U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced a final
rule aimed at decreasing occupant ejections in passenger
vehicles. The new U.S. Department of Transportation standard,
which will help reduce the number of people partially or
completely ejected through side windows during rollover crashes,
will begin phasing in during 2013.
"Safety is our highest priority," said Secretary LaHood. "This
new standard will help save lives and reduce injuries by
requiring vehicles to have a safety system that keeps occupants
in the vehicle in a rollover crash."
Under the new rule, issued by the Department's National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), vehicle manufacturers must
develop a countermeasure for light passenger vehicles under
10,000 lbs that prevents the equivalent of an unbelted adult from
moving more than 4 inches past the side window opening in the
event of a crash. The new standard will begin phasing in during
2013 -- all newly manufactured vehicles will be required to
provide this protection by model year 2018.
"Rollover crashes are the deadliest of all crash types and this
is another important step in our efforts to reduce fatalities and
serious injuries that result from them," said Administrator David
Strickland, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "When
fully implemented, we believe this standard will prevent on
average 373 fatalities and 476 serious injuries every
year."
The announcement is part of NHTSA's initiative to improve the
overall safety for occupants in the event of a rollover crash.
Previously, the agency issued rules requiring that all new
vehicles come equipped with electronic stability control to keep
vehicles from losing control and also upgraded its roof crush
standard to keep the occupant compartment intact.
To view the new standard click here.
