featured speaker at the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association’s (HDMA) Heavy Duty Dialogue ‘08. HD Dialogue, HDMA's annual conference for executives and leaders in the heavy duty industry, is set for Monday, Jan. 21, 2008 at the Danny Gans Theatre, The Mirage, Las Vegas.

“With many significant regulations pending and several “re-writes” currently underway, a good relationship between the supplier community and NHTSA has never been more crucial,” said Dennis Kline, ArvinMeritor and board chairman of the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA).

16 November 2007 -- AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The current line-up of Audi vehicles sold in the United States are some of the safest according to results from tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Recent crash tests by both organizations have demonstrated that Audi is among the best in the industry in terms of passenger safety and vehicle crash worthiness.

For 2008, the IIHS added the Audi A3 to the list of Audi models designated as “Top Safety Pick” in the Midsize category. 2007 “Top Safety Pick” winners A4 and A6 continued into 2008 in the Midsize and Large car category, respectively.

More than a third of drivers admit to dozing at the wheel

NEW YORK, Nov. 1 /PRNewswire - USNewswire/ -- When clocks turn back Saturday night, roads and highways may become more dangerous, says The National Road Safety Foundation, Inc. (NRSF), a non-profit that provides free driver safety films and programs for schools and other organizations.

Attorney Calls on NHTSA to Investigate

PHILADEPHIA, Nov. 1 /PRNewswire - USNewswire/ -- An investigation led by attorney Jeffrey Killino has uncovered evidence that 3,500 recalled Chinese tires are available for sale in the Arizona area. In response, Killino is filing a motion to halt a California tire dealer from selling these potentially defective tires. He also called on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to re-open an investigation into an August recall that should have captured them.

Monday, October 22, 2007 -- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today announced that Britax Child Safety, Inc., is recalling more than 34,000 Marathon child safety seats because the seats fail to meet federal standards.

The specific Marathon seats being recalled are model numbers E9L06, E9W06, and E906, manufactured between May 23 and June 28, 2006.

During compliance testing with child dummies weighing more than 50 pounds, the upper tether hook in some of the Marathon models bent, failing to secure the seat back properly. This could result in an injury to the restrained child in a crash.

All registered owners of the Marathon seats will receive a safety notification, along with a replacement top tether hook.

2007-09-26, DETROIT, Mich. -- The 2008 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 Series pickup trucks have received the federal government's highest side-impact crash rating - five stars - making Silverado and Sierra the industry's only full-size pickups to earn this top rating.

Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 Series Regular Cab, Extended Cab and Crew Cab models all received the highest possible side-impact rating for models tested with and without available head curtain side-impact air bags. The Silverado and Sierra previously received the federal government's highest frontal crash test rating of five stars. Government star ratings are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's) New Car Assessment Program (www.safercar.gov).