Car Safety

In what consumer rights groups are calling a major "victory for consumers," a database operated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been opened to the public for the first time. The database lists thousands of deaths, injuries and property claims made to auto and tire...

For many teens in the U.S., taking the classes, lessons and tests to earn their driver's license is a rite of passage that can't come too soon. The sense of independence granted by personal transport is symbolic of the actual independence to come as they reach adulthood. But the Insurance Institute...

The Hyundai-Kia automotive conglomerate is on a roll of late with its stong crash test scores. Just over a week ago the 2009 Hyundai Genesis scored a perfect five-star rating, and now the Kia Borrego SUV has scored the same, which should help the big vehicle with its recently-announced North...

Fender-benders in small cars can be a lot more expensive than the speeds involved might otherwise indicate, according to a new study by the IIHS. The results of low-speed crash testing show that some cars can rack up thousands of dollars in repair bills - the Volkswagen Rabbit (Golf) (pictured)...

A number of small and fuel-efficient cars in General Motors' global portfolio, such as the Chevrolet Beat (concept pictured), are being kept from U.S. sale because of differences in the official crash test procedures to those in Europe and elsewhere. Bob Lutz, GM's vice chairman and chief of...

Targeting the world's luxury carmakers with an all-new, unknown product and a less-than-ideal brand reputation will make for a tough sell for Hyundai's Genesis sedan, despite favorable early reports. That job will, however, get a little bit easier now that the car has earned a five-star safety...

Taking top honors in the IIHS safety regimen requires a good rating in each of the agency's front, side and rear impact tests plus the inclusion of stability control as a standard feature. GMC's Acadia crossover and its Lamda platform cousins have done just that and claimed the honor of the IIHS...

Lotus has designed a system to make hybrid cars produce whatever engine sound the owner might desire, and recently Eberspacher revealed a similar technology. The reasoning is that hybrids are so quiet they actually pose a danger to pedestrians - and especially the blind - who can't hear the cars...

The standard EuroNCAP testing procedure requires a 40mph (64km/h) frontal crash test speed, and performance at that level is the basis for the tested car's rating. However, Germany's ADAC testing body wanted to find out what happens if the speed is raised just 10mph (16km/h) to 80km/h (50mph), and...

Small to midsize SUV's are becoming increasingly popular as people downgrade to more efficient vehicles, but for many, making the switch to a smaller vehicle can add to concerns over safety. The latest round of crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows that...

High oil prices are causing people to drive less, and many are quick to point out the emissions saved as a result, but the latest traffic figures reported by the NHTSA indicate another savings may be taking place as well - 1,600 fewer road deaths occurred in 2007 than in 2006. Whether it's the...

A recall for 200,000 North American BMW vehicles with potentially malfunctioning airbags was revealed today in a bulletin by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The bulletin states the affected vehicles include: 2004 and 2005 5-series sedans, 2004-2006 X3 SUVs and a portion...

The 2008 Audi Q7 luxury SUV has won the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) Top Safety Pick award in the Institute's latest round of testing. To qualify, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of 'good' in the institute’s front, side, and rear tests and also be fitted with...

Nodding off at the wheel is one of the chief hazards facing drivers, especially during long trips and during late-night jaunts. To counteract the threat of falling asleep while driving, Mercedes Benz developed the Attention Assist system, shown late last year in near-production form. The company...

The European Union has taken the first major steps to establishing a next-generation vehicle-to-vehicle communications system by passing a motion today to reserve an EU-wide frequency band for vehicle applications. With a targeted goal of reducing road accidents, today’s motion aims at...

The 2009 Ford Flex has earned five-star frontal and side-impact crashworthiness ratings in the latest round of vehicle crash-safety tests conducted by America’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Flex only scored a four-star rating, however, for both FWD and AWD...

The skeleton-framed two-seat open-top rocket ship that is the Ariel Atom has gained notoriety not just for its commanding performance and unique styling, but also for it's face-stretching capabilities. Outfitted with no wind-deflecting device whatsoever, the Ariel Atom is best driven at high speed...

German auto club and prominent European crash tester ADAC has pitted a large SUV against a minicar with harrowing results. The test consisted of an overlapping frontal crash test at 56km/h between an Audi Q7 and a Fiat 500. The result was worrying, for the passengers in the Fiat 500 at least...

As more buyers in the market for a pickup truck eye the smaller, more fuel-efficient alternatives to the major brands' full-size offerings, the attention is beginning to reveal some unpleasant details. Safety ratings based on IIHS crash tests indicate that many of the smaller pickup trucks on the...

As the proportion of older drivers in the world’s leading nations grows, carmakers are finding new avenues for the technological advancement of safe driving. Taking a new angle on the head-up display (HUD) concept, General Motors is working on a prototype windshield system that enhances the...