Status Report 2008

Licensing teenagers later reduces their crashes

Comparison of licensing ages

Hybrid cars and SUVs have higher costs under insurance collision coverage than their counterparts powered by gasoline only

Pregnant women should buckle up to help protect their fetuses

Distracted driving is widespread among owners of cellphones, insurer's survey finds

Small pickups' performance in side tests is disappointing, except for the Toyota Tacoma's good rating

Crashworthiness ratings of small pickups

College town alcohol campaign lowers nighttime drinking and driving among target group of teens and young adults

NHTSA makes many small changes to the New Car Assessment Program

Rolling back Canadian bumper standard is likely to drive up insurance costs and repair bills

Bumper rules should extend to light trucks, Institute tells NHTSA

Cellphone Q&A explains why using a hand-held or hands-free phone raises a driver's crash risk

Power windows can seriously injure or kill young children whose heads, arms, or other body parts get trapped, a Q&A reveals

Backover crashes often happen when SUV drivers don't see toddlers behind their vehicles

Traffic school graduates whose violations are dismissed by courts are more prone to be in another crash than other drivers

Teenage drivers continue to use cellphones despite a North Carolina ban

Roundabouts can be even safer with some simple changes like better signs, lights

Panel finds that redesigned airbags improve protection for children and adults

Smart Fortwo earns top ratings of good for protection in front and side crashes

Enhanced belt reminders are convincing drivers and front-seat passengers to buckle up, NHTSA says

Special issue: crash avoidance features

Strength of the roofs on SUVs influences the risk of occupant injury in rollover crashes, new Institute study finds

ESC helps keep vehicles from rolling over, and side airbags protect people in the rollover crashes that still occur

Demonstration of strong vs. weak roofs shows why roof strength matters

Rollovers in which drivers died demonstrate need for strong roofs on SUVs

Seat/head restraints that earn good ratings, based on dynamic tests, reduce neck injury risk among drivers of rear-struck vehicles

Special issue: speed