In The News

Every day the ARC Network updates the web site with valuable, important industry news. Following are a few articles from last month.

U.S. agency says lighter vehicles less safe Cutting the weight of the average car or truck would likely increase the risk that its occupants could die in a crash, according to a federal study released on Tuesday that could play a role in future fuel economy standards. But the same study said heavier trucks -- pickups and sport utility vehicles weighing more than 5,000 pounds -- could shed 100 pounds with no change in their safety and reduce the danger they pose to other vehicles in accidents. The report by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration may bolster the case of some automakers, most notably General Motors Corp.(NYSE:GM - News), which had argued that tougher federal fuel economy standards might force them to build lighter, less safe vehicles. Read the full article

NHTSA Provides Information on Vehicle Rollover; Existing Technology Makes Them Less Likely Auto safety supplier Continental Teves applauded the federal government's new consumer information program about vehicle rollovers that was announced today, and called for more awareness about available technology to prevent rollovers from occurring. Company president and CEO Bill Kozyra said, "We support giving consumers more information about risk prevention to guide their purchase decisions. They also need to know about what's available to prevent many rollover and other out-of-control crash situations from even happening. We welcome the Federal government's new consumer information program and their guidance to responsible purchase decisions." The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today announced an expanded information program mandated by Congress that rates vehicles for their likelihood of rolling over. Ratings are based on physical measurements of the vehicle and performance in a test track maneuver. "That's helpful information for accessing the stability of a vehicle, but it does not address vehicle controllability. Eighty percent of rollovers start as a single-vehicle, loss-of-control event. In these cases the driver either lost control and went off the road, or lost control and slid sideways along the road and tripped. Ninety percent of all rollovers occur off the road," Kozyra said. "The point is, the driver needs to stay in control and on the road, and we need to provide them the tools to help remain in control. That technology is available now. Read the full article

New Study Finds Nearly Half of Drivers Violate Stop Signs Where Young Children Walk New research unveiled today by the National SAFE KIDS Campaign and FedEx Express revealed that nearly half of motorists are not stopping at stop signs near school zones and in residential areas across the nation, potentially endangering children as they travel to and from school each day. Stop Sign Violations Put Child Pedestrians at Risk: A National Survey of Motorist Behavior at Stop Signs in School Zones and Residential Areas examines the frequency of driver compliance with stop signs at unsignalized, marked and unmarked pedestrian crosswalks near schools and in residential areas. Read the full article

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Return to October 2003 Newsletter