Rollover testing criticized

Government safety regulators need to adopt tougher testing standards when measuring whether a vehicle can protect its occupants during a rollover accident, a trio of traffic safety groups said today.

The groups, led by Washington-based Public Citizen, tested six vehicles that passed the government’s current vehicle roof-strength standard and found they "did far worse when subjected to a real-world test."

In contrast to the government’s "static" test, in which the roof of a stationary, upright vehicle is put under pressure, the groups actually rolled the vehicles used in their tests. Despite being restrained by seat belts, crash-test dummies sustained "injuries" that would have been life- threatening to human occupants, the groups said.

"The study underscores the need for [the government] to adopt a similar dynamic test for passenger vehicles and light trucks," Public Citizen said in a statement. The National Highway Traffic Safety Commission is due to release new rollover testing standards Oct. 1.

There were 10,698 rollover fatalities in the U.S. in 2006, accounting for 35% of vehicle occupants killed in traffic accidents, according to government statistics compiled by Public Citizen. That was up from 9,379 rollover deaths in 1996, or 29% of all vehicle-occupant fatalities.

Also involved in the tests were the D.C.-based Center for Auto Safety and the Center for Injury Research, which is based in Goleta, Calif.

Cars used in the tests were a 2007 Pontiac G6, a 2006 Chrysler 300, a 2007 Toyota Camry, a 2007 Volkswagen Jetta and a 2006 Hyundai Sonata. A 2006 Honda Ridgeline pickup also was tested.

—Martin Zimmerman

Photo of 2008 rollover accident in Malibu by Brian Vander Brug, Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Kenneth Phelps]

What you failed to mention was that the car in the picture was a Nissan Maxima. We all saw the repeated plays on CNN of the rollover (6 revolutions I believe) and the driver survived. I say Nissan deserves a mention for the way the Maxima driver survived. Doubtless due to the car's airbag systems and the car's structural roof design.