August 31st, 2004

"Reduction in SUV rollovers avoided for too long"

The first Congress attempt to mandate a standard for SUV rollover protection was in the mid-1980s right after SUVs began to grow in popularity. The auto industry has been able to block any SUV rollover standard thus far, though pressure for congressional action has been increasing. Preliminary estimates released by the U.S. government on April 29, 2004 revealed a 10 percent increase in SUV rollover deaths in the past year.

In February, the Senate passed safety measures S. 1072 but was opposed by the House leaders and the Bush administration. Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, renewed its call on Congress to approve safety measures in S. 1072, requiring all SUVs and pickup trucks to meet a stability standard. They also require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to evaluate Electronic Stability Control systems, which is technology available on higher end vehicles that Consumers Union''s testing has shown to be effective in preventing rollovers.

According to the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, over the last 18 months it has been trying to reach agreement on how to reduce deaths and injuries in rollover crashes. The auto industry has been widely criticized for its attempts to continue to avoid safety legislation despite available, cost-effective ways to implement SUV rollover protection. If Congress mandates rollover tests on vehicles done annually before a model year begins and the NHTSA requires dealers to post the results on vehicle windows in showrooms just as fuel efficiency ratings currently are, it can also help consumers make more informed decisions and raise awareness on driving SUVs with more care.

Congress has finally required the NHTSA to provide specific test results on rollovers. The challenge remains to make this information more available and setting standards for stability that all vehicles must meet. Automakers have blamed the SUV rollover lawsuits for delays in coming up with standards for rollover protection, but consumers and advocates believe the lawsuits are in response to injuries and deaths suffered because of the industry dodging regulation for so many years.