Buckle Retainer May Trigger Recall Of Escorts and ~nxes

Transcription

1 January

2 Buckle Retainer May Trigger Recall Of Escorts and ~nxes ci..c 0... Lap belt with strap retainer Lap belt without strap retainer Injuries sustained during car accident

3 Motor Vehicle Crashes Cost the Nation $74.2 Billion in 1986 Honda May Remarket ATVs if They Meet Federal Standards

4 Congress Appropriates $92.8 Million For NHTSA Operations and Research Senate May Eliminate Certain 'Commercial Zone Exemptions'

5 Testing and Licensing Standards Proposed For Commercial Drivers Congressional Hearings Planned on 'Whole Speed Limit Situation'

6 Hearing Planned on 'Speed Limit Situation' Study Identifies Drivers Least Likely To Buckle Up NUTSA Denies Petition on Rollover Standard

7 IINS StallIS Report, Vol. 23. No. I, Januiuy 30, 1988-i the deterrent effect and increase belt use..." Over one-third of those who said they do not use belts all the time report that a fide of S25 (for not buckling up in Michigan) would induce them to use their belts on every.trip. Seventeen percent said that the fine would have to be S5O, 15 percent said it would have to be SIOO, and 9 percent said the fine would have to be S200 or more to get them to use belts on every hip. When asked what inouenc:ed them to begin wearing belts, one-third of the sample reported that the belt use law was the main factor and another third reported that their own crash experience, or that of friends or others. or concern for safety was the main fador that influenced them to use belts. "Factors Related to onuse of Seat Belts in Michigan" by Alexander C. Wagenaar, Fredrick M. Streff, IJsa J. Molnar, Karen L. Businski, and Robert H. Schultz is available IbroutbJbe National Tedmicallofu~n~,~~,V~~ 2% o Law Crash Exp. Safety Other IIidIipI dtidin oiffted,., ItindI 01,..,.. for IlrlltitllIo _ MIl bfjtj: tilt "'*~ 6tIt - -. pmtjiiill-..",. 01 CIfIIh I%pfIiInJz,...,. for M1Ifl1,..",.." indimiini ". mediti _ IItIIr ClIIII anman... Qaram for IIIIrty II1tII titt IItOII impotitiiii,.,.,.... IJ1 111M,.,*'lid..,IIfIlbtJIII tiimr beirw Of'*'".. ~megro Challe e F er eclliod 0 Public Citizen, the Center fur Auto Safety, the U.S. Public Interest Group, and the Masachusetll Public Interest Group have filed Buit challenging the federal government's decision to allow automakers more time to equip cars with front passenger air bags. In a final rule issued March 30, 1987, in reipodlie to apetition by Ford Motor Co., the ational Highway Traffic Safety AdminilItraIion (NHTSA) sail the agency would continue the current one-ar aedit for meeting the automatic restraidt provisions of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208 to can equipped with driver side air bags through the 1993 model year. On Sept. I, 1993, front seat protection for outboard passengers will be required as wed. Automakers expect to provide air bags for both driver and passenger wed before the 1994 model year, bot they may set their own schedules baled on engineering and production capacity. The Insurance Institute for H'Jgbway Safe. ty, the National Safety Council insurers, and automakers balled the NHTSA ruling as an opportunity for the industry to make air bags available on millions more cars than would have been the case had the delay not been granted. (Status Report, Vol. 22, No. 4. April 11, 1987.) In September, NHTSA denied a petition to reconsider the rule. In the suit seeking court review of NHTSA's decisions, Public Citizen contends they are "not supported by the evidence in the record, and the administrator failed to consider alternative courses of action that would have better served the objectives of the National Tra(- ftc and Motor Vehicle Safety Act." Barbara ManIfieId, aford representative, said "any disruption to NHI'SA's rule would most likely discourage expanded use of air bags." Noting that many safety advocates supported the rule becauie it enmuraged rnmmifments from manufacturers to _ air bag tecbnolog in their can, Mansfield added, "Ford has committed to building to one million cars equipped with driver side supplemental air bags, beginnibg in the 1990 model year. Furthermore, Wlming feasibility is established, Ford will offer passenger side supplemental air bags in certain car Jines, begiunlng with the 1989 model year. We beileve this is amsistent with the Deputmeat of Transportation's idtent of expanding the use of nonbelt technology.,

8 _..".9 6 COIIIllElCllAL D111VE1S: oar lppi'ciiidiei to...p.s.. p. 4 APPIOPlfA1l0 Congress appropriates 92.8 midion for NHTSA in RepI~tativeJim IIcnnrd to hold beariap on "the whole speed limit tuation Page 5 ROLLO... NHTSA refuses a petition p. to ~ a rojjover prevention standard 6 Wllerple &00 Wllblnston, D.C / DIIy be repubiisbed tioll. or ID part. with IISN X