IIHS & HLDI news: 2007

December 20

Minivan bumper test results: Nissan Quest is by far the worst performer

December 11

FMCSA fails to improve truck safety — again

Today the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced it will stick to rules governing truckers' driving hours, even though the rules have been struck down by a US Court of Appeals. The agency will keep allowing truckers to drive 11 hours at a stretch and up to 88 hours in an 8-day period. Institute president Adrian Lund points out that the agency "still believes the way to address the problem of fatigued drivers behind the wheels of big truck rigs is to allow them to drive even more hours than past rules allowed. This is contrary to what the appeals court told the agency, not once but twice, and it's contrary to what's rational." The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia struck down the work rules in 2004, calling them "arbitrary and capricious" and chastising the agency for "questionable rationality." Again in 2007 the court rebuked the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, saying it had "failed to provide an explanation for critical elements" of its rule. The court explicitly refused to "supply a reasoned basis for the agency's actions that the agency itself has not given."

For more about truck driver fatigue, see Research topics — large trucks

November 15

2008 winners of Top Safety Pick award — number of winners increases; pickups eligible for first time

October 11

New crash tests: some midsize SUVs perform worse than many cars in side tests

September 11

Popularity of high-performance motorcycles helps push rider deaths to near-record high

August 16

New side tests of large luxury cars: luxury doesn't always buy safety

August 16

Institute responds to suggestion in PARADE magazine that states should lower drinking age

Recent news reports, including a story in PARADE magazine on August 12, have included statements by some who advocate lowering the minimum purchasing age laws for alcohol. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducted the main research that led to reinstatement of the minimum purchasing age of 21 in all 50 states by 1988.

"Minimum purchasing age laws have reduced drinking and driving among teens and saved lives," says Adrian Lund, president of the Institute. "Statements made by the main source in the news articles reflect ignorance about the years of research comprising the scientific justification for these laws. Study after study has found that when the drinking age was lowered, nighttime fatal crashes for young drivers went up. When the drinking age was raised, crashes went down almost 30 percent. It's irresponsible to assert that untested educational programs could alter these results. If we allow states to lower the drinking age again, more teens will drink and drive and more will die."

For more about teens and alcohol, see Q&A: Teenagers — underage drinking

August 2

Bumpers on luxury cars aren't luxurious: worst is Infiniti G35; 4 of 11 cars sustain more than $10,000 damage in 4 minor bumps

July 25

Federal court rebukes FMCSA — AGAIN

Yesterday the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia overturned two key aspects of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's policy on truck drivers' hours of service, telling the agency to go back and try again on its rules that increase driving hours from 10 to 11 and permit even longer hours via a loophole called the "restart" provision (see Status Report, Vol. 38, No. 6, June 16, 2003). The court said the agency failed to give an opportunity to comment on the methodology of the crash-risk model used to justify the increase in the maximum number of daily and weekly hours truckers may drive and work. The court also said the agency "failed to provide an adequate explanation for its decision to adopt the 11-hour daily driving limit and the 34-hour restart provision."

The court told the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to go back to work, either reinstating the previous rules or fixing its fatigue-risk model and providing more opportunity to comment on its new methodology. In doing this, the court sided with both Public Citizen, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, and others (see Status Report, Vol. 39, No. 7, August 1, 2004). The court also told the agency it must show that the corrected model justifies the longer driving hours.

July 3

Rear crash protection in SUVs, pickup trucks, & minivans: most of their seat/head restraints are marginal or poor

June 25

Ford SUV earns Top Safety Pick

June 11

Hyundai Santa Fe earns 2007Top Safety Pick award

May 31

1st time Institute tests convertibles: Saab & Volvo models are top performers; 3 are marginal in side impact test

May 14

New Acura and Ford models are top performers in crash tests

April 5

Rear crash protection in cars: seat/head restraints in two of every three models are marginal or poor

March 1

First results of new crash tests: most car bumpers don't work in low-speed crashes; 3 cars sustain $4,500 damage in 6 mph test while old Ford Escort sustains little damage

February 5

Two Fords earn good crash test ratings; Edge wins Institute's highest award, Top Safety Pick