automobile safety News

Kobe Steel’s Data Fabrication Scandal Grows; Customers Eye Safety Impact

The scandal engulfing Kobe Steel Ltd. deepened on Wednesday as the Japanese steelmaker said it may have falsified data about another of its products, which is typically used in automobile parts including brakes and steering components. The country’s third-largest steel …

Kobe Steel Admits Falsifying Data on Components Used by 200 Firms

Japan’s government sought on Tuesday to contain the fallout from the disclosure by the nation’s third-biggest steel maker, Kobe Steel Ltd, that it had fabricated data on components used in cars, aircraft and space rockets, sending shock waves through the …

Seat Belt Usage in Massachusetts Has Grown but Still Lags U.S., Study Finds

Seat belt usage has climbed to an all-time high in Massachusetts, yet according to new research from the state highway safety division more than one in five motorists still do not buckle up. An observational study conducted for the agency …

Many Weed-Smoking Canadian Drivers Say They Can Drive Unimpaired: Insurers

Almost half of weed-smoking Canadian drivers say that they can safely operate a vehicle while stoned. Among Canadians who have driven under the influence of marijuana, 44 percent don’t think it impacts their ability to drive safely, according to a …

Federal Safety Engineer Defended Trinity’s Highway Guardrails

U.S. highway safety officials defended a widely used guardrail system’s crash-worthiness even as they worried whether its design had been altered in a potentially deadly way, according to internal e-mails. Starting in 2012, a Federal Highway Administration engineer fielded e-mails …

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in Va. Plans $30M Expansion

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is planning a $30 million expansion at its Ruckersville campus. Chief administrative officer Joe Nolan tells The Daily Progress that the project includes a new, larger outdoor test track and a new indoor test …

Insurance Institute Names 4 Car Models Top Safety Picks

The Dodge Dart, the model Chrysler is betting on becoming a top-selling small car, was among four new vehicles on the U.S. market to receive a top crash-test rating by an influential safety group on Wednesday. The 2013 Dart, the …

Better Vehicle Design Is Saving Lives, Reducing Injuries

Better-designed, safer vehicles have contributed to an overall decline in crashes, deaths and injuries on U.S. roadways. In fact, design improvements between model year 2000 and model year 2008 cars helped save 2,000 lives and prevented one million occupant injuries …