News on Automotive Safety

U.S. says driver error possible in NY Prius crash

2010-03-19T03:30:24Z

<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. safety officials believe driver error may be behind the crash in New York of a Toyota Motor Corp Prius that has been investigated as a possible ...

Feds: Brakes weren't applied on crashed NY Prius

2010-03-19T01:15:53Z

<div id="subtitle">US regulators say data from crashed New York Prius show throttle open, brakes not applied</div><div><p>Computer data from a Toyota Prius that crashed in suburban New York City show that at the time of the accident the throttle was open and the driver was not applying the brakes, Toyotas</div><div><p>Complaints of sudden acceleration in Toyotas repaired under recalls have nearly doubled in the past two weeks, according to an Associated Press analysis of government data.</p><p>The complaints from...

Runaway Prius NY

2010-03-17T16:16:43Z

A Toyota Prius is parked at the Harrison, New York police station waiting to be tested by Toyota personnel and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Wednesday, March 17, 2...

Honda to recall 410,000 vehicles for brake problem

2010-03-16T15:16:35Z

<div id="subtitle">Honda to recall 410,000 Odyssey minivans and Element trucks due to problem with brake pedal</div><div><p>Honda Motor Co. will recall more than 410,000 Odyssey minivans and Element small trucks because of braking system problems that could make it tougher to stop the ve...

Why Automotive Crash Tests Are Misleading

2010-03-16T09:55:13Z

Crash tests are conducted in the United States by the NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). The tests are known as the NCAP (New Car Assessment Program). They entail crashing a car head-on into a fixed barrier (the equivalent of a brick wall) at 57 km/h (35 mph). The cars are mounted on a rai...

Investigators say no explanation yet for Calif. Prius claim

2010-03-15T11:15:40Z

<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Safety investigators have found no evidence so far to support or disprove a California motorist's claim that his Toyota Motor Corp Prius sped out of control on its own, and cautioned that the case may ne...

U.S. says no explanation yet for Prius California claim

2010-03-15T04:15:37Z

<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Safety investigators have found no evidence so far to support or disprove a California motorist's claim his Toyota Motor Corp Prius sped out of control on its own, and cautioned the case may never be exp...

Traffic Fatalities for 2009 Reach 55-Year Low

2010-03-13T00:15:44Z

<div id="subtitle">Variety of factors credited for continued decline in highway deaths</div><div><p>The nation's highways have become a lot safer in the past year, with the number of overall traffic fatalities reported at the end of 2009 at the lowest level since 1954 -- the 15th consecutive quarterly decline. </p><p>According to early projections by the Department ...

Gov't may seek more authority on vehicle safety

2010-03-11T17:00:24Z

<div id="subtitle">Government may seek more authority to regulate vehicle safety following Toyota recalls</div><div><p>Government vehicle safety regulators may seek greater authority to investigate defects in cars and trucks and are weighing a range of new safety requirements in response to Toyota's recall of more than 8 million vehicles over brake and acceleration problems.</p><p>...

US regulator defends handling of Toyota

2010-03-11T15:16:33Z

<div><p>A top US automotive safety official flatly rejected charges Thursday that his agency had bungled its handling of deadly Toyota defects or acted as "a lapdog" to the Japanese auto giant.</p><p>National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) chief Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 11, 2010, before the House Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection subcommittee hearing on NHTSA Oversight. (AP Photo/Harry NHTSA faces Congress over role in Toyota recalls</div><div><p>NHTSA'S ROLE: Congress is looking into whether the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration did enough to hold Toyota accountable during its huge safety recalls.</p>&...

Federal auto agency's role in monitoring safety

2010-03-11T14:00:16Z

<div id="subtitle">Federal auto agency, NHTSA, oversees safety, recalls, defects and fuel efficiency</div><div><p>A congressional hearing Thursday looked at the role the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration played in Toyota's massive safety recalls.</p><...

Highway deaths drop to lowest level since 1950s

2010-03-11T13:00:55Z

<div id="subtitle">Toyotas and texters aside, highway deaths fall to lowest number in more than half-century</div><div><p>The roads today are full of hazards: Runaway Toyotas, teen drivers texting, commuters using the rearview mirror to check their hair while juggling cups of scalding coffee. Nonetheless, the number of people dying on the highway is the lowest since the 1950s.</p><p&g...

Government weighs post-Toyota "black box" requirement

2010-03-11T13:00:12Z

<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Safety regulators are weighing whether to make "black boxes" mandatory for all new vehicles in response to recent unintended acceleration problems in Toyota Motor Corp vehicles.</p><p>Toyota defects, defended their record Thursday as the best in the world and vowed an industry-wide probe into electronics used in accelerators.</p><p>"We will be conducting a comprehensive review of electronic throttle technologies across the industry," CTS Wagon is European style people, cargo hauler</div><div><p>Station wagons have been passe in the United States for years, but this didn't stop Cadillac from launching its first U.S.-built wagon.</p><p>The 2010 CTS Wagon is a nicely sized, comfortable, five-passenger car with cargo space that's easier to reach than that of...

Two Toyota Models Earn IIHS Top Safety Pick Award

2010-03-09T00:16:37Z

<div id="subtitle">Scion xB and Corolla get high marks in battery of tests</div><div><p>A silver lining for Toyota, which has been under the dark cloud ofunintended acceleration and braking failure recently. </p><p>The