National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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'Dark Day' for Pedestrians: Fastest Jump in Death Rate Ever

Fatalities expected to spike 10% from 2014 to 2015: GHSA report

(Newser) - Traffic fatalities increased 8.1% in 2015 from the previous year, per a National Safety Council study cited by Autoblog , but one group has been especially affected: pedestrians, who are projected to show a 10% increase in fatalities compared to 2014, per a report from the Governors Highway Safety Association....

Google's 'Robot' System Can Now Be Considered Legal Driver

This could be a big step

(Newser) - Up until recently, Google's self-driving cars have been limited to real-world activity only in certain states (i.e., not on the federal level), and only under certain conditions, Quartz notes. But this week the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration posted a Feb. 4 letter saying Google's self-driving system,...

Wheelchair Users Face Much Bigger Risk From Traffic

They're 36% more likely to die in collisions than walkers: study

(Newser) - Pedestrians in wheelchairs are a whopping 36% more likely to die in a traffic collision compared to those out walking, according to a new study that's raising concerns about driver awareness and the availability of crosswalks. Researchers at Georgetown University combed through news articles and data from the National...

GM Recalls SUVs Over Issue First Reported in 2010

Rear lift gates can fail suddenly, have caused 56 injuries

(Newser) - General Motors is recalling nearly 780,000 crossover SUVs mainly in North America because the rear power lift gates can suddenly fall and hit people. The company said today that it has 56 reports of injuries caused by the problem. The recall covers the Buick Enclave from 2008 to 2012;...

Stoners Are &#39;Safer&#39; Drivers Than Lushes
 Stoners Are 'Safer' 
 Drivers Than Lushes 
STUDY SAYS

Stoners Are 'Safer' Drivers Than Lushes

Report finds those with THC in systems crash far less often than drunk drivers

(Newser) - As more states push to legalize marijuana , scientists have started to turn their attention toward the effects of driving after toking up. Stoners will likely rejoice at two recent studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that appears to put them on the safer side of things: According to...

Dodge May Have Its Own Deadly Ignition Problem

One child killed in alleged incident

(Newser) - It looks like GM has some company in the faulty ignition switch club. Regulators are investigating complaints that certain older model Dodge Ram pickup trucks may have a defect that allows them to turn on even if no one his holding down the clutch, Bloomberg reports. The National Highway Traffic...

GM Hit With Record (but Tiny) Fine in Ignition Case

Company agrees to pay $35M

(Newser) - The US government is fining General Motors $35 million for delays in recalling small cars with faulty ignition switches . The government also says that GM will report safety issues faster in the future. The fine is the maximum allowed by law and a record at that, the Detroit News reports,...

New Rule Will Force Cars to Have a Rear Camera

Regulation intended to prevent backup accidents

(Newser) - Years late, the Transportation Department issued a rule today that will require rearview technology in all new cars and many light trucks—an effort to reduce deaths and serious injuries caused by backup accidents. NHTSA said the new rule, required in the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act, will save...

Feds Ignored Warnings on Deadly GM Glitch

And GM declined to fix it because it would be too expensive

(Newser) - Federal regulators twice ignored complaints about the Chevy Cobalt defect that has killed hundreds of people , congressional investigators alleged yesterday, and General Motors not only knew about the flaw , but nixed several fixes because they'd be too expensive, the Wall Street Journal reports. A breakdown of each allegation:
  • In
...

Feds Digging Into Tesla Car Fires

Elon Musk: There's 'no safer car on the road'

(Newser) - Tesla is facing more scrutiny following three car fires in six weeks. First, investors launched a lawsuit; now, the government is getting involved, USA Today reports. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is now investigating two of the fires, both of which occurred after Model S undercarriages hit debris on...

Chrysler Refuses to Recall Jeeps Over Fuel Tank Fires

NHTSA urges automaker to recall 2.7M vehicles

(Newser) - Chrysler has rejected the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's request to recall 2.7 million older Jeeps, saying that it believes the agency's concerns about fuel tank fires are unfounded. The NHTSA asked Chrysler to recall 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees and 2002-2007 Jeep Libertys after a probe into...

Honda Recalls 870K 'Runaway' Vehicles

SUVs, minivans roll away without key in ignition

(Newser) - Honda is recalling more than 870,000 minivans and SUVs worldwide because they can roll away even though drivers have removed the keys from the ignition. The recall announced today affects older-model vehicles sold mainly in the United States. They were big sellers with families because of their ample space...

Cyclists, Beware: Bike Deaths Take Big Jump

Rise 8.7% in 2011

(Newser) - Last year was a good year for road warriors—so long as they were on four wheels, not two. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today released its analysis of 2011 traffic deaths, and overall fatalities sank 1.9% to 32,367, outpacing the 1.2% drop in the number...

Traffic Deaths Jump Record 9%

First half of the year sees biggest increase on record

(Newser) - Traffic fatalities jumped 9% in the first half of the year, the highest first-half increase since the government began tracking the deaths, CNN reports. Motor vehicle crashes killed about 16,000 people between January and June, according to a statistical projection. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration didn't speculate...

Fire Hazard Forces GM, Isuzu to Recall 258K SUVs

Short-circuits in window cause fires

(Newser) - General Motors and Isuzu are recalling more than 258,000 SUVs after getting reports of 28 fires apparently caused by short-circuits in the cars' power windows and door locks. The recall covers many vehicle makes from the 2006 and 2007 model years, including the Chevy TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier,...

Feds Demand System to Ensure Brakes Work

Brake override proposal a response to Toyota, Lexus crashes

(Newser) - Are you terrified of your car suddenly and uncontrollably accelerating, Toyota-style ? Well, federal regulators are at last moving to put your mind at ease. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has put forward a proposal to require all new vehicles to include a brake override system , the LA Times...

GOP: Obama Hid Volt Fires
 GOP: Obama Hid Volt Fires 

GOP: Obama Hid Volt Fires

They say NHTSA delayed announcing investigation

(Newser) - Congressional Republicans intend to accuse the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of purposely delaying an announcement about the Chevy Volt's battery fire troubles because President Obama is politically tied to General Motors, and the Volt in particular. The Volt experienced its first fire last June, but the NHTSA didn’...

Feds Probe 'Lunging' Ford Freestyle

Safety officials receive 238 complaints of lurches while idling, driving slowly

(Newser) - Federal safety officials are investigating the Ford Freestyle after getting 238 complaints that it can suddenly lunge forward when it’s supposed to be idling or moving slowly. Eighteen minor crashes were reported with one minor injury involving 2005 through 2007 Freestyles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the...

Traffic Deaths Hit 61-Year Low
 Traffic Deaths Hit 61-Year Low 

Traffic Deaths Hit 61-Year Low

2010 least deadly year on American roads since 1949

(Newser) - Some 32,788 people died on American roads in 2010, the smallest number since Harry Truman was in the White House—and there were a lot fewer people on the roads back then. Last year saw the fewest traffic accident deaths since 1949, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration...

Feds Open Inquiry Into Fusion, Milan Floor Mats

All-weather mats may trap accelerator pedal

(Newser) - Another automaker is under investigation for possible floor mat trouble. This time it's Ford, the subject of an NHTSA inquiry into its Fusion and Mercury Milan models. The agency has received complaints that the automaker's rubber, all-weather mats could trap accelerator pedals, reports the Detroit Free Press . Unlike previous incidents...

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