auto safety News

IIHS Finds Car Booster Seats Much Safer Than in the Past

Companies that make child booster seats for vehicles are getting better at designing them to protect kids, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said Thursday. Of the 53 new booster seats IIHS tested, 48 received the nonprofit’s highest rating. Two …

Most Cars Not Equipped With Life-Saving Auto Technology

Computerized sensors that warn drivers they’re about to rear-end another vehicle or prevent other types of accidents are available on models made by every major auto manufacturer. The problem, according to a U.S. safety agency and accident-prevention advocates, is that …

The Science Behind Chirps and Chimes Inside Modern Cars

Whether it’s the pleasant greeting when you slide into the driver’s seat or a loud, annoying beep that warns you of an imminent crash, there’s science behind the noises that your car makes. Nearly all automakers have engineers and others …

Feds Probe July 1 Tesla Model X Crash in Pennsylvania

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating a July 1 crash in Pennsylvania of a Tesla Model X to determine whether automated functions were in use at the time of the accident, the agency said on Wednesday. NHTSA …

Indy 500 Safety Measures Still Used Today

Imagine climbing into your sedan in the driveway and not putting on a seatbelt, then trying to back out onto a busy street without the benefit of a rear-view mirror. Odd exercise? Sure. Unsafe? You bet. Seatbelts and rear-view mirrors, …

U.S. Safety Agency Extends GM Safety Oversight for Another Year

U.S. auto safety regulators will oversee General Motors Co’s decision-making about potential vehicle safety issues for another year, until May 2017, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) told the automaker in a letter made public on Tuesday. The Detroit …

All GM Cars to Have Airbags by 2019 Model Year

General Motors Co. said Thursday it will phase out cars without airbags and other safety features after its Chevrolet Sail subcompact flunked a crash test in Latin America. The Latin New Car Assessment Program – an independent testing organization – …

Insurers, States Work to Combat Distracted Driving

Drivers are faced with a number of distractions today. Consider that more than 587,000 people driving at any given time are holding cell phones, according to a National Occupant Protection Use Survey conducted in 2014. According to Distraction.gov, a joint …

IIHS: First Headlight Rating Test Reveals Dismal Results

The Toyota Prius v is the only midsize car out of 31 evaluated to earn a good rating in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s first-ever headlight ratings. The best available headlights on 11 cars earn an acceptable rating, while …

Regulators Say Human Drivers Key to Self Driving Cars Moving Forward

Existing U.S. laws pose few barriers to adoption of autonomous vehicle technology so long as cars and trucks stick with existing designs allowing humans to take control, the agency overseeing traffic safety said Friday. It’s only when manufacturers push the …