Posts Tagged ‘National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’
Toyota May Replace Accelerators in Recall
Friday, November 20th, 2009
Four million gas pedals potentially faulty
Toyota is still working on a solution to the issue of floor mats causing its accelerators to stick, causing that pesky “unintended acceleration” that can really put a damper on anyone’s drive. The automaker has been working closely with the National Highway Traffic Safety Association to come up with a permanent solution for the growing problem. Toyota recently published a statement saying that it would “take a closer look at the potential for an accelerator pedal to get stuck in the full open position due to an unsecured or incompatible driver’s floor mat.”
Inside Line and Kyodo News are reporting that Toyota may be close to announcing that they will replace the gas pedals of the four million vehicles affected by the recall with shorter ones.
The fix would be provided by Toyota dealerships at no charge to the customer. Swapping out four million accelerator pedals could prove to be a pricey solution, but Toyota claims it has saved up to $5.6 billion dollars in its recall funds over the years for just such an occasion.
Have you or your drivers noticed acceleration problems with any Toyotas in your fleet?
Photo courtesy of mary2678 under the Creative Commons License.
Tags: Inside Line, Kyodo News, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, Toyota
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DOT Forms Safety Council
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
On Monday, the United States Department of Transportation held the first meeting of its newly created Safety Council. The council was formed in order to formally address safety issues that affect all 10 of the DOT’s operating administrations.
“Now is the time to identify and address the top safety issues that cut across our agencies,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “The council will take our commitment to safety, which is our highest priority, to the next level.”
LaHood says that prior to him taking office, many of the agencies within the DOT were pursuing the same safety initiatives without a formal process for sharing data, strategies, and best practices. He created the Safety Council to fill the role of broad leadership and to serve an organizational function to create a more strong and cohesive culture of safety within the department. The council’s goals are to further enhance the DOT’s focus on safety and to improve the effectiveness and impact of the department’s safety programs.
Chaired by Transportation Deputy Secretary John Porcari, the Safety Council is comprised of the heads of DOT’s 10 agencies: the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, the Maritime Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, and the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.
Photo courtesy of DOTlibrary
Tags: DOT, FAA, Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, Federal Transit Administration, FMCSA, FRA, FTA, Maritime Administration, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, Pipelin and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, United States Department of Transportation, USDOT
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AAA: Single-Vehicle Crashes “An Epidemic”
Friday, October 16th, 2009
According to AAA Mid-Atlantic, 58.9 percent of the 7,945 people who died in vehicle accidents over the last 5 years in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia were involved in single-vehicle crashes.
“We are seeing a troubling trend — an epidemic of single-vehicle crashes…on area roads,” John B. Townsend II, a spokesman for AAA Mid-Atlantic, told the Washington Post. “In addition to operator error and unforgiving roads, certain risk factors — such as driving at an excessive rate of speed, driving at night, driving under the influence, and having a track record of prior traffic convictions and crashes — are the leading common denominators.”
Townsend conducted his research using National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics from 2004 to 2008. He concluded that in 2008, almost 60 percent of the 1,449 people killed in crashes in the three jurisdictions died in single-vehicle crashes. They accounted for nearly 64 percent of Virginia road fatalities, 62 percent of the District’s and 53 percent of those in Maryland.
This week, another single-vehicle fatal crash made headlines when U.S. soccer player Charlie Davies was involved in an early-morning accident on the George Washington Parkway near Washington, D.C. The accident tore the vehicle in two, and a female passenger was killed. Davies, who had just helped his U.S. soccer team qualify for the 2010 World Cup on Saturday, was rushed to Washington Hospital Center.
Photo courtesy of jonfeinstein under the Creative Commons License.
Tags: 2010 World Cup, AAA Mid-Atlantic, Charlie Davies, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, single-vehicle crashes, US Soccer, Washington Hospital Center, Washington Post
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GM Recalls Over 10,000 Pontiac Vibes
Thursday, October 15th, 2009
General Motors is recalling 10,119 MY 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe vehicles equipped with a 1.8L engine and originally sold in, or currently registered in, a state that can have freezing temperatures during winter.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the intake manifold suction port for the brake vacuum can lock up during extremely cold conditions. This can occur because of the freezing of condensation resulting from positive crankcase ventilation. This could lead to an increase in vehicle stopping distance, raising the risk of a collision.
Dealers will modify the brake vacuum line free of charge. The recall involves vehicles from the following states: Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin and Wyoming. A special coverage for vehicles registered in all other states will be implemented in the same time frame, NHTSA said.
The safety recall is expected to begin on or before Oct. 23. Vehicle owners can reach Pontiac at (800) 620-7668.
Photo courtesy of resedabear under the Creative Commons License.
Tags: General Motors, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, Pontiac, Pontiac Vibe
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Public Favors Alcohol-Detection Technology for All
Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
A few posts back, we talked about implementing breathalyzer systems in commercial vehicles. Now, a new survey shows that people are ready to stop anyone who gets behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol from driving, even though the technology to do it is not yet available. According to the survey by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a majority of respondents (2 out of every 3 surveyed) said that using advanced technology to prevent impaired drivers from operating their vehicles was a good idea. More than 40% said they would like the technology in their own car if it were offered as an option. Both drinkers and non-drinkers were in favor of the technology.
The technology being discussed in the study goes beyond the level of sophistication in the current generation of ignition interlocks. Anne McCartt, the Institute’s senior vice president for research, says that the current technology is not suitable for average drivers. Installed in the vehicles of drivers with DWI convictions, the interlock systems are too unwieldy and obtrusive for day-to-day use. “This is okay for convicted offenders but not for every driver on every trip,” said McCartt. “An alcohol detector that’s suitable for all drivers would have to be all but invisible and require virtually no upkeep. It would have to be quick and easy to use and provide accurate readings. No such device exists yet, but it’s being worked on.”
About 180,000 interlocks are in use nationwide. They’re successfully reducing the risk that prior offenders will commit repeat violations. However, most fatal-crashes-involved drivers with illegal BACs haven’t had a DWI conviction in the past 3 years. If interlocks had been in all vehicles, not just those of prior offenders, to prevent driving above the legal limit, more than 8,000 lives could have been saved last year, the Institute estimates.
The Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety program, a partnership between the NHTSA and Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, is exploring new technologies that could one day make their way into cars as a standard feature. 64% of respondents said the devices would be a good idea in all cars if the technology proves reliable. Only 30% said it would be a bad idea. The idea is much more heavily supported by those with previous drunk driving convictions. Of that group, 84% of people were in favor of widespread implementation.
Alcohol-impaired driving is a big contributor to fatal crashes, and most impaired drivers are never arrested. A total of 11,773 people died in crashes involving drivers with BACs at or above 0.08 percent in 2008. This represents 32% of all traffic-related deaths.
Do you think everyone should be subjected to alcohol testing before driving? Would you want the technology in your vehicle? Leave us a comment and let us know what you think.
Photo courtesy of BarelyFitz under the Creative Commons License.
Tags: breathalyzer, Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety, DWI, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA
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Safety Standards Changing for New Cars
Thursday, September 10th, 2009
In 2009, 84 vehicles earned the title of “top safety pick” from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the largest number for a single year since the award’s inception. Now the government and the IIHS are making some changes that will make it tougher for vehicles to receive top marks on the test.
The IIHS, a division of the insurance industry that tests for safety standards, will not give the award to any car model year 2010 or later that does not earn a “good” rating on its new roof strength test, designed to test the car’s ability to withstand a rollover. In addition, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will be introducing a more rigorous crash safety testing system for post-2011 models. The new tests will include a tough new side-impact test, which involves crashing the vehicles into a pole, and a completely new overall safety score.
With the new testing standards being rolled out, fewer cars will earn five stars in the NHTSA’s one-to-five grading system, and will also have a harder time winning the top safety pick award.
The switch has the potential to be confusing for consumers, including fleet managers, as safety ratings begin to change for new cars. Automakers have done so well at engineering safety features that most cars are above average, so the bar is being raised to separate the extraordinary performers from the pack and demonstrate the difference between models. Consumers may see lower scores for many vehicles, but they will not suddenly be less safe. For example, the best performer on the new test so far is the Smart Fortwo, which withstands 5.41 times the vehicle’s weight on the roof. The worst performer was the Chevrolet Aveo, which still held 3.09 times its own weight, more than double the industry standard.
One issue with the new standards is that the two agencies are not instituting their changes in the same way or at the same time, so prospective car buyers will not be sure of how to factor safety ratings into their decisions. Consumers will have to pay careful attention to the specifics of their vehicle’s ratings until a unified system falls into place.
While the IIHS doesn’t use any one test as the benchmark for their ratings, the new roof-crush test is intended to make a point. Its president, Adrian Lund, said in a statement that the government’s “leisurely phase-in of the new standard means roofs won’t have to get stronger right away, so we plan to continue rating vehicle roof strength for the foreseeable future. We want to reward manufacturers who are ahead of their competition when it comes to providing protection in rollover crashes.”
Photo courtesy of The Pug Father under the Creative Commons License.
Tags: Chevrolet Aveo, IIHS, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, Smart Fortwo
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Michelin Supports Rating Tires for Fuel Efficiency
Tuesday, September 1st, 2009
Michelin North America Inc. has filed comments with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that support a proposed program to provide customers with information about the fuel efficiency of tires. The program is currently in the rulemaking phase.
If the proposed program were to be implemented, a system of rankings for consumer tire fuel efficiency would be created “that will clearly communicate to consumers at the point of sale the fuel efficiency of individual tires via an objective rating system,” say MNA officials.
“Michelin further supports setting maximum rolling resistance standards for all passenger tires sold in the U.S. to guarantee minimum levels of tire fuel efficiency performance and spur further progress in tire performance.”
“Tires account for up to 20% of fuel consumption for passenger vehicles. Allowing consumers to understand this fact and compare fuel economy performance among tire brands at the point of purchase is an important step in improving the overall fuel efficiency of vehicles, reducing fuel costs to consumers and lessening the impact of road transportation on the environment.”
Photo courtesy of The Dana Files under the Creative Commons License.
Tags: fleet card, FleetCards USA, fuel efficiency, Michelin North America Inc, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA
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NHTSA Issues New Braking Rules for Large Trucks
Friday, August 7th, 2009
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued strict new regulations on large truck braking standards. These new regulations aim to save lives on America’s roadways by improving the stopping distance of large trucks by 30 percent. The program will be implemented gradually over 4 years, beginning with 2012 models.
The new rules require that tractor-trailers traveling at 60 miles per hour must now be able to come to a complete stop in 250 feet instead of the previous requirement of 355 feet. This set of regulations only applies to truck tractors and does not affect single-unit trucks or buses.
The new braking regulations are forecast to save 227 lives annually, prevent 300 serious injuries, and reduce annual property value damage costs by more that $169 million. The NHTSA hopes that this move will introduce America’s freight-hauling fleets to new brake technologies and accelerate the already steady decline in large commercial vehicles’ involvement in fatal traffic accidents. In 2008, 4,229 people were killed in crashes involving large trucks, down 12 percent from the 4,822 deaths recorded in 2007.
“Safety is our highest priority,” said US transportation secretary Ray LaHood. “Motorists deserve to know they are sharing the road with large trucks that are up to the safest possible standards, so they can get home alive to their families.”
Photo courtesy of C.P.Storm under the Creative Commons License.
Tags: braking standards, freight-hauling fleets, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, US Transportation
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The Hot New Method for Driver Safety
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009
Dozing off at the wheel is a serious danger. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drivers who fall asleep at the wheel cause over 100,000 traffic accidents every year. This spring, Chinese police in the Chongqing region came up with a new way to combat the problem and keep drivers from falling asleep at the wheel: by feeding them raw chili peppers.
As the most heavily populated country on Earth, China’s streets are already overcrowded and have a low rate of traffic safety obedience, making them some of the most dangerous streets in the world. And just like everywhere else, sleepy drivers make a large contribution to the problem.
Police began distributing the peppers to drivers at service stations in China in accordance with a belief that people are drowsier in the spring. While this may seem a strange alternative to your favorite energy beverage, authorities say that the spicy cure really helps drivers who may be feeling drowsy. Chinese commercial van driver Chen Jun agrees: “It’s really good to have some hot peppers when you are tired from driving. They make you alert.”
While Americans may prefer a few cups of coffee to a peppery pick-me-up, there is still no substitute for a good night’s sleep before taking to the highway. But who knows, maybe we’ll see some fancy chipotle energy shots coming to our favorite rest stops in the future. For information on how to combat drowsy driving with your drivers, check out the National Sleep Foundation’s tips behind the link.
Photo courtesy of ian_ransley under the Creative Commons License
Tags: chilli peppers, Chongqing region, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Sleep Foundation
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All New Tires May Require Label for Fuel Economy, Environmental Impact
Monday, June 29th, 2009
As you know, a tire’s performance plays a critical role in your fleet’s fuel economy. And if the U.S. Department of Transportation gets its way, you soon won’t have to guess at your tire’s impact on fuel economy and carbon dioxide emission reductions, according to government-fleet.com. You’ll just have to look at the label on your tires when you purchase them.
The proposal, which was put forth by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), also would provide customers “with two other key pieces of tire performance information: wet weather traction and tread wear,” according to NHTSA officials, as reported by Modern Tire Dealer (MTD).
Should the proposal get approved, tire dealers would be required to display the label until that tire has been sold. The new ratings would also be posted on safecar.gov where savvy shoppers can compare overall tire performance before buying them.
“Today’s proposal takes the guess work out of buying the best tires for your vehicle,” says U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Our proposal would let customers look at a single label and compare a tire’s overall performance as it relates to fuel economy, safety and durability.”
Tags: Modern Tire Dealer, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Safecar.gov, tires, vehicle maintenance, vehicle performance
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