Accident Reconstruction Network > News > October 2006

Accident Reconstruction News Article

Automakers want to change US roof strength plan
By John Crawley

WASHINGTON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Automakers want the U.S. government to substantially change a proposal to make vehicle roofs stronger to reduce deaths and injuries in rollover crashes, industry correspondence and other documents show.

Ford Motor Co. (F.N: Quote, Profile, Research), General Motors Corp. (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research), DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group (DCXGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) and foreign manufacturers face nearly $100 million in higher annual costs for vehicle redesign under the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) August 2005 roof crush proposal.

The auto industry raised some questions a year ago but more robust opposition to the government's update of the 30-year-old standard has crystallized over several months, according to documents filed with the Transportation Department.

"Our bottom line is ensuring that any changes or any rule that comes out has sound science behind it," said Charles Territo, a spokesman for the industry trade group, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

Rollover crashes account for roughly 10,000 fatalities annually or a quarter of all U.S. traffic deaths, federal safety figures show. About 600 deaths and 800 injuries are caused by head contact with a collapsed roof in a rollover.

NHTSA proposed increasing roof strength standards more than 50 percent to 2-1/2 times vehicle weight. Regulators also want the standard to maintain sufficient headroom for an average sized adult male.

The regulation would, for the first time, include bigger sport utility vehicles and pickups -- the bread and butter product of U.S.-based vehicle manufacturers.

The auto industry instead is pushing for roof strength test criteria that could be more forgiving than the government's plan. Companies also want a more predictable device for determining safe head room, especially for sport utilities.

SUVs are more prone to roll than cars because of a higher center of gravity than passenger cars. But safety concerns and a quest for greater fuel efficiency have accelerated the roll-out of lower-riding SUVs built on car-based platforms.

A trio of leading consumer and safety organizations assert the automakers are out to gut what advocates believe is an already weak NHTSA initiative.

"They're trying to create a sea change in the regulation," said Jerry Donaldson, senior research director for the interest group Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.

Auto company representatives have met with regulators on the matter and dismiss claims they want to drag out or soften the government's plan.

Territo says no two rollover crashes are the same and multiple factors can be involved.

"We need to make sure any testing criteria takes into account all of those factors and how occupants interact with the roof and with any other parts of the vehicle," he said.

Automakers are also wary of design changes that could make vehicles heavier or less aerodynamic -- possibly affecting fuel economy and emissions. They also believe greater seat belt use may be more helpful than stronger roofs. About 60 percent of those killed in rollovers are unbelted, safety figures show.

Regulators face a congressional requirement to complete the roof crush regulation by July 2008. A NHTSA spokeswoman said the agency was reviewing the industry's recommendations but would not comment further.

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