Many of us know that SUVs are more prone to rollover than many other vehicle makes and models. I have an SUV myself so I was interested to read that the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has recently announced tough, new standards designed to substantially strengthen the roof structures of motor vehicles, including SUVs, and improve rollover crash protection.
The new standards will be phased in over a six year period beginning in 2012. In announcing the new regulations, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood noted that "rollovers are the deadliest crashes on our highways," killing about 10,000 people annually, 218 in Virginia in 2008. Most of these deaths occur when occupants are ejected from the vehicle. However, nationwide, more than 600 persons die as a result of roof crush or collapse. Moreover, those who survive a rollover involving roof crush or collapse are often catastrophically injured.
The new regulation, promulgated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), doubles the present roof strength requirement for vehicles weighing 6,000 pounds or less. The new rule requires that a vehicle's roof structure must withstand three times the vehicle's unloaded weight in pressure when the vehicle is involved in a rollover accident.
The prior regulation, in effect for 35 years, required a vehicle's roof to withstand only 1.5 times its weight in pressure. In addition, the rule has been expanded to cover vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) greater than 6,000 pounds and up to 10,000 pounds, establishing a force requirement of 1.5 times the vehicle's unloaded weight for vehicles in this category.
Unfortunately, the manner in which vehicles will be tested to ensure they meet the new standards has not changed as much as I wanted. Instead of dynamic testing which more closely simulates a rollover, the rule mandates only static testing. It works like this. While the vehicle is stationary, a metal plate is pressed against both sides of the vehicle's roof to determine how well it withstands the pressure. Under the old regulation, only one side of the roof was tested. So, yes, the new testing procedure represents an improvement, but dynamic testing would have been better.
More disturbing to me, however, is the fact that the old roof structure standards, which were obviously weak, had been in place for 35 years. This means that for 35 years auto manufacturers themselves failed to take the initiative to design and manufacture safer roof structures even though it was feasible to do so. Instead they found it more "cost effective" (i.e. cheaper) to comply with minimum standards rather than to build safer motor vehicles.
Manufacturers and others often complain about "government interference" in private enterprise. The unfortunate truth is that without government regulation many products we use in our daily lives would be more dangerous and more likely to cause injury to all of us.
The attorneys at the Cuthbert Law Offices have the experience and resources to expertly pursue rollover accident claims. Contact our Petersburg accident lawyers online today or in Petersburg call 804-733-3100, and in Richmond call 804-643-3100. You can also email us at lawyers@cuthbertlaw.com.
The new standards will be phased in over a six year period beginning in 2012. In announcing the new regulations, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood noted that "rollovers are the deadliest crashes on our highways," killing about 10,000 people annually, 218 in Virginia in 2008. Most of these deaths occur when occupants are ejected from the vehicle. However, nationwide, more than 600 persons die as a result of roof crush or collapse. Moreover, those who survive a rollover involving roof crush or collapse are often catastrophically injured.
The new regulation, promulgated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), doubles the present roof strength requirement for vehicles weighing 6,000 pounds or less. The new rule requires that a vehicle's roof structure must withstand three times the vehicle's unloaded weight in pressure when the vehicle is involved in a rollover accident.
The prior regulation, in effect for 35 years, required a vehicle's roof to withstand only 1.5 times its weight in pressure. In addition, the rule has been expanded to cover vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) greater than 6,000 pounds and up to 10,000 pounds, establishing a force requirement of 1.5 times the vehicle's unloaded weight for vehicles in this category.
Unfortunately, the manner in which vehicles will be tested to ensure they meet the new standards has not changed as much as I wanted. Instead of dynamic testing which more closely simulates a rollover, the rule mandates only static testing. It works like this. While the vehicle is stationary, a metal plate is pressed against both sides of the vehicle's roof to determine how well it withstands the pressure. Under the old regulation, only one side of the roof was tested. So, yes, the new testing procedure represents an improvement, but dynamic testing would have been better.
More disturbing to me, however, is the fact that the old roof structure standards, which were obviously weak, had been in place for 35 years. This means that for 35 years auto manufacturers themselves failed to take the initiative to design and manufacture safer roof structures even though it was feasible to do so. Instead they found it more "cost effective" (i.e. cheaper) to comply with minimum standards rather than to build safer motor vehicles.
Manufacturers and others often complain about "government interference" in private enterprise. The unfortunate truth is that without government regulation many products we use in our daily lives would be more dangerous and more likely to cause injury to all of us.
The attorneys at the Cuthbert Law Offices have the experience and resources to expertly pursue rollover accident claims. Contact our Petersburg accident lawyers online today or in Petersburg call 804-733-3100, and in Richmond call 804-643-3100. You can also email us at lawyers@cuthbertlaw.com.
Labels: motor vehicle accidents