Safety - Featured articles:
TV program slams Goodyear over tire
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's award-winning Fifth Estate program maintains that Goodyear knew about death-causing flaws in its LRE tires as early as 1995, but only recalled 200,000, leaving about 8 million on the roads. More »
Driving With Kids: A Survival Guide
The golden rule to remember is that the driver is responsible for the passengers - no matter what. They may really want that toy that has fallen under the back seat, or need you to pass back a juice bottle, but your job, first and foremost, is to ensure their safety, pandering to their needs is secondary to this. If they know you can't and won't react then they won't expect you to. More »
Do booster seats save lives?
Ohio is the most recent US state to implement more stringent booster seat legislation for children aged between 4 and 8 years old. A booster seat is essentially a platform designed to raise a child up high enough so that an adult seat belt fits them appropriately and can therefore be effective in the event of a crash. More »
Hi Ho silver is safe!
Silver-colored cars and trucks remain the most popular, and now a new study of crash data in New Zealand indicates that silver may also be safer. More »
Brake by wire
A new braking system may revolutionize the auto industry, and omit brake cylinders, hydraulic lines, and brake fluid. More »
Don't drive blind
An innovation in automobiles is helping drivers see. The new blind spot detection system uses radar sensors, and if the on-board computer senses another car or truck, an alert light will appear in the rearview mirror. More »
Fake airbags a deadly problem
If you're buying a used car and it has airbags, you might want to check them. Fake airbags are becoming a serious problem for purchasers of used cars in North America. More »
Rollover rating system criticized
A National Academy of Sciences panel criticized the current system as too broad and simplistic, and suggests NHTSA should consider vehicle handling characteristics in addition to top-heaviness. More »
Rollover: the hidden history of the SUV
How did a vehicle with such a serious safety problem become so popular? How much did automakers know about the SUV's rollover record? And why didn't the government do more to protect drivers? PBS's Frontline addressed these questions and more. More »
Explorer controversy: Ford training plan gets no kudos
Ford's plan to provide driver education programs for owners of its Explorer SUVs has brought criticism that they're trying to deflect the blame for tire blowout control loss to drivers. More »
SUVs--not so tough, not so rugged
New crash tests show a little bump could cost a lot of money, depending on which SUV you buy. More »
Sport f/utility?
New emissions regulations may reduce production of SUVs, but the author suggests that rising fuel prices, awareness of reduced safety, and guilt may slow sales, too. More »
All-wheel drive becoming mainstream
All-wheel drive vehicles are giving SUV's a run for the money as a new crop of enhanced traction and safety equipped cars arrives. More »