Earlier news items

Earlier news items (Automotive Safety)

Vehicle Design and Research Pty Limited

23 Dec 10 IIHS Status Report (PDF): Good side test ratings vastly reduce the risk of dying in real-world crashes compared with vehicles rated poor + Wheego Whip crash test shows why low-speed electric vehicles shouldn't mingle with regular traffic
4 Dec 10 Automotive News: NHTSA proposes mandatory backup cameras in all new cars. NHTSA page. In 2001, with Dr Michael Henderson, I first raised the problem of rearward blindspots for all types of vehicles and identified reversing cameras as a possible countermeasure.
3 Dec 10 ATN: Safety strategy launched to reduce road deaths - The draft report suggests all road projects should be designed to reduce the risk of crashes and develop safety-driven fleet purchasing policies, encouraging drivers to buy new, safe cars. It calls on a national information campaign about safety benefits of appropriate speeds and encourages adoption of Intelligent Speed Adaptation, which would help drivers comply with the speed limit and move towards limiting the speed of novice drivers and repeat offenders. It also calls on more point-to-point speed cameras, and improvement of speed enforcement through a mix of automated and manual detection.The changes to speedometer displays to emphasise legally permissible speeds should also be considered, according to the report, including more effective registration sanctions for trucks with non-operational speed limiters.
1 Dec 10 Dept Infrastructure...: Draft National Road Safety Strategy 2011–2020.
1 Dec 10 Vale John Stott. John did pioneering work on child restraints in the 1970s and made significant contributions to road safety in Australia in subsequent decades. He was an inspirational boss and wonderful friend. Please contact me for details about a celebration of John's life (on 12/12).
1 Dec 10 AAA: What [Australian] car best suits your family?
25 Nov 10 Euro NCAP: Euro NCAP publishing first Chinese vehicle rating - Today, Euro NCAP releases the crash test results for fourteen cars, including the first Chinese-manufactured vehicle it has tested.
25 Nov 10 Oxford Mail: [UK] Speed cameras likely to be back on in April + Cameras save lives + Speed camera effectiveness - Allsop - report " if speed cameras were to be decommissioned across Great Britain then about 800 more people per year could be killed or seriously injured..." (thanks BRAKE)
18 Nov 10 BRAKE: If a child steps into the road – speed, stopping distance and force of impact + Kids Say SLOW DOWN!
12 Nov 10 3News: Are you aware of your reversing blindspot? - Video (thanks Clive Matthew-Wilson) - see also Driveways.
6 Nov 10 Drive: World first: the bicycle airbag.
3 Nov 10 Motor Report: ANCAP: SsangYong Actyon Sports Ute 3-Star ANCAP Safety Rating Not Good Enough. Detailed results.
26 Oct 10 SAE-Aust: Child Restraint Systems Symposium - Wednesday 10th November, 2010, Venue: Carlton Football Club, Time: 1.00 – 5.30pm
25 Oct 10 Daily Telegraph: Calls for anti-speeding beep test by RTA. RTA research report.
22 Oct 10 Drive: Toyota recalls 1.5 million cars worldwide - including 30,000 in Australia, over brake fluid leak.
20 Oct 10 TUV: 8th International Conference Protection of Children in Cars - Munich 2-3 Dec 10
19 Oct 10: Latin NCAP kicks off with a dismal batch of results - "de-speccing" (missing airbags and seat belt pretensioners and substitution of low-strength steel in structure?) seems to have a severe effect on crashworthiness. FIA: full details of initial release (4Mb PDF)
12 Oct 10: SpeedAlert Advisory ISA now available on the iPhone as part of the Metroview Navigator app.
23 Sep 10 ETSC: Future Road Safety in the EU At Stake?
21 Sep 10 TRB: Rollover Crashworthiness International Research Workshop - 2010 Mid-Year Meeting: July 23, 2010 (presentations can be downloaded) + 2011 TRB ANB45(1) Rollover Subcommittee Meeting - Thursday, January 27, 2011Call for Abstracts Deadline: November 1, 2010.
18 Sep 10 BBC: Clever cars to mean safer driving
15 Sep 10 Goauto: Latest crash avoidance systems to be included in car safety ratings by ANCAP
15 Sep 10 NZ Herald: Skoda aces the crash test - Skoda has pushed the safety envelope by staging a frontal offset crash test at a far higher speed than is accepted by regulatory bodies worldwide. The carmaker's researchers crashed a Yeti model into a stationary Superb station wagon at 90km/h - 26km/h faster than the 64km/h standard used by Europe's New Car Assessment Programme. (thanks G Day) + Skoda: Impact test confirms safety of Škoda cars. BUT "A Škoda Yeti travelling at a speed of 90km/h hit a standing Škoda Superb Combi head on. " This means that the test was equivalent to a much lower speed head-on crash - maybe similar to a 50km/h offset crash test, which is less than the regulation test speed and much less than the NCAP speed!
14 Sep 10 Science Daily: Ten Minutes Could Prevent One-Third of Road Deaths, Spanish Study Finds (thanks G Day)
8 Sep 10 Drive: Toyota has announced a safety recall of more than 116,000 four-wheel-drive HiLux vehicles across Australia + Used-car safety confusion + Local hero: Holden's new [Cruze] hatch (with DRLs?)
8 Sep 10 IIHS: New booster ratings: 21 Best Bets and 7 Good Bets; 8 out of 72 seats evaluated aren't recommended (USA child restraints)
8 Sep 10 Herald Sun: Pedestrian death toll rise blamed on iPods in New South Wales (thanks G Day)
24 Aug 10 IIHS Status Report Aug 2010: Hot-button issues often drive highway safety policy, draining time and attention from initiatives with greater potential to save lives + Require speed limiters in big trucks for safety as well as fuel economy +
Roof strength ratings for more than 100 passenger vehicles
24 Aug 10 CNN: U.S. digs deeper into stalling Toyotas.
18 Aug 10 CNN: GM recalls 240,000 SUVs for [rear] seat belt problem - Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave and Saturn Outlook (which appear to be the same as the Holden Captiva)
17 Aug 10 Engineers Australia: Seminar on child safety restraints - The National Panel on the Biomechanics of Impact Injury is organising a seminar on child safety restraints in vehicles. The seminar will explore the introduction to Australia of ISOFIX, the international standard for the attachment points for child safety restraints (seats) in vehicles, commonly applied in America and Europe.
The seminar will be held on 31 August from 2pm to 5pm at Engineers Australia's National Office. Barton ACT Registration
7 Aug 10 Brisbane Times: End of the road for leadfoots? + Laws on car breath test locks come into force.
4 Aug 10 NSW RTA: Child Restraint Evaluation Program (CREP) 2010 results.
4 Aug 10 Sheriff: Deaths of Law Enforcement Officers by Motor Vehicle Crashes: A Review of FARS Data for the Years 1996 to 2007. (thanks IIHS)
30 Jul 10 SMH: Science purge to continue at UNSW - will close a prominent government-sponsored accident research centre as part of a continuing purge of its science faculty.
30 Jul 10 Goauto: Toyota recalls Lexus LX and LandCruiser - potentially life-threatening risk of steering shaft disengagement in LX and LC100 Sahara models fitted with VGRS steering systems.
29 Jul 10 SMH: Crushing result of putting your foot to the floor
28 Jul 10 Engineers Australia talk: VicRoads & Innovation: The Path to the Future of Road Safety - Mon 1 Aug, Melbourne
24 Jul 10 NewSci: Too soon to blame Toyota drivers for throttle problems.
19 Jul 10 Goauto: EU adopts Aussie side-impact safety plan.
15 Jul 10 Automotive News: Toyota cites driver errors in acceleration cases.
12 Jul 10 Drive: Blind spot (ANCAP) + Car makers call for better safety rating system. BUT see Crash testing for safety - possible enhancements to ANCAP test and rating methods - 2008. It is ludicrous to suggest that all light vehicles in Australia are reaching the top 5-star rating and therefore the system is flawed - commercial vehicles have mostly 3-star models. In any case, as set out in the above paper, ANCAP is working on a system to recognise safety beyond 5-star occupant protection.
7 Jul 10 Goauto: Honda recalls 2001 Civic Sedan over airbags.
2 Jul 10 Herald Sun: ISOFIX call for safe child seats Comment: in theory ISOFIX has potential as a way of simplifying the installation of child restraints in vehicle. The ISOFIX system is intended to replace the use of an adult seat belt for securing the bottom of the child restraint. The main problems with ISOFIX are:

An additional attachment is needed to prevent the child restraint pitching forward in a crash. In Australia and North America this is done with a top tether. Some overseas designs use a rigid brace that is supported on the floor - this introduces additional problems.

The four ISOFIX lower anchorage points are usually located to accommodate two child restraints, spread across three rear seating positions - not much good if you have three rear seat occupants!
The ISOFIX anchorages might not align with the corresponding top tether anchorage points (that line up with each seating position) - an angled top tether results in extra unnecessary movement in a crash.
The mechanism for clipping into the ISOFIX anchorages, and the loads that must be withstood by the child restraint structure, can substantially increase the bulk and weight of the child restraint. They can also make it difficult to fit the child restraint in a car without ISOFIX anchorages.

Australian child restraints perform exceptional well in severe car crashes. The lesson is, Australia should not rush into using ISOFIX

2 Jul 10 Manukau Courier: Council rapt with `indestructible' road safety product (pole buffer - thanks G Day)

1 Jul 10 Drive: [NSW] Child restraints mandatory from July 1 (actually the March 2010 changes to the law will be enforced)
28 Jun 10 Drive: NSW launches $1.2m speeding ad campaign (good reason to buy a sat-nav with intelligent speed advice - avoid fines and drastically reduce your chance of being involved in a fatal accident).
23 Jun 10 BRAKE: Brake warns [UK] Government on road safety funding bombshell.
17 Jun 10 Goauto: Ford Falcon Ute goes five star. Details.
17 Jun 10 Australasian Paint & Panel: Fatal results for crash tested repairable write-off.
16 Jun 10 FIA Foundation: Australia boosts ANCAP with $5 million grant.
16 Jun 10 Blacktown Sun: MP wants speed limiters on cars.
8 Jun 10 CNN: Another floor mat issue - Ford Fusion owners warned + Chrysler recalls 285,000 vehicles for possible fire issue ( 2008 and 2009 Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country) + Chrysler recalling 365,000 Jeep Wranglers (brake fluid leaks)
7 Jun 10 Minister Albanese: Federal Government Partnering With ANCAP for Car Safety - The Federal Government is joining forces with Australias leading independent vehicle safety advocate to increase the number of crash tests conducted on and safety ratings given to new cars entering the Australian market.
3 Jun 10 Australian Design Awards 2010 finalist: Bumpfree Dynamic Speed Bump by Bryce Killen - allows drivers who are travelling the speed limit to pass over the bump without hindrance or typical speedbump abruptions, and transversely "remind" drivers travelling above the designated speed limit that they are travelling too fast with the typical experience felt when passing over the speedbump.
3 Jun 10 Drive: World's cheapest car rolls out of India.
2 Jun 10 Drive: Victoria mulls tech solution to speed.
26 May 10 Drive: 89 deaths 'tied to Toyota problems'.
24 May 10 Drive: Volvo updates software following 'embarrassing' collision.
19 May 10 Drive: The cyclist-friendly car - Subaru Eyesight object detection system.
18 May 10 IIHS: Q&A Child passenger safety [in USA]. (see also tips for Australia)
18 May 10 BBC: Hack attacks mounted on car control systems. See also 30 Mar.
18 May 10 Brake: Towns and villages still blighted by speed, finds research launched at London conference today + Brake slams transport secretary announcement not to fund cameras.
14 May 10 New Scientist: Modern cars vulnerable to malicious hacks. See also 30 Mar.
14 May 10 Daily Telegraph: Nearly 90 per cent of child restraints checked in promotion were unsafe, some potentially deadly [comment: "unsafe" is too strong - see this paper that discusses the classification of child restraint mis-use]
12 May 10 Drive: New models raise bar for small-car safety.
11 May 10 Drive: New Volvo crashes in safety demo.
11 May 10 CARHS courses in English during July: Euro NCAP and global Tests for Consumer Protection through Active and Passive Safety + International Crash-Rules and Regulations: Current Status and Future Developments + [Euro NCAP] Knee Mapping Workshop.
8 May 2010 Goauto: Australia takes side-impact safety lead [An international regulation is proposed which, even if fast-tracked, will take many years to implement. ANCAP added the side pole crash test to its assessment in 2003. In 2004 it became a requirement for a 5-star safety rating. As reported in the article, the Australian auto industry (FCAI) is developing a code of practice]
5 May 10 ANE: Vans, light trucks face [top] speed limiters in EU - to prevent them exceeding 120 km per hour...
5 May 10 Goauto: Mitsubishi recalls Lancer - Tyre troubles ground Mitsubishi’s Lancer as clutch woes effect the Evo rally rocket... + Sticky throttles hit Dodge [Caliber] + Volvo recalls XC90 - Potential fire risk
27 Apr 10 ANCAP: 5 Star For Vw Polo, 4 Star Results For Toyota Camry Hybrid And Great Wall Motors SUV "The ANCAP tests of the Camry Hybrid showed the driver’s knees were vulnerable to injury from the steering column despite it being redesigned for keyless ignition. The Camry Hybrid
also missed out on a passenger seat belt reminder that is now standard in the Aurion as well as in all Commodores and Falcons." + The Motor Report + Herald Sun: Toyota safety wrangle over Camry hybrid rating.
17 Apr 10 ETSC: Safety Monitor April 2010 - Speed is the most important contributory factor to road deaths and injuries, playing a role as a contributing factor in one third of all fatal collisions. Speeding remains extremely widespread, it is estimated that at any one moment about 35% of drivers exceed speed limits outside built-up areas and as much as 50% in urban areas (see Low Range Speeding and the Potential Benefits of Intelligent Speed Assistance)
16 Apr 10 IIHS Status Report (PDF): IT’S A SAFETY
MARKETPLACE, AND CONSUMERS ARE BUYING.
16 Apr 10 Science: New Guidelines Aim to Improve Studies of Traumatic Brain Injury.
4 Apr 10 Drive: Driver instruction the key, not speed - WRONG!
4 Apr 10 USA Today: Speeding 'cushion' may dwindle due to recession - USA enforcement tolerance. But see Low Range Speeding and the Potential Benefits of Intelligent Speed Assistance

31 Mar 10 Automotive Engineering International: letter about ISA.
31 Mar 10 Space.com: NASA Joins Federal Probe Into Toyota Vehicle Problems.
30 Mar 10 SMH: Cars 'fail on pedestrian safety'
30 Mar 10 SMH: Covert speed cameras to catch [Qld] motorists + NSW reintroduces mobile speed cameras [avoid a speeding fine - buy a sat-nav that alerts you to speeding on any road]
30 Mar 10 NewSci: Electronic car bugs: What drivers need to know - see also the comment about malicious software + Wired: Hacker Disables More Than 100 Cars Remotely.
26 Mar 10: Harley-Davidson has introduced an LED turn signal that is integrated into the mirror stalk. These could be used as daytime running lights for motorcycles.
24 Mar 10 Drive: Canberra car crash an unsurvivable tragedy - but discusses benefits of head-protecting side airbags.
23 Mar 10 Fellet News: Euro NCAP: driving forward vehicle safety.
13 Mar 10 BRAKE: 3rd international SPEED Congress 2010 - 13 May, London.
8 Mar 10 Goauto: Holden Combo among flurry of fresh recalls - brake booster on E-Gas Falcon, steering gear on Volvo’s XC60, parking brakes on Ford’s FG Falcon ute, airbags/seatbelt pretensioners on Holden Combo van, fuel pipe on Peugeot Expert, throttle cable on Hyundai iMax & iLoad and rear vent windows on Mercedes Viano and Vito.
8 Mar 10 SMH Letters: Safe speeding reduces road toll ... in your dreams + (sadly, this illustrates my point) Four dead in NSW road crashes.
8 Mar 10 IIHS: New airbags don't provide optimal protection for belted drivers (Status Report - thanks Graham Day)
8 Mar 10 Bike Europe: Car Airbag to Protect Cyclists (thanks Graham Day)
6 Mar 10 Drive: More new cars driving away with five-star safety rating + Speed doesn’t kill, says Benz [on German Autobahns!]
3 Mar 10 CNN: The safest car ever? The Mercedes-Benz ESF concept car has every imaginable safety feature, and some you never thought of.
2 Mar 10 InterRegs: NHTSA Proposes New Regulation to Mitigate Occupant Ejection in both Vehicle Side Impact and Rollover. (thanks CARHS)
2 Mar 10 Mobileye: Pedestrian Detection (thanks CARHS)
2 Mar 10 Motor Trader: Malaysia's first passenger car crash test (thanks CARHS)
1 Mar 10 Goauto: Ford recalls more E-Gas Falcons - 9072 more E-Gas Falcons recalled as Ford offers fix for Territory ball joints.
1 Mar 10 NSW RTA: New child restraint laws from today
27 Feb 1- IIHS: Status Report - Phoning while driving (PDF)
26 Feb 10 2010 Australasian Road Safety Research, Policing and Education Conference Canberra - 31 August to 3 September 2010 - abstracts close 1 March
20 Feb 10 SMH: Child car seat rules to honour Isabelle - based on this 2007 Report ("the Commission engaged consultants - Road Safety Solutions, Vehicle Design and Research and Centre for Automotive Safety Research - to develop a detailed discussion paper on child restraints. That discussion paper provides the basis for Part A of this regulatory impact statement with modifications and recommendations made by the Commission"). NSW Regs are in three PDFs: 2010-46, 2010-47 and 2010-48.
18 Feb 10 Consumer Reports: How to stop a runaway car: Don’t pump the brakes. Comment: This situation makes a very good case for top-speed-limiting every vehicle sold in Australia (to 120km/h). There are now numerous reports of vehicles speeding up to more than 160km/h due to "sudden unintended acceleration".
16 Feb 10 ETSC: Open Letter to Commissioner Kallas on Setting Ambitious EU Road Safety Targets for 2020.
16 Feb 10 Drive: 'Thirty-four Toyota-related deaths' [in USA since 2000] + [US pick-up] Truck recall adds to Toyota's troubles + Toyota says no problem with electronics + Phone app shows speed camera locations (so does the Sygic mapping app)
16 Feb 10 Goauto: Ford recalls Explorer (cruise control fire risk)
15 Feb 10 Daily Telegraph: Safety will be Isabelle Broadhead's legacy.
12 Feb 10 New Scientist: Toyota's car recall sparks 'drive-by-wire' concerns.
10 Feb 10 Daily Telegraph: Holden Colorado fails roof crush - well not actually the Holden Colorado but a similar US model! See 5 Feb. Update: 12 Feb 10 The Daily Telegraph retracted its statement about the Holden Colorado!
10 Feb 10 Goauto: Safety recall for Toyota’s Prius + Toyota pedal recall extends to Europe, China (Camry, Avalon, Aygo, iQ, Yaris, Auris, Corolla, Verso, Avensis and RAV4 + Peugeot 107 and Citroen C1)
10 Feb 10 Drive: Driver has no answers on terror drive - Ford says it has found nothing wrong with the four-wheel drive vehicle that was stuck in cruise control at 80km/h and took its driver on a terrifying drive.
10 Feb 10 Automotive News: NHTSA fielding complaints about 2009-10 Toyota Corolla [electric power] steering
6 Feb 10: IIHS Status Report Dec 2009 (PDF) - Children are safer restrained in boosters than kids who use safety belts alone + What good lap/shoulder belt fit and bad belt fit looks like.
5 Feb 10 IIHS: First time Institute rates small pickups for rollover protection;
only one model rates good in test that assures strength of roof.
5 Feb 10 New Scientist: Toyota car recall sparks 'drive by wire' concerns.
4 Feb 10 New Scientist: Cars learn to keep an eye on the weather [note ISA is already here]
4 Feb 10 CNN: Complaints pile up about Prius brakes + Toyota recalls top 5.3 million vehicles.
30 Jan 10 CNN: Cell phone driving bans don't work [actually, they have no statistically significant effect on crash rates - a different conclusion!] + Laws banning cellphone use while driving fail to reduce crashes, new insurance data indicate.
29 Jan 10 Scientific American: What Might Cause a Gas Pedal to Become Stuck?
29 Jan 10 The Age: Child seat laws risk young lives. Comment: this is nonsense - despite decades of monitoring children in car crashes in Australia by biomechanical experts there have been no cases of serious neck injury in very severe frontal crashes with a properly installed forward-facing child seat. See these reports, in particular the discussion of neck injury risk in this 2003 international conference paper: PROTECTING CHILDREN IN CAR CRASHES: THE AUSTRALIAN EXPERIENCE
28 Jan 10 Goauto: Five safety stars for Territory - details from ANCAP
27 Jan 10 BRAKE: Fresh calls for [UK] government action on speed.
26 Jan 10 UK Telegraph: Average speed cameras could be used on all motorways.
14 Jan 10 ETSC: Ambitious Road Safety Targets Needed for 2020 - possible avenues include the application of new life saving technologies, such as intelligent speed assistance or the introduction of improved post accident care with eCall... + Conference: Future Directions in Speed Management - 23 February in Brussels
14 Jan 10 The Age: GPS tool to warn speeding drivers (note that the Navig8r G35 sat-nav already has SpeedAlert. Also the greatest benefits of ISA will come from a reduction in inadvertent speeding) + Herald Sun: Hoon drivers to be used in test of government's new GPS speed device.
12 Jan 10 Washington Post: Car meets the Web at CES, raising concerns about distracted driving.
12 Jan 10 CARHS: Euro NCAP updates Test Protocols - Significant Changes in Pedestrian Protection.
8 Jan 10 CARHS: SafetyCompanion 2010 booklet has new and updated tables and graphs summarising all important rules and regulations in vehicle safety. New pages on roof crush tests according to FMVSS 216 & IIHS, child protection assessment in Euro NCAP and the new standards in automotive functional safety ISO 26262 have been added to the new SafetyCompanion.
8 Jan 10 Drive: Cruise control terror case 'closed' - A police investigation into Melbourne's runaway cruise control vehicle has been completed, but it hasn't provided the answers the driver was looking for...
8 Jan 10 Goauto: 13,000 Captivas go back to Holden dealers after steering fails in two vehicles + Base Honda Civic gets an airbag boost to inflate safety claims (but still a 4 star ANCAP rating)
22 Dec 09 IBT: Five-star Christmas cheer for car buyers - details from ANCAP
22 Dec 09 Coffs Coast Advocate: Australia's worst crash remembered - led to three point seat belts on coaches
16 Dec 09 Goauto: Safety recall for Great Wall ute - Seatbelt failure in crash test has repercussions as Great Wall’s V240 ute recalled...
16 Dec 09 Drive: Melbourne driver stuck on cruise control - Comment: Cruise control forces the vehicle to travel at a minimum speed unless there is driver intervention (or the system fails - in this case the brake pedal signal to the ECU appears to have failed and so braking did not deactivate the cruise control. To make matters worse, by design, the ignition could not be turned off and the transmission could not be changed!). Many fatigue-related crashes in outback Australia involve the driver falling asleep when cruise control is engaged. Active ISA can replace cruise control as a way of maintaining an appropriate speed on the open road and has significant road safety benefits.
9 Dec 09 MUARC: Fatal choices: cars young people drive are killing them - see also Choosing safer vehicles for young drivers
8 Dec ACRS: November Journal - has an article Daytime Running Lights for Motorcycles – an Idea and Research Proposal
2 Dec 09 Goauto: Aurion reclaims Australia’s ‘best large car’ award - "we now have all five-star ANCAP cars from Ford, Holden and Toyota." Other 5-star cars awarded are: Hyundai i30 SX diesel, Volkswagen Golf, Subaru Liberty, Subaru Outback and the Land Rover Discovery.
2 Dec 09 Advertising Talk: Transport for London’s New Technology Can Solve London’s Traffic Problems According to SAGA Car Insurance.
1 Dec 09 Enablecom - ISA software for mobile phones in the UK.
24 Nov 09 Drive: Airbags a winner as thousands saved.
20 Nov 09 Drive: Staying in control
19 Nov 09 Goauto: Loose screw threat in steering forces Nissan to recall 20,000 vehicles - X-Trail and Dualis compact SUVs to rectify a screw in the steering system that might come loose, potentially causing a loss of steering + Volvo puts zap into battery safety + More than 1000 Accords to be recalled by Honda Australia due to faulty airbags.
19 Nov 09 NHTSA: U.S. Department of Transportation Releases New Action Plan to Address Motorcoach Safety Issues - the action plan proposes to better protect motorcoach occupants by requiring the installation of seat belts and discusses additional measures such as the establishment of performance requirements for enhanced roof strength, fire safety, and emergency egress. See also this ESV paper on Australian initiatives in the early 1990s. No mention of electronic tachogrpahs for coach drivers!
19 Nov 09 Euro NCAP: Euro NCAP awarded Prince Michael Road Safety Award.
19 Nov 09 CNN: Safest cars - Just 27 vehicles this year meet the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's new, tougher standards.
9 Nov 09 RTA: 2009 Intelligent Speed Adaptation Conference - final program for Sydney tomorrow.
9 Nov 09 New Scientist: Spy-in-the-cab could improve teenage driving [data recorders].
7 Nov 09 Drive: New Vic road rules set for next week - The changes will tighten rules on mobile phones, GPS units, child restraints and U-turns.
7 Nov 09 Volvo: Cars that drive themselves can become reality within ten years (thanks CARHS)
6 Nov 09 CNN: Ford to introduce inflatable seat belts.
6 Nov 09 Daily Telegraph: Bus crash coroner slams Pacific Highway duel carriageway delays. See also 17 Oct.
4 Nov 09 Drive: Compulsory booster child seats in cars [in NSW] (background) + Power windows can kill and injure kids, says [USA] report
2 Nov 09 AAP ($): Accessory child safety harnesses: Do the risks outweigh the benefits? - the risks associated with accessory child safety harness systems most likely outweigh any potential benefits, in frontal impacts at least. More tips.
2 Nov 09: Road safety researcher Barry Sweedler died October 27, 2009. He spent 31 years at the National Transportation Safety Board, where he worked tirelessly to prevent tragedies in all modes of transportation. In recent years he was at Safety and Policy Analysis International. In 2007 he received the Haddon Award of the International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety
2 Nov 09 Vicroads: Choosing and using child restraints and booster seats (1Mb PDF)
31 Oct 09 Adelaide Now: He's Doohan it for road safety - motorcycle safety
27 Oct 09 Adelaide Now: Cut speed to let our cyclists live.
27 Oct 09 Goauto: Official: Holden builds the first-ever five-star ute (ANCAP details)
17 Oct 09: Preliminary report on the Grafton bus crash, 20 October 1989 (scanned text as 2MB PDF)
16 Oct 09 Australian Mining: VDO launches Speed Alert to handle varying speed limits (not the same as SpeedAlert)
15 Oct 09 Fox4: Are crash-test ratings for dummies?
14 Oct 09 IIHS: 50 years of road safety research - congratulations
11 October 09: Holden HSV E2 has standard daytime running lights.
3 Oct 09 ETSC: PRAISE Report 1 In-Vehicle Safety equipment for work-related road safety (thanks Will Murray)
3 Oct 09 Drive: Volvo pedestrian avoidance system + Crash me if you can + Young drivers 'more likely to speed'
2 Oct 09 Daily Examiner: Memorial to honour bus crash victims - At just before 4am on October 20, 1989, a semi-trailer laden with cans of fruit juice drifted to the wrong side of the Pacific Highway and ripped the side from a Sunliner coach heading in the opposite direction.Twenty people died as a result. [See also THREE POINT SEAT BELTS ON CO ACHES - THE FIRST DECADE IN AUSTRALIA. I attended the scene of the Grafton crash and assisted with the crash investigation. Other recommendations resulting from that crash, and the Kempsey crash a few weeks later, related to emergency exits, speed limiters, bullbars and vehicle monitoring devices (tachographs). 20 years on and some of the recommendations are still outstanding]
29 Sep 09 Drive: Proton, GWM utes fair poorly in NCAP crash tests - details: Jumbuck, SA220 & V240
23 Sep 09 Apple iTunes/Sygic: Intelligent Speed Assistance function now available for the Apple iPhone - BUT no school zones and no dedicated ISA mode
21 Sep 09 Drive: Driveway deaths of children under probe (by University of Queensland) - see the links to earlier research on driveway safety (research that was used by NHTSA in teh USA to develop its policy)
18 Sep 09 Traffic Technology Today: Vision Zero International - New international magazine (thanks Jon Gibson)
18 Sep 09 ETSC: How can In-vehicle Safety Equipment improve
road safety at work? ( see also In-vehicle safety technologies - picking future winners!)
13 Sep 09 ScienceDaily: School bus seat belt study enters final research year
12 Sep 09 Drive: Ute’s just beaut the way it is - Ford [the Falcon Ute with head-protecting side airbags has not been crash tested by ANCAP]
8 Sep 09 Goauto: Holden Ute eyes five stars.
3 Sep 09 Columbus Dispatch: Teen drivers going too fast in 58 percent of crashes.
2 Sep 09 ABC: Maximum 80kph urged for P-platers [in South Australia] Comment: NSW has an 80km/h limit for learner and 1st year drivers. Having recently witnessed the frustration and risk-taking of other drivers "trapped" behind drivers restricted to 80km/h on long stretches of 2-lane highway, I am not sure if the measure is best for overall safety. I would prefer all drivers being allowed to travel at the speed limit [up to 100km/h*] but have zero tolerance for novice drivers exceeding the prevailing speed limit (or 100km/h). There are now $150 devices available in Australia that assist drivers keep to speed limits and exceeding 80km/h should be on condition that the novice driver has such a device in operation. (* South Australia has an 110km/h limit on many 2-lane country roads - this is clearly too high for all drivers but has tenuous historical/policitial reasons. In NSW 110km/h is normally only permitted on dual carriageway highways.)
1 Sep 09 Drive: Toyota gadget to deter drink-driving.
18 Aug 09 Drive: Mercedes van earns five stars for safety - details.
18 Aug 08 Goauto: Mercedes Vito scores top marks, but only if the $800 curtain airbag option is ticked.
16 Aug 09: Australian Intelligent Transport System Summit 2009 - 18-20 Nov, Melbourne.
14 Aug 09 IIHS: 3 small cars earn Top Safety Pick award - 2010 Honda Insight, 2010 Kia Soul, and 2010 Toyota Prius
14 Aug 09 CNN: Safest hybrid cars
14 Aug 09 Drive: Instant fines for darkly-tinted windows [in NSW]
1 Aug 09 CNN: Honda recalls another 440,000 vehicles - The automaker expands a previously announced [USA] recall due to a potentially lethal defect in the airbag's inflation system...
24 Jul 09 NTC: A position paper released for consultation outlines a practical alternative to paper-based work diaries using technology already fitted to many trucks and buses - Comment: One of my last tasks before I left the NSW RTA in 1990 was to draft a specification for "electronic log books". 19 years later the idea has reached the national level!
24 Jul 09 Omaha.com: Shelved data to drive phone curb?
17 Jul 09 Drive: Hyundai makes its iLoad van the safe choice + ANCAP datasheet (zipped)
16 Jul 09 HGVUK: BVRLA calls for more ambition - The British Vehicle Renting and Leasing Association (BVRLA) has urged the Department for Transport to be more ambitious in its attempts to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on Britain’s roads...The department should commit to producing a national digital speed map and encourage the development of non-mandatory intelligent speed adaptation systems, which monitor vehicle speeds and help drivers adhere to local limits.
15 Jul 09 Goauto: [Australian] Engineers urge mandatory ESC on commercial vehicles + Canberra makes ESC mandatory.
11 Jul 09 IIHS: Enhanced belt reminders reduce drivers' fatality risk (PDF Status Report). Note that the US belt reminders only cover the driver and are not as "intelligent" as those required by ANCAP and Euro NCAP for bonus points.
11 Jul 09 VDR: DRL update
8 Jul 09 Drive: Car safety data may be shared globally.
6 Jul 09 Yahoo!Green: Lightweight, fuel-efficient cars not necessarily less safe.
1 Jul 09 AAP: Caution: A comment on Alena Erke's red light for red-light cameras? A meta-analysis of the effects of red-light cameras on crashes + Cross-cultural differences in drivers’ speed choice + A new method for assessing the risk of accident associated with darkness.
30 Jun 09 ESV: A Safe Ride Height Line for Child Car Occupants
30 Jun 09 IIHS: Sustaining Real World Safety through Innovative Technologies.
23 Jun 09 Drive: Stability control compulsory in 2011 [for Australia] - see also this 2005 review
11 Jun 09 Drive: Motorists sold short on safety + ANCAP media release
10 Jun 09 ESV21 abstracts now online.
10 Jun 09 IIHS: Audi Q5 earns Top Safety Pick award
10 Jun 09 New Scientist: Parasite may increase your odds of an auto accident.
9 Jun 09 CARHS (BAsT): NHTSA: Department of Transportation doubles Roof Strength Standard for Light Vehicles in 2012 - The new regulation from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will double the current roof strength requirement for light vehicles weighing up to 6,000 pounds. It specifies that both the driver and passenger sides of the roof must be capable of withstanding a force equal to three times the weight of the vehicle. The current standard calls for roofs to withstand 1.5 times the weight of the vehicle, applied to one side of the roof, for light vehicles up to 6,000 pounds. Heavier vehicles from 6,000 to 10,000 pounds, which have never been regulated, must now have both sides of the roof capable of withstanding a force equal to 1.5 times the weight of the vehicle. The phase-in schedule, which begins in September 2012, will be completed for all affected vehicles by the 2017 model year. NHTSA Media Release. NHTSA Rulemaking PDF + Rollover page
5 Jun 09 Drive: A smashing sort of career.
28 May 09 Victorian Minister for Roads: NEW NATIONAL SAFETY LAWS TO BETTER PROTECT KIDS IN CARS (background here)
22 May 09 ABC: Passengers injured in bus roll-over in WA's north.
20 May 09 NZ Herald: Crash-test results prompt ACC warning over vans' poor safety
20 May 09 The Age: Motor industry slams speed-curbing trial - but see Speed limiting trials in Australia - "the claim is somewhat hypocritical given that cruise control has been in use on vehicles for many years and forces the vehicle to
travel at a minimum speed unless there is driver intervention. "
19 May 09 Daily Telegraph: NSW plan for speed limiters in all cars.
17 May 09 Herald Sun: Risky ride for 70,000 students (see also SCHOOL BUS SEAT BELTS: THEIR FITMENT, EFFECTIVENESS AND COST)
14 May 09 Transport Briefing: TfL urges sat-nav makers to embrace ISA technology (like the Navig8r M35)
12 May 09 Drive: Holden’s new Cruze scores five stars for safety + Goauto: Holden cruises to five stars.
12 May 09 BBC: Speed limit device tested on bus + Autocar: Speed limiter tests in London
11 May 09 ACRS: Heavy Vehicle Transport Safety and Fatigue Risk Management Workshop - Sydney 20 May 2009. Contact: Dr Teresa Senserrick
Telephone: +61 2 9657 0323
11 May 09 Times: Speed-curbed cars launched in Government trial + Taxis and buses face automatic speed limiting + Telegraph: Speed-restricted car: a review.
7 May 09 SpeedAlert: Would you like to help us Beta trial one of the most revolutionary Speed Limit Awareness software products in Australia? (mobile phone speed limit advisory system)
7 May 09 IIHS: In-Vehicle Monitoring and the Driving Behavior of Teenagers
+ WHEN PARENTS ARE WATCHING (but no mention of non-US ISA trials).
6 May 09 IIHS: IIHS submits comment to NHTSA concerning backover crashes (see Driveways for NSW technical standards, including Technical Specification No 149 Devices to assist in reducing the risk to young pedestrians from reversing motor vehicles (PDF from RTA))
2 May 09 Drive: Big Brother can track younger drivers (see Speed control - the Australian Speedshield product has this capability) + The pros and cons of technology + Digital detective: black boxes in cars.
29 Apr 09 Abstracts for 2009 Road Safety Research, Education and Policing Conference close this Friday!
25 Apr 09 Accident Analysis & Prevention, Volume 41, Issue 3, May 2009 (selection of abstracts $$)

Modeling drivers’ speed selection as a trade-off behavior
Evaluation of the static belt fit provided by belt-positioning booster seats
Pedestrian fatality risk as a function of car impact speed - Our results show far lower fatality risks than generally reported in the traffic safety literature. This discrepancy is primarily explained by sample bias towards severe injury accidents in earlier studies. Nevertheless, a strong dependence on impact speed is found, with the fatality risk at 50 km/h being more than twice as high as the risk at 40 km/h and more than five times higher than the risk at 30 km/h.
Seeing pedestrians at night: Visual clutter does not mask biological motion - in the presence of visual clutter pedestrians wearing biological motion configurations are recognized more often and at greater distances than when they wear a reflective vest.
Seat belt misuse among children transported in belt-positioning booster seats
Costs and benefits to Sweden of Swedish road safety research
The effectiveness of audio-tactile lane-marking in reducing various types of crash: A review of evidence, template for evaluation, and preliminary findings from Australia
The effects of perception of risk and importance of answering and initiating a cellular phone call while driving
A longitudinal study of the effectiveness of a multi-media intervention on parents’ knowledge and use of vehicle safety systems for children

21 Apr 09 New engineeering journal: International Journal of Vehicle Structures: Design, Analysis & Optimisation - call for papers.
21 Apr 09 New Scientist: Protecting pedestrians from killer cars (no mention of speed control!)
21 Apr 09 Drive: Bright idea to save lives (electronic tages for school children) + New blind-spot study reveals visibility dangers + Back-seat survivors: new NCAP test devised.
5 Apr 09 SMH: MP's mission to preach the [motorcycle] safety gospel - unique daytime running lights would be a good start!
26 Mar 09 RTA/ACRS: Abstract submissions for the 2009 Road Safety Research, Policing and Education Conference to be held in Sydney from 11 to 13 November are now open.
24 Mar 09 IIHS: Roof strength is focus of new rating system - 4 of 12 small SUVs evaluated earn top marks.
23 Mar 09 Drive: Holden looks for a safe bet with Cruze - Holden is expecting the new Cruze to be the first small car it sources from Korea to score the maximum five-star Australasian NCAP independent crash-test result.
23 Mar 09 Goauto: Car-makers applaud Victorian P-plate rule change.
19 Mar 09 F;eet News: Fleets will benefit from drop in speed limits (plans to cut the national speed limit from 60mph to 50mph)
14 Mar 09 Transport Canada: Canada proposes to make ESC compulsory on light vehicles starting on 1 September 2011.
10 Mar 09 ATZ Online ($): Development Strategy for Collision Warning Systems in the Low Price Segment + Toyota Adds Front-Side Pre-Crash System and Seatbacks to Safety Technologies + New rating to play starring role in improving car safety + Worldwide First All-LED Headlights for the Audi R8 (with integrated LED Daytime Running Lights).
10 Mar 09 SMH Drive: Driven to distraction - a big advantage of the Navig8r sat-nav is that it can be operated in SpeedAlert mode, with no map displayed to distract the driver.
10 Mar 09 Wikipedia: 'ICE' (In Case of Emergency) Campaign. It is a method of contact during emergency situations. As mobile phones are carried by the majority of the population, all you need to do is store the number of a contact person or persons who should be contacted during emergency under the name 'ICE'
7 Mar 09 IIHS: Status Report 44-2 - Crashes in the real world don't always mirror tests, so new frontal tests merit exploration; Frontal crash case files illustrate 5 important configurations; Having improved compatibility, automakers disband cooperative effort to address this issue; Frontal airbags reportedly failed to inflate, but Institute researchers found errors in the way crash data sometimes are reported
7 Mar 09 Traffic Tecnology Today: TRL consortium unveils Sentience vehicle (thanks Tom Gibson)
5 Mar 09 The Citizen (UK): Lancashire drivers to test new 'road safety sat navs (ISA)
3 Mar 09 Goauto: Commodore wagon, International, Omega LPG join five-star list. ANCAP:
3 Mar 09 SpeedAlert Live! now beta testing - works on a mobile phone to keep you constantly up to date about fixed and variable speed limits.
27 Feb 09 Fleet News: Tougher five-star test regime introduced. Fleet managers who specify that all their new cars must have a five-star crash rating from EuroNCAP have been advised that a new stricter crash regime has been introduced...The power of the new scheme is already evident as two manufacturers who were threatened with a downgraded result decided to make ESC optional on all variants.
27 Feb 09 Euro NCAP: New rating to play starring role in improving car safety
25 Feb 09 Fleet News: Safety drops off fleet managers' radar.
20 Feb 09 New Scientist ($): Why the Survival Car died an early death (or "Over Niagara Falls in a barrel of spikes") - brilliant article about the early days of vehicle safety.
17 Feb 09 Goauto: Three stars for Ford, Suzuki work vans in crash test + ANCAP: Ford Transit, Suzuki APV, Volvo XC60.
15 Feb 09 Traffic Injury Prevention (abstract): The Need for Enhanced Protocols for Assessing the Dynamic Performance of Booster Seats in Frontal Impacts.
14 Feb 09 Drive: Volvo collides with ENCAP over testing.
13 Feb 09 BBC: Airbag jacket 'could save lives'
12 Feb 09 Chalmers Uni: Call for Abstracts - First International Conference on Driver Distraction and Inattention, 28‐29 September, 2009, Gothenburg, Sweden, Abstracts due 15 April, 2009 (thanks Mike Regan)
9 Feb 09 Canberra Times (reprint): A new attitude to speeding needed.
5 Feb 09 Drive: Volvo drivers get cheaper premiums thanks to safety technology + Germans get cash bonus to crush old cars
31 Jan 09 NHTSA: Notice of postponement of the implementation of enhancements to NCAP (thanks CARHS Training)
29 Jan 09 NHTSA: Not-in-Traffic Surveillance 2007 - Highlights [driveway and parking lot fatalities].
28 Jan 09 Fleet News: Managers must be aware of new [UK Health and Safety (Offences)] act + Analysis: Save lives – and money.
24 Jan 09 New Scientist: Invention: Sleepy driver sensor.
23 Jan 09 Goauto: Toyota luxury brand announces fuel line recall in US - No vehicles are affected in Australia by the recall, which involves Lexus IS250/350, GS300/350 and LS460/460L vehicles built between 2006 and 2008.
23 Jan 09 Consumer Reports: New rules will make [US] school bus rides safer (but see this report on retrofitting s eat belts to Australian buses )
11 Jan 08 Harvey Norman: M35 sat-nav with SpeedAlert passive ISA system now on sale for $148 - in my view, the best road safety investment that has ever been available, particularly when you are actually paying for an Australian navigation system!
9 Jan 09 Fleet Directory (UK): ISA should be the new ‘must have’ fleet safety feature, says Roadsafe.
7 Jan 09 FleetNews: ‘Thinking’ technology makes safety a priority.
31 Dec 08 Financial Times: Advisers urge fast action on speed limiters - Fitting cars with speed controllers could cut road injuries by a quarter and reduce air pollution... + Commission for Integrated Transport: Speed limit adherence and its effe ct on road safety and climate change.
31 Dec 08 Moldova: Nissan debuts world's first intelligent cruise control - Utilizing route-information fed through the on-board navigation system, the Intelligent Cruise Control system can modulate the vehicle-speed in anticipation of the next curve on the road [but no mention of ISA]
30 Dec 08 Parliament of Victoria Road Safety Committee: Inquiry into Improving Safety at Level Crossings recommends... that the Department of Transport, together with VicRoads and the Transport Accident Commission, investigates and trials the use and application of Intelligent Speed Adaptation technology on the approach roads to level crossings.
29 Dec 08 AAP Dec 08 ($):

23 Dec 08 CASR: Vehicle improvements to reduce the number and severity of rear end crashes (4.8MB PDF)
23 Dec 08 NRMA: New Ford Fiesta rates five stars for safety - links to details.

Fiesta with safety pack (safety pack is essential for 5 star safety)
Fiesta base model without safety pack (4 stars)
Honda Accord Euro (5 stars)
Mercedes Viano and Vito (4 stars)

18 Dec 08 APROSYS: The APROSYS Final Event will take place on the 17th and 18th of February 2009. The results of the project will be demonstrated and presented:

New Injury Criteria and Injury Tolerance
New Mathematical Models of Human Body
New Harmonised Crash Dummy
Enhancement of Virtual Testing Technology
New Knowledge and Tools for Intelligent Safety Systems
New Test Methods for Advanced Safety Systems
Advanced Protection Systems/Other Road Users/VRU
Vulnerable Road User: Pedestrian/Motorcyclist
Car Occupant Safety: Driver/Passenger
Field Operational Testing: potential for Integrated Safety
Virtual Testing

17 Dec 08 Drive: New technology enforces mobile free driving + Car that can dodge pedestrians.
10 Dec 08 Drive: One in three Vic cars fail safety test [by the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce - see also Vehicle roadworthiness and accidents - Submission to the Victorian Parliament Road Safety Committee in 2000!
6 Dec 08 CarAdvice: ANCAP 2008 Ford Transit Crash Test - good description of the ANCAP process. Note that the Ford Transit rating will probably be published in January 2009, along with some other commercial vehicles.
4 Dec 08 Drive: Commodore scores five-star safety rating, but only one model. Details.
2 Dec 08 NewSci: Hands-free phones not risk-free for drivers.
27 Nov 08 Euro NCAP: The last time best-selling cars score five stars? + Euro NCAP's first rear impact (whiplash) test: 80% of seats tested need improvement.
19 Nov 08 Adelaide Now: Children under seven to be banned as front seat passengers - an outcome of the NTC review.
19 Nov 08 VDR: Review of the worlds first passive ISA navigator device with a national speed limit database - the Naviga8r M35 with SpeedAlert™ Passive Intelligent Speed Assist.
19 Nov 08 Consumer Reports: Faulty tire valves may have been installed on 2007 Fords [in USA].
9 Nov 08 AAP Vol 40 Issue 6 (selection):

7 Nov 08 ACRS: High-level review of road safety management: Sweden - a case studyby Jeanne Breen : Friday 21 November 2008 at 10.00 a.m., The George Institute for International Health, Sydney - Contact Ian Faulks.
6 Nov 08 Drive: Holden Barina improves crash rating - ANCAP: Barina Bounces Back With A 4 Star Safety Rating + ANCAP results + Images & Videos + Datasheet.
5 Nov 08 BBC: Fatal bus fire on German motorway - Australia introduced much tougher requirements for emergency exits on busses after a review of the Grafton and Kempsey bus crashes in 1989. See this report on retrofitting s eat belts to buses.
3 Nov 08 NHTSA: New Federal Rule to Make School Buses Safer.
1 Nov 08 IIHS: Insurance losses are 21 percent lower, and fatal crash rates are reduced 38 percent for motorcycles with antilock brakes compared to those without + Research paper (PDF): Effectiveness of antilock braking systems in reducing fatal motorcycle crashes
27 Oct 08 Drive: Australian car buyers short-changed on safety.
25 Oct 08 ABC: Driver follows GPS into lake.
22 Oct 08 2008 Australasian Road Safety Research, Policing and Education Conference: Workshop 3. Engineers Australia Frontiers in Vehicle Safety Technology and Testing.
13 Oct 08 ABC South Australia: 'Creeping' motorists targeted - Motorists who drive several kilometres an hour over the speed limit are being targeted in a State Government road safety campaign.
9 Oct 08 NRMA: 5 star rating for the new Lancer Sportback.
8 Oct 08 Drive: Ford to let parents set speedo for teens.
2 Oct 08 News.com.au: Lax car safety standards slammed.
1 Oct 08 IIHS: Many booster seats aren't up to the job of improving safety belt fit for children - see also NTC Report that discusses limitations of Australian booster seats. A new bigger booster seat is being introduced in Australia under the Australian Standard.
1 Oct 08 Drive: Toyota develops rear window air bag [for rear collisions]
29 Sep 08 Drive: Pedestrians at risk as car safety rules slip behind.
25 Sep 08 ABC Science: Quiet cars give false sense of security - see Speed page (mentioned in 1996 report!)
25 Sep 08 Europe: Daytime Running Lights for all new vehicles from 2011 to increase road safety. See DRL page.
20 Sep 08: 3G phone application help you keep track of your “runs, hikes and walks...RunKeeper displays the current pace, distance and time as well as a bar graph of the speed over time.“ Then, it “automatically uploads the data to www.runkeeper.com. Log in there to see a Google map of the route as well as the run’s total distance.”
18 Sep 08 AAA Foundation: The AAA Foundation in collaboration with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently completed a report on new car features and driving-aid technologies:

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC): Although it’s designed to help drivers maintain an established following distance from the vehicle ahead of them, many drivers incorrectly thought their ACC systems would help avoid a collision in situations outside the capability of most systems.
High-Intensity Discharge (HID) or Directionally Adaptive Headlights: HID headlights use an electrical arc and typically produce brighter, blue-colored light (compared to traditional headlights), and directionally-adaptive headlights adjust the aim of the beam to illuminate the road based on inputs from the vehicle. Our study found that the ability to see greater distances at night with the HID or adaptive headlights can provide a false sense of security, resulting in driving at faster speeds
Backing Aid Sensors and Rear-View Cameras: They’re designed to assist the driver by warning as a vehicle backs slowly toward an object, but they won’t detect everything in a vehicle’s path. Most backing aid systems can’t detect a child, object or animal directly underneath the bumper and don’t provide a warning when a car is backing up at speeds faster than 3 to 6 mph. There were several scenarios in which respondents reported that their backing aid system would help them avoid a collision “fairly well” or “perfectly,” when in reality it would be likely to work poorly or not work at all.
Navigation Systems: More than three of five (63%) respondents said that they were not aware of any manufacturer’s warnings or limitations about their navigation system. The most common warnings cited in owner’s manuals relate to the potential for driver distraction and the need for the driver to not rely only on the voice guidance from the system but to make sure that all maneuvers are made legally and safely.
The full report is available here.

17 Sep 08 UK DfT: Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) - project reports
16 Sep 08 Uk Telegraph: Drivers could have speed limited by satellite devices (see ISA page) + SpeedAlert Australian coverage (on target)
12 Sep 08 SAE: Rollover Symposium - Sydney 2 Oct. Related links (for several sides of the debate)

Center for Auto Safety: Press Conference to Demonstrate Inadequacy of Federal Roof Strength Rule + ESV paper.
Public Citizen: Government, Auto Industry Drag Feet on Critical Roof Strength Standard, Squander Opportunity to Save Lives
IIHS: Rollover and roof crush
General Motors: Rollover Crashes Backgrounder
NHTSA: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM)f for Roof Crush Resistance + more NHTSA links.
Nissan North America - Comments on JRS

9 Sep 08 Drive: Honda Jazz v Toyota Yaris, Mazda2, Suzuki Swift - We've deliberately chosen cars that would get four- or five-star crash-protection ratings, which means downsizing is no longer a compromise on safety.
8 Sep 08 Drive: Anatomy of a crash (Ford Falcon design)
3 Sep 08 Intropy (blog): Telling stories and lies with statistics - looks at ways of presenting risks of travel.
2 Sep 08 The Age: Burnley Tunnel crash truck 'unroadworthy' - "Of the six brakes on the trailer, only three were operating at all,'' See roadworthiness links.
1 Sep 08 Drive: Car seat company recalls two child seats - A children's car seat manufacturer has conducted a national recall of two of its models after fears they don't comply with the consumer product safety standard. The two models that were both branded as "Baby Shield" and sold via online sites.
1 Sep 08 Goauto: Local crash test ratings to remain as Europeans target tougher pedestrian protection.
1 Sep 08 Drive: Mobile use may have caused road deaths - NSW Police are checking the mobile phone records of drivers involved in fatal accidents to see if they were talking or texting at the time.
30 Aug 08 CNN: GM recalls 944,000 vehicles for fire hazard (washer bottle heater)
29 Aug 08 Drive: Car safety focus switches to pedestrians (see 28 Aug)
28 Aug 08 Drive: Speeding [ticket defence] via GPS - An American youth is appealing his speeding ticket based on GPS data, potentially setting a precedent for the way speeding tickets are handled in future...[the system was] capable of tracking his speed, sending signals every 30 seconds ... and would even email his parents if he ever exceeded 70mph
28 Aug 08: SAE-A and NSW Injury Risk Management Research Centre (IRMRC) presents a Rollover Crashworthiness Symposium in Sydney. Thursday 2nd October 2008. SAE-A events page (link to Rollover flyer not currently working)
28 Aug 08 Apple Store iPhone Apps: iBrake (measures brake efficiency with the built-in accelerometer) + InstaMapper (tracks location and speed of a vehicle in real time using the built-in GPS - displays on Google Maps in real time)
28 Aug 08 Euro NCAP: New rating system to address low pedestrian scores [in 2009] + new ratings for Daihatsu Cuore (4*), Hyundai i30 (5*), Lancia Delta (5*), Renault Koleos (5*), & Mercedes Benz M Class (5*)
22 Aug 08 Fleet News: Legal drivers bullied by aggressive tailgaters - Motorists who adhere to speed limits are often bullied by aggressive drivers trying to force them to speed up... + TRL Media release: Direct Line Study Uncovers Reasons for Road Rage and "Bully Driving"
21 Aug 08 Consumer Reports: Booster seat laws vary from state to state [USA]
20 Aug 08 Victorian Parliament Road Safety Commitee: Inquiry into Vehicle Safety - media release & final report. Covers many of the items in the above priority list.
19 Aug 08 Car Central: Upcoming Chevrolet Beat could serve as Barina replacement - "...upgrading the Beat to U.S. safety standards would require a substantial investment..."
14 Aug 08 CNN: BMW recalls 200,000 vehicles - passenger airbag in 2006 3-Series & 2004-2006 X3 SUV.
13 Aug 08 Brisbane Times: Bus crash in China kills 24 (see this paper on bus seat belts)
12 Aug 08 Goauto: ANCAP calls for governments to buy only five-star cars and considers six-star rating.
12 Aug 08 SMH: iPod to join mobile as crash villain? [get a device to play the iPod through the car hi-fi]
12 Aug 08 New Scientist ($): Why complex systems do better without us - evidence from simulations and real traffic flows [in 2 lanes] shows that at a critical density of traffic, the obstruction to lane-changing begins to have a beneficial effect. Because drivers tend to stay in one lane, they disturb the flow of traffic less, leading to a higher total throughput of vehicles...[putting this another way - frequently the advantage gained by one impatient road user is misplaced as the whole system suffers from the disturbance due to speeding and lane-changing]
12 Aug 08 Goauto: Four-star Commodore safe, says Holden.
8 Aug 08 ESV2009: Brochure for 21st ESV in Stuttgart, Germany, 15-18 June 2009.
8 Aug 08 BBC: Top Italian car designer killed - Andrea Pininfarina, head of a world-famous Italian car design group, has been killed in a road accident. Mr Pininfarina was riding a scooter which was hit by a car
7 Aug 08 Perth Now: $2.34b to save thousands of lives and serious injury "...To replace corporate and Government fleet vehicles with cars that have electronic stability controls, which take over control if a vehicle runs off the road, as well as intelligent speed adaptation systems, that are linked to global positioning systems, and sound an alarm for the driver when the car is travelling over the speed limit." WA Office of Road Safety media release.
6 Aug 08 Goauto: New Ford Falcon becomes first Aussie-made car to score top five-star crash rating + Drive: Falcon makes history with 5-star crash protection rating + Auto speed warnings (see this paper on alternative systems)
1 Aug 08 AAA Foundation: Slow Down! Five Reasons You Shouldn't Speed + Governors Highway Safety Association: Slow Down! Following Speed Limits Good for Safety and Your Wallet.
1 Aug 08 CNet: Sat-navs set to nag about speed limit.
1 Aug 08 IIHS: Small pickups skimp on safety + NHTSA makes many small changes to the New Car Assessment Program (PDF)
30 Jul 08 Drive SMH: Size matters in car crashes (but car to car is not the only factor to consider) + US study raises alarm on ute crashworthiness + Emergency vehicles 'cause daily crashes' + Country roads a killer - Lower speed limits on country roads could be the result of a five-year study into rural road safety in Queensland.
3 Jul 08 AAA Foundation: Hands-Free: They're on anything but the wheel: Cell phones, ipods, lab dogs, the GPS: We're driven to distraction + Providing safety through car seats: Child car seat safety tips + Speeding? This phone will text your parents.
2 Jul 08 IIHS: IIHS submits roof strength comment to NHTSA (PDF)
25 Jun 08 AI: Big safety gains for small cars (IIHS tests)
25 Jun 08 SMH: Big brother satellites to put brakes on speeders + NZH: High-tech backseat driver set for trials + ABC: Speed-limit device trialled in cars + LiveNews: Big Brother's under your hood: Govt trials new speed tracker + Gold Coast: Cars to trial Big Brother speed control. [Comment: There is no "Big Brother" watching/tracking the cars - the system uses GPS to determine the road and speed and an on-board digital map of speed limits - see Speed Control] RTA: ISA webpage.
25 Jun 08 FleetNews: New Vauxhall will read speed signs (this paper has a discussion of the problems of speed sign recognition for use with ISA)
23 Jun 08 Fleet News: Vans: speed limters - "Since introducing speed limiters three years ago, British Gas has seen a reduction in incidents. In the first year, they fell by 8% and over the past two years have fallen by 14%. " + Car companies come together in safety drive.
21 Jun 08 TUV (Conference): Neck injuries in Road Traffic an Prevention Strategies, TUV Akademie, November 18 - 19, 2008, Munich, Germany
19 Jun 08 Euro NCAP: Updates to test & assessment protocols.
17 Jun 08 Euro NCAP: Adrian Hobbs receives CBE for services to road safety - congratulations Adrian.
15 Jun 08 Drive SMH: Full LED-headlamps offered for Audi R8 - Audi is offering the Audi R8 supercar with the option of full LED headlamp technology in addition to daytime running lights.
15 Jun 08 Nature: Bumper stickers reveal link to road rage - “The number of territory markers predicted road rage better than vehicle value, condition or any of the things that we normally associate with aggressive driving,”
13 Jun 08 Drive SMH: Bangers and smash: why new small cars are safer than old big cars.
11 Jun 08 NTC: Improving Safety Management in Australia's Bus Industry - Discussion Paper - NTC seeks feedback from stakeholders with an interest in bus safety...(see also Retrofitting seat belts to buses and Bus Accidents in Australia: 1970-1993 neither of which are mentioned in the discussion paper, plus Summary of bus safety projects) .
6 Jun 08 IIHS: IIHS testifies on the relationship of roof strength and injury risk in rollover crashes (PDF)
6 Jun 08 New website: Road Safety at Work of GeoLibrary.org (thanks Will Murray)
5 Jun 08 AI: Auto roof rules may toughen - NHTSA may rewrite proposal to improve 35-year-old regulation after senators' criticisms.
4 Jun 08 ANCAP: Five-Star Safety For Under $30,000. Detailed PDFs are here & some action pictures.
4 Jun 08 Goauto: Hyundai's i30 becomes first Korean car to score a five-star ANCAP crash test rating.
4 Jun 08 ABC: China bus, truck collision leaves 22 dead. See this paper on bus seat belts.
3 Jun 08 ABC: Perth motorists nation's worst for speeding: survey.
30 May 08 SAE presentations at joint government/industry meetings (thanks Rick Morgan):

29 May 08 SMH: Speed traps still fail most schools.
28 May 08 CARHS (Germany): Euro NCAP and global Tests for Consumer Protection through Active and Passive Safety - two day seminar on 23 June.
27 May 08 Goauto: Peak national crash test body ANCAP pushes for a mandate on crash safety ratings.
27 May 08 New Scientist: Crash-predicting car can brace itself for impact.
26 May 08 NineMSN: Business Hurt By Demerit System - no mention of ISA (intelligent speed assistance) to help employees avoid loss of points.
24 May 08 Derive SMH: Safety body targets utes and vans.
23 May 08 Fleet News: Survey shows a lack of speed limit knowledge + Fleets ‘unprepared for new Act’.
23 May 08 AAA: [USA] States Lack Key Laws That Would Offer Protections on Highways.
23 May 08 SMH: 'Held together' car's 263kmh dash + Singing star's son runs over daughter [in USA] (see driveway safety)
21 May 08 CarAdvice: 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER VRX - CRASH TEST - If you are in the market for a new or used car right now – make damn sure you choose a car with Curtain Airbags...[note ANCAP has not yet released a rating for the Lancer - stay tuned]
19 May 08 AI: Buckle up over that belly - Risks higher for unbelted obese, pregnant riders
18 May 08 [Sydney] Sun Herald: Time to lift the lead foot (speed control)
15 May 08 AI: Tiny Smart car gets crash test kudos - The Smart ForTwo earns the top rating for front and side impact protection in crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. IIHS: First Institute crash tests of Smart car: diminutive two-seater earns top ratings for protecting people in front & side crashes.
13 May 08 [UK] Daily Mail: Satnav that tells you not to break the speed limit (see also Speed Control)
8 May 08 Fleet News: Safety dilemma for fleet operators [whiplash protection and small cars]
1 May 08 ETSC: Lower speeds: Win-Win for Road Safety and the Environment + Managing Speed: Towards Safe and Sustainable Road Transport.
1 May 08: NSW RTA Speed Page now has a crash test video showing a recent model car crashing at 60km/h and 100km/h + 40 & 50 km/h speed limits on NSW roads
25 Apr 08 Fleet News: Fleets remain reluctant to adopt telematics
22 Apr 08 Goauto: Hyundai push to mandate ESC - Hyundai is campaigning for electronic stability control to be fitted on all new cars sold in Australia and, to kick-start the campaign, is fitting the potentially life-saving technology on three of its models as standard for a limited time...
22 Apr 08 Forbes Auto: The most desirable new car features (ISA not in survey!)
14 Apr 08 ACRS: Motivating behaviour change among high risk road users: What works and what doesn't work? - Brisbane 18-19 Sep 2008.
9 Apr 08 Fleet News: EU pushes for new vehicle safety rules (brake assist) + GM commits to safety initiative. DfT: Driving for Better Business
8 Apr 08 AI: Chrysler recalls Sebring, Avenger sedans for tire-monitor fix.
8 Apr 08 Goauto: Proton calls the Savvy back in for safety check.
7 Apr 08 CNN: Smart car doesn't ace [NHTSA] crash tests.
28 Mar 08 Fleet News: Get ready for corporate manslaughter + Speeders get the message.
26 Mar 08 ANCAP: 5 Star results remain elusive as Utilities score 2, 3 and 4 stars. Includes results for Commodore, Mahindra, Navara, BT-50/Ranger as well as a range of vehicles tested by EuroNCAP.
26 Mar 08 AAA: Rescuers changing tactics in accidents
19 Mar 08 Consumer Reports: Combi USA recalls 67,000 infant car seats.
19 Mar 08 Fleet News: Fleets encouraged to adopt telematic insurance.
14 Mar 08 Goauto: Ford considers standard curtains for Falcon + Ford: Korean Barina 'inferior' + Nissan on Navara crash course + Drive: Holden, Ford in pre-sale dogfight
14 Mar 08 AAA Foundation: Bill would fit school buses with belts.
14 Mar 08 USA Today: Crash-test report backs stronger roofs on SUVs.
13 Mar 08 Hella FAQ on Daytime Running Lights (PDF)
12 Mar 08 AI: Study finds stronger car roofs raise survival rate - Feds underestimate number of lives that can be saved in rollover crashes + IIHS: Status Report Rollover & report Roof Strength and Injury Risk in Rollover Crashes.
12 Mar 08 Fleet News: Industry 'wikimedia' website launch
9 Mar 08 Accident Analysis & Prevention Volume 40, Issue 2

5 Mar 08 Goauto: Federal automotive body slams state and territory calls for mandatory ESC from 2010
2 Mar 08 Sunday Telegraph: Seatbelt law tightened - CHILDREN under the age of seven will be banned from riding in the front seat of cars under radical changes to seatbelt laws to be adopted across Australia. For background seeNational Transport Commission: Stronger laws for the safer restraint of children + Proposed regulation changes and justification.
2 Mar 08 SMH: Turn left in 400 metres, don't crash - Satellite navigation devices, which give drivers aural guidance to their destinations, could prove to be even more dangerous distractions than mobile telephones at the wheel. [but this is "anecdotal evidence"]
29 Feb 08 AI: [US] Feds urge 4.6M Ford recalls - Safety officials tell affected vehicle owners to get cruise control corrected now + Bush signs auto safety bill into law [backover accidents and power windows]
29 Feb 08 ANCAP: New Forester Maintains Subaru's 5 Star Reputation + details.
29 Feb 08 Goauto: Nissan starts “service campaign” as Navara scores a shock one-star NCAP crash result + Drive: Popular 4WD utes flunk crash tests.
26 Feb 07 Euro NCAP: Euro NCAP picks up carmakers' weaknesses in new category (utility or pick-up). Navara 1 star, Rodeo 2 stars, L200/Triton 4 stars. + Low safety rating for Nissan truck + Nissan's NCAP nightmare
26 Feb 08 BBC: Testers say recall 'unsafe' truck (Euro NCAP rating of Nissan Navara utility due out tomorrow)
16 Feb 08 Detroit News: '06 ATV crashes killed more than 550, U.S. says - At least 555 people -- including more than 100 children -- died in all-terrain ("wreckreational") vehicle accidents in 2006. Government safety officials expect the number to go much higher as they receive information from coroners and hospitals nationwide.
16 Feb 08 ABC: Child injured in [school] bus crash [in SE South Australia]
15 Feb 08 Detroit News: Senate sends 'Kids and Cars' act to Bush.
13 Feb 08 Philadelphia Inquirer : Making a smarter crash test dummy - abdomen injury risk can now be measured (thanks Andrew Knackstedt, LTNZ)
8 Feb 08 AAA: Federal agency to keep airbag regulations (fatal crashes where airbag did not deploy).
8 Feb 08 NHTSA: U.S. DOT Announces Upgraded Roof Strength Proposal + Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking.
3 Feb 08 CNN: One million Evenflo [infant] car seats recalled [in USA] + Volvo recalls 82,000 cars - Volvo's S40 and V50 models recalled because of rust risk that could stall engines. + Detriot News: Ford recalls autos already fixed once (cruise control wiring)
31 Jan 08 CASR: Vehicle design for pedestrian protection (5.1M PDF)
31 Jan 08 Detroit News: Child car seats get new rating -
Manufacturers will have to meet stricter standards with safety administration's revised grading system. NHTSA: details of new system.
30 Jan 08 New Zealand Herald: Seatbelt horrors bring booster-seat demand.
30 Jan 08 NTC: Sharing responsibility for heavy vehicle speed compliance.
29 Jan 08 NHTSA: Sec. Peters Catches Bus to School, Proposes New Safety Rules for School Buses + Notice of Proposed Rule Making + NHTSA Releases 2007 NSUBS Results on Booster Seat, Child Restraint and Seat Belt Use + Characteristics of Crash Injuries Among Young, Middle-Aged, and Older Drivers + Statistical Analysis of the Effectiveness of Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Systems – Final Report
29 Jan 08 Public Citizen: Agency's proposed roof crush test does not reflect real world factors + DFP: Safety of vehicle roofs in rollovers is debated + Consumer Affairs: Feds Delay Roof Strength Rule
23 Jan 08 Mayor of London: Mayor sets out budget to continue London's 'green' revolution (ISA under consideration to encourage compliance with 20mph speed limits)
22 Jan 08 Courier Mail: Mazda top scores in crash test + ANCAP detailed results.
20 Jan 08 ABC: Britain's first tuk-tuk fleet hits the skids.
19 Jan 08 AAA: Auto Recalls Increase 30 Percent in 2007 + Parents Say That Child Passenger Safety Laws Should Be Consistent Across the Country + Bills Would Send a Message to Cell Phone-Using Drivers in Rhode Island
13 Jan 08 SMH: Big Brother speed control to be trialled - not sure where the "Big Brother" came from, or my title as "Queensland Transport Consultant"! + News.com: Secret car speed-limiter trials. Opinion: secret and dangerous?? Anyone who has attended the annual Australasian Road Safety Research, Policing and Education Conference for the past 6 years would have been briefed on the status of ISA (intelligent speed limiting) in Australia. The Australian College of Road Safety held an ISA seminar in Sydney on 1 August 2007 - current government projects and ISA technology were described in detail. The links to papers on my Speed Control webpage debunk the myths about speed limiting being "dangerous". For a comprehensive description of "government" plans see: Demonstration of Advisory Intelligent Speed Adaptation Technology in Western Australia
9 Jan 08 Brisbane Courier Mail: Move to speed-limit fast cars - see the many article links at Speed Control.
6 Jan 08 The Age: If you phone and drive, you're also a bloody idiot + TRL ($): Conversations in cars: the relative hazards of mobile phones + FirstGroup bans use of hands free mobile phones when driving.
5 Jan 08 Fleet News: Pedestrian protection (Bosch system) + Majority of grey fleet is not safe [unroadworthy private vehicles used for business].
22 Dec 07 TG Daily: Bots crash at the DARPA Urban Challenge - so much for autonomous vehicles!
22 Dec 07 New Scientist ($): Sports cars more dangerous than SUVs.
21 Dec 07 RTA: Latest child restraint ratings.
21 Dec 07 Drive: Volvo’s crash test glitch + 2008 Ford Falcon countdown begins "Ford is rumoured to be working towards making the Falcon the first locally-built car to receive the maximum five star crash rating from independent safety auditor NCAP (New Car Assessment Program)."
21 Dec 07 Fleet News: Tougher sentences for mobile phone users. Sat-nav targeted too + BBC: Mobile phone driving jail threat.
18 Dec 07 Consumer Reports: 2008 car safety features - list of models on the US market.
4 Dec 07 NRMA Insurance: Family sedans lag behind in reversing - NRMA Insurance has today praised the increasing number of manufacturers who have adopted potentially life saving reversing camera technology in a bid to reduce the number of children injured in reversing incidents.
2 Dec 07 NHTSA: Proposed changes to child restraint ease-of-use assessments (PDF)
30 Nov 07 AI: Ford to settle Explorer rollover suits.
30 Nov 07 CNN: Toyota faces 2 lawsuits for safety defects + Toyota recalls 264,000 luxury cars [potential fuel leaks - Lexus]
30 Nov 07 Fleet News: Record drivers behaviour on video
30 Nov 07 SMH: Judges go for safety first in picking the top cars.
27 Nov 07 Recent presentations:

Pedestrian protection through vehicle design - Pedestrian Colloquium, 26 Nov 07
Rear seat occupant safety - ACRS Conference, 3 Aug 07
What's hot in road safety? Vehicles that obey the speed limits - ACRS ISA Seminar, 1 Nov 07

27 Nov 07 AAA: Are crosswalk lights worth the high cost? + Schools question new federal bus [seat belt] proposal: Concerns about cost, student safety are priority.
27 Nov 07 AI: Nissan recalling Altima and Sentra cars over sensor problems.
23 Nov 07 Carsguide: Saab alerts tired drivers.
21 Nov 07 TAC: Latest ANCAP Brochure.
21 Nov 07 NRMA: Holden Epica awarded four ANCAP stars
21 Nov 07 RACV: Latest ANCAP crash test results
21 Nov 07 ANCAP: Esc Vital To Vehicle Safety & Saving Lives
16 Nov 07 Fleet News: Speeders likely to lose licence.
15 Nov 07 AI: Ford, Honda lead safest list + Auto safety bill may get approval
15 Nov 07 IIHS: 2008 winners of Top Safety Pick award — number of winners increases; pickups eligible for first time.
14 Nov 07 ABC: Research says fewer accidents with stability control + MUARC: New Australian research proves ESC saves lives + MUARC: Preliminary evaluation of electronic stability control effectiveness in Australasia
14 Nov 07 Informa: Rail Safety 2008 - Addressing the key safety challenges in rail: level crossings, human factors and technology. 27th - 28th February 2008, Melbourne + AusRAIL PLUS 2007, 4-7 December, Sydney - will also cover level crossings.
14 Nov 07 ACRS: Safe Walking: A Colloquium on Pedestrian Safety - Sydney 26th Nov.
14 Nov 07 Fleet News: Worn tyres hazard + Speeding not the cause of rural road crashes (BUT "The contributory factors are the opinions of police officers based on the evidence available to them at the time of reporting the accident..." and it does not take into account the very strong effect that impact speed, and therefore travelling speed, has on the outcome of a crash).
7 Nov 07 Drive SMH: 2007 Drive Car of the Year: Who's in, who's out - The biggest black mark against the Corolla is that stability control - a proven crash avoidance technology that's reducing fatalities around the world – is not available on any model even as an option. Note that ANCAP will require ESC for 5 star ratings from January 2008.
6 Nov 07 NewSci: 'Aggressive but safe' SUV wins robotic street race.
5 Nov 07 Scientific American: Robots Prepare for the Battlefield by First Fighting City Traffic.
4 Nov 07 AI: Parking aid: Infiniti offers overhead view (see driveway safety)
2 Nov 07 AAMI: Drug Driving reports released.
2 Nov 07 AAA Foundation: The [motorcycle] Helmet Debate
26 Oct 07 Herald Sun: Vote one, vote car safety - have your say and encourage the Federal parties to support ANCAP by sending an email.
26 Oct 07 Fleet News (UK): Speed limiter idea gains momentum - An influential body that advises members of the House of Commons and House of Lords has recommended that all fleet vehicles be fitted with intelligent speed adaptation (ISA) systems to improve road safety.
24 Oct 07 AAA: Millions keeping their eye on group's refined crash tests.
13 Oct 07 CNN: Crash tests: Not all SUVs built alike + Stop, thief! OnStar will brake stolen cars - call-center operators in Detroit to remotely cut off engine power in OnStar-equipped vehicles that are reported stolen
13 Oct 07 IIHS: New crash tests: some midsize SUVs perform worse than many cars in side tests.
12 Oct 07 NTC: Seatbelt retrofit Code for safer buses
- A voluntary guideline will protect bus owners and the public against sub-standard seatbelt retrofit practices.
8 Oct 07 Fleet News: New warning on sat-nav systems (windscreen devices might obscure vision) + Road injury figures a ‘smokescreen’ (opinion)
8 Oct 07 CNN: Chrysler recalls 125,000 cars for fire risk (Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring) + Mustang first ragtop to ace NHTSA crash tests +
26 Sep 07 Australian Bus & Coach Editorial: Gympie [bus] crash a test case for ADR 59 - see also retrofit guidelines. Note that the article fails to mention the bus that crashed was subsidised 40 % of the purchase price
by Queensland Transport under the School Bus Subsidy Scheme. Had this not been the case, the bus would likely have been much older and less crashworthy.
26 Sep 07 Transport Canada: Canadian Multidisciplinary Road Safety Conference - Call for papers. June 8-11, 2008 in Whistler BC.
22 Sep 07 AI: Chrysler recalls Jeep vehicles due to brake defects (2007-8 Jeep Commander and Grand Cherokee)
21 Sep 07 SMH Drive: Crash testing hits the wall (Stars on Cars) + New Lancer ups the safety ante.
21 Sep 07 FleetNews: Speed limiter plan to make roads safer.
21 Sep 07 Consumer Reports: Britax recalls [US] child safety seat for design defect.
19 Sep 07 SMH Drive: Chinese cars not too crash hot + Business Week: China's Brilliance: Back from Disaster? + Forbes: China's Brilliance Auto to boost export effort after car passes Spain crash test. (improved from 1 to 3 stars!)
19 Sep 07 News.com: School children injured in bus crash + (what timing) ABC: Howard to spend $40m on bus seatbelts (but no indication that it will be a requirement to meet new retrofit guidelines)
17 Sep 07 CNN: Chrysler recalls nearly 300,000 vehicles
- Braking problem affecting recent Grand Cherokees, Commanders, Jeep Wrangler SUVs and Dodge Nitros.
17 Sep 07 Accident Analysis & Prevention Volume 39, Issue 5:

Premature graduation of children in child restraint systems: An observational study
Do laboratory frontal crash test programs predict driver fatality risk? Evidence from within vehicle line variation in test ratings
The role of motorcyclist and other driver behaviour in two types of serious accident in the UK - There seems to be a particular problem surrounding other road users’ perception of motorcycles, particularly at junctions. Such accidents often seem to involve older drivers with relatively high levels of driving experience who nonetheless seem to have problems detecting approaching motorcycles.

12 Sep 07 AAA Foundation/USA Today: Study: 'Super' motorcycles step up risk. Se also the Australia stats in the paper DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS FOR MOTORCYCLES (the compelling case for improved motorcycle conspicuity has been largely ignored by road safety authorities)
6 Sep 07 Queensland Govt: Queensland Parliament's Travelsafe Committee Makes Recommendations to Prevent Driveway Deaths and Injuries (PDF) + Inquiry webpage.
6 Sep 07 CNN: Government to require [side] head protection in new vehicles.
1 Sep 07 ANCAP: ANCAP awards 5 star safety rating to new Subaru Impreza + (top) 4 star pedestrian protection and ESC standard.
28 Aug 07 ABC: [NSW] Girl, eight, dragged by school bus.
22 Aug 07 WSJ: A Cause of Child Auto Deaths Draws Increased Attention - see also driveway safety. Thanks Automotive Digest.
16 Aug 07 Consumer Reports: Luxury sedan crash tests - High price doesn’t always buy safety. IIHS press release.
16 Aug 07 AAA: Electronic Logs Touted As Safety Solution; Rule Needed to Stop Truck Drivers from Cheating, Some Say.
15 Aug 07 Fleet News: Developing technology.
15 Aug 07 AI: Tire safety TV ads debut - Traffic safety office warns drivers about dangerous mix of heat and under inflation.
15 Aug 07 AAA: Foreign roads can be deadly for travelers - The [bus] brakes failed on a steep mountain road, but he bus plowed into a herd of yaks, slammed into a retaining wall and stopped!
10 Aug 07 Drive (SMH): Eye spy in the sky (speed control - actually there is no "spy" involved)
7 Aug 07 ABC 7:30 report: [Federal] Govt issues ultimatum to states on bus seat belts. See also SCHOOL BUS SEAT BELTS: THEIR FITMENT, EFFECTIVENESS AND COST (updated to include a list of better ways to spend road safety dollars) + Draft National Code of Practice and Engineering Certification Form for Retrofitting Passenger Restraints to Buses + THREE POINT SEAT BELTS ON COACHES - THE FIRST DECADE IN AUSTRALIA
6 Aug 07 Fleet News: Fleet alert over [UK] work death law.
6 Aug 07 AI: Texting on the road? R U crazy?!
5 Aug 07 Scientific American March 1993: Why America's Bridges are Crumbling - Every year, on average, between 150 and 200 spans suffer partial or complete collapse. Sometimes the collapse creates a spectacular disaster, such as the 1983 fall of the Mianus River Bridge on Interstate 95 in Connecticut + Star Tribune: Inspectors still rely on old techniques: Tap, look and listen
4 Aug 07 Goauto: Eco Civic scores four stars - ENCAP laments the four-star crash test safety rating by Civic Hybrid and Skoda Fabia + Euro NCAP: Hybrids: Environmentally concerned and safe?
27 Jul 07 Fleet News: [UK] Corporate manslaughter and homicide bill passed.
25 Jul 07 ATSB: Used car safety ratings 2007 + RACV: Survey identifies used car safety risk - Light cars remain particularly problematic, with around two thirds in the worst category. This includes two vehicles still on sale – the Daewoo Kalos (2003-2004), which is now badged as a Holden Barina, and the Hyundai Getz (2002-2005).
25 Jul 07 Euro NCAP: Hybrids: Environmentally concerned and safe? - Honda Civic Hybrid 4 stars
20 Jul 07 BBC: Look, no hands - driveless car
17 Jul 07 IIHS: Rear crash protection in SUVs, pickup trucks, & minivans: most of their seat/head restraints are marginal or poor + Ford [Taurus X] SUV earns TOP SAFETY PICK + Hyundai Santa Fe earns 2007 TOP SAFETY PICK award.
17 Jul 07 CNN: Crash test is pain in the neck for car makers.
17 Jul 07 (back from ESV07): Fleet News: High price of crash claims - Getting a company car back on the road after a non-fault accident is costing fleets tens of thousands of pounds each year.
14 Jun 07 Drive: Gizmos to limit speed.
13 Jun 07 The Age: Trucks to join trial of electronic speed limiter.
13 Jun 07 AAA Foundation: Highway checks sideline unsafe vehicles + Grant would help purchase more child safety seats + Stop Text Messaging, Drivers Urged
12 Jun 07 SMH: Commodore years behind on safety - ANCAP test of VE Commodore.
6 Jun 07 AAA Foundation: Insurer tattles on kids who speed.
3 Jun 07 IIHS: 1st time Institute tests [10] convertibles: Saab & Volvo models are top performers; 3 are marginal in side impact test
1 Jun 07 NZ Herald: Car smash deaths can be eliminated.
1 Jun 07 Australian Conference: ITS Australia: SmartDemo 2007 - 13th to 15th August 2007 - Melbourne +ACRS: Infants, Children & Young People & Road Safety Conference - 2-3 August 2007 preceded by a half day seminar on Intelligent Speed Adaptation on 1 August (contact Ian Faulks for details)
30 May 07 CNN: Toyota reports [engine] problem with new Tundra.
30 May 07 AI: Feds push back roof regulation.
23 May 07 Euro NCAP: Best ever adult occupant score for Nissan Qashquai.
23 May 07 Drive: Toyota calls for stability.
17 May 07 NZ Dept of Labour: Joint government effort to address work-related road safety (thanks Will Murray)
17 May 07 The Age: Push to keep kids properly restrained for safety's sake + [Bus] Crash in India sees 22 killed.
17 May 07 SMH: Isabelle's legacy - nation on brink of car seat reform.
16 May 07 [Australian] National Transport Commission: Stronger laws for the safer restraint of children + Report out for public comment.
16 May 07 RTA brochure: Young Driver Safety - has tips about safer vehicles
16 May 07 ITSEurope: 6th European Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems and Services - Aalborg, Denmark 18-20 June 2007 (Clashes with 20th ESV!)
15 May 07 TRL: Bus and Coach Safety Update (2004-2006) - PDF for 20 pounds.
15 May 07 Fleet News: Tyre management: get a grip on checks + Scientists prove hands-free risk. PDF of report "Conversations in cars: the relative hazards of mobile phones" available from TRL for 30 pounds!
15 May 07 AI: Chrysler recalls 270,000 minivans (airbag) + Lexus ups the ante with the most high-tech car ever built (fatigue detection system that may also be useful for distraction detection)
15 May 07 IIHS: New Acura and Ford models are top performers in crash tests.
12 May Euro NCAP: Disappointing results from Euro NCAP's ESC fitment survey + eSafety: "Choose ESC" Campaign + ChooseESC website. VDR paper on ESC available from ChooseESC website.
10 May 07 Business Week: Nissan Dials Into Traffic Safety - improved safety for pedestrians carrying mobile phones? (or less safety for those that don't?)
9 May 07 Fleet News: Behind the scenes at Thatcham’s centre.
9 May 07 Goauto: Kangoo, Trafic and Master ugraded for 2007 model year - [the Kangoo has a] a speed control feature designed to prevent drivers from inadvertently breaking the speed limit.
8 May 07 Presentation: What's hot in road safety - vehicles that obey the speed limits.
7 May 07 New Scientist ($): Interview: The human crash test dummy.
6 May 07 Consumer Reports: Multipoint seat-belt safety campaign.[normal seat belts - multiple targets]
6 May 07 Fleet News: Crash tragedy case a ‘wake-up call to all fleets’
30 Apr 07 Consumer Reports: Why Sweden rules in road safety
30 Apr 07 Fleet News: Airbag fault sparks Kia [Sorrento] recall.
28 Apr 07 AAA Foundation: Measure targets younger drivers: Bill would ban cell calls, text messages while behind wheel + Toddler vehicle death: a frequent tragedy + Biker safety is top priority: Festival officials ask drivers of both 2-wheel and 4-wheel vehicles to pay extra attention (but motorcycle DRLs not on the menu!)
26 Apr 07 Auto Express: Crash tests' hi-tech shake-up - compatibility crash tests [thanks Anne Logan]
25 Apr 07 Fleet News: Simulator shows dangers of speed, drink and phones + Simulator aims to curb speed + ROSPA: Stopping distance simulator.
25 Apr 07 AAA Founcation: Campaigning in Alec's name: Family's efforts to make others aware of vehicle blind zones, dangers to kids peaks with race, county law + Schoolkids, buckle up on buses -- or else: Violators should get referrals, district says.
22 Apr 07 New Scientist: If you're driving, stay off the phone - Those who were using a phone while driving with no passengers were 4.10 times as likely to crash. + AAP ($): The contribution of passengers versus mobile phone use to motor vehicle crashes resulting in hospital attendance by the driver.
22 AAP April 07 selection ($):

21 Apr 07 Australasian College of Road Safety: Daytime Running Lights - ACRS in one of its policy statements supports daytime running lights, and suggests that until they become standard on vehicles, drivers use their low beam during daylight.
21 Apr 07 CNN: Corzine crash spotlights SUV safety [speeding and seat belts?] + Crash death rates show progress in auto safety - SUVs, in particular, now much safer with addition of stability control. IIHS Status Report.
21 Apr 07 AAA Foundation: Focus shifting to avoiding crashes: But will drivers give up control? + Driver Death Rate Falls, Study Finds + SUVs 5-7 Percent Safer Than Passenger Cars-Fatalities in SUV-Passenger Car Crashes Trending Downward.
20 Apr 07 ACRS: 2007 Australasian Road Safety Research, Policing and Education Conference 2007 will be held in Melbourne, 17 - 19 October 2007.
20 Apr 07 WSJ ($): How Safe Is Your Child's School Bus? - School buses by far safest passenger vehicles on the road...(summary at AD) + Copy at AAA.
20 Apr 07 BBC: Camera-caught drivers not fined.
19 Apr 07 AI: Safety sells with auto buyers - but no mention of speed control: " There is no single vehicle technology remaining to be implemented - neither on the market nor in development - that offers the same safety potential as ISA" (ETSC 2006)
17 Apr 07 The Age: 'Virtual humans' sought for crash tests.
11 Apr 07 Engineers Australia: The National Panel on the Biomechanics of Impact Injury presents and afternoon seminar on Rear Seat Passenger Safety.Friday 27th April, 12.30pm - 5pm. Sydney. For details phone Nina Lenz – 02 6270 6548
6 Apr 07 AI: NHTSA mandates anti-roll systems for all vehicles by 2012. [actually it is electronic stability control!]
6 Apr 07 IIHS: Rear crash protection in cars: seat/head restraints in two of every three models are marginal or poor.
6 Apr 07 New Scientist ($): How many things can you do at once? - Needless to say, there appear to be no researchers in the area of multitasking who believe that you can safely drive a car and carry on a phone conversation ... people using cellphones drive no better than drunks... using a hands-free kit did not improve a driver's response time... what distracts a driver so badly is the very act of talking to someone who isn't present in the car and therefore is unaware of the hazards facing the driver.
5 Apr 07 ABC: LPG automotive tanks recalled - There has been a national recall of more than 13,500 LPG automotive tanks that may leak liquid LPG.
3 Apr 07 CNN: Anger over new safety rules for cars
- Federal regulators are expected to announce new stability control systems...the standard it was considering suffered from "a crippling lack of ambition."
31 Mar 07 AI: NHTSA mulls commercial bus seat belt rule - about time! See THREE POINT SEAT BELTS ON COACHES - THE FIRST DECADE IN AUSTRALIA
31 Mar 07 Livescience: Study Reveals Why We Get Distracted So Easily.
22 Mar 07 Goauto: Braking software glitch affects range of Chrysler Group vehicles in Australia.
22 Mar 07 Consumer Reports: What's next in auto safety - Innovative advances will soon make driving safer than ever. (but no mention of ISA) + How our [child] car seat tests went wrong - The missteps we made and some lessons we learned
22 Mar 07 AAAF: Bus Safety Rules Might Have Saved Lives, NTSB Chief Says [but not seat belts]
21 Mar 07 CNN: Consumer Reports adjusts after flawed car-seat tests.
20 Mar 07 AAA Foundation: Older Drivers in Crashes: The Mistakes They Make at Intersections + IIHS Status Report.
16 Mar 07 Green Flag: Drivers admit they succumb to deadly distractions.
15 Mar 07 Yahoo 7: Many men have driven at more than 150kmh. (see 13 Mar)
14 Mar 07 SMH Drive: Missing airbag danger
14 Mar 07 Fleet News: Vehicle technology: in-car intelligence + Gadgets don’t work for residual values.
13 Mar 07: I n-vehicle Intelligent Speed Advisory Systems - pre-print of paper for the 20th International Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles.
13 Mar 07 AI: Call for highway speed limits meets little enthusiasm in Germany.
9 Mar 07 AI: Automakers back single crash rating + CNN: Govt. wants more crash tests for cars.
8 Mar 07 ABC Aust: Toyota recalls thousands of cars - Landcruiser and LX470 - front-disc brake rotor retaining bolts.
6 Mar 07 Sunday Age: Why seatbelt laws are failing our children.
3 Mar 07 AAA Foundation: Cameras in cars keep watch on teen driving + Child's height matters Officials say parents should know when to use booster seat.
26 Feb 07 AAAM: Oct 15-16 - AAAM's 51st Annual Conference in Melbourne, Australia - followed by Road Safety Conference Oct 17-18 - VicRoads
24 Feb 07 AI: Crash tests rate 24 autos high -
2007 SUVs, passenger vehicles score well, but Transportation secretary wants to revise testing...Some of the same vehicles have received mediocre ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety + Tire firms fight pressure-monitor rule + Automotive Digest: New Research: Navigation Systems Improve Traffic Safety + AAA Foundation: Improving Intersection Safety with An Innovative Collision Avoidance System.
21 Feb 07 People Safe In Rollovers Foundation: EMERGENCY WORLD SUMMIT on ROOF CRUSH. Washington DC, 18-20 July 2007.
9 Feb 07 Fleet News: [UK] Minister gets tough on phone offenders - employers who cause drivers to use mobiles on the move could be prosecuted under the tough new laws
7 Feb 07 IIHS: Two Fords earn good crash test ratings; Edge wins Institute's highest award, TOP SAFETY PICK.
7 Feb 07 Fleet News: Voyager suffers NCAP test blow
6 Feb 07 Cambridge Uni (UK): MECHANICS OF HEAVY-DUTY TRUCK SYSTEMS to be held at Cambridge University from 23-26 April 2007. The event will be led by three 'gurus' of heavy vehicle dynamics: Chris Winkler and Bob Ervin from UMTRI, and Dick Radlinski of LINK Radlinski Inc...
3 Feb 07 WSJ (copy): Do 'Five-Star' or 'Good' Ratings Really Mean It's a Safer Ride? (see also IIHS (PDF): Vehicles can be more fuel efficient without compromising safety)
3 Feb 07 ABRN: New Volvo braking system hopes to cut collisions in half.
3 Feb 07 CAS: ESC II - the first Electronic Stability Control with steering intervention.
3 Feb 07 AI: Custom parts might derail vehicle stability.
2 Feb 07 Goauto: Voyager slammed in latest EuroNCAP testing.
2 Feb 07 New Scientist: Tyres that know when they are wearing out (patent application).
1 Feb 07 Goauto: Holden's Korean-sourced SUV hits its first hump - recall for brake pedal
31 Jan 07 Euro NCAP: MPVs - some manufactuers still lazy about safety - the Chrysler Voyager has again been awarded a poor safety score of two stars with the last star struck through, seven years after it originally received a two-star result.
31 Jan 07 BBC: 'Bottleneck' slows brain activity - The findings, published in Neuron, support the case for a complete ban on the use of mobile phones when driving
30 Jan 07 IIHS Status Report (PDF)

Red light cameras in Philadelphia all but eliminate violations
Cameras in US communities
Why beginners crash and the kinds of crashes they get into
Vehicle size in relation to safety and fuel economy
Airbags: What you might not know (or don't remember)

30 Jan 07 Fleet News: Stay in control of vehicle safety + Warning over drivers who keep on phoning + Survey shows danger of defective tyres.
30 Jan 07 VDR: Question: Half of all fatal car accidents occur at or below what impact speed?
20 Jan 07 AI: Child seat test faulty - Consumer Reports Magazine retracts results because some test crashes were conducted at speeds higher than it reported.
19 Jan 07 ABC 7.30: Young drivers' voices 'ignored' in P-plate debate
12 Jan 07 SF Gate: Safety data a trade secret?
12 Jan 07 AI: Feds seek tougher [NCAP] car safety testing
11 Jan 07 SMH: Night bans, tougher tests for P-platers - no mention of choosing safer vehicles!
6 Jan 07 Fleet News: Crash aftermath costs £1bn a year - lost working hours resulting from car accidents are costing UK companies at least £1 billion a year...company car drivers have approximately 50% more crashes than ordinary drivers, even taking their higher mileage into account + Auris score highly in crash tests - two other vehicles 'appalling' [in pedestrian protection]
5 Jan 07 New Scientist ($): SUV owners need a hand to drive better - "It lulls drivers into a false sense of security that they will survive an impact..."
5 Jan 07 Washington Post: That Eye in the Sky? It Sees You Speeding (used to be known as "Pigs in Space" when trialled in New South Wales decades ago - remember the Muppets?)
4 Jan 07 AI: Toyota developing system that detects drunken drivers, says report.
4 Jan 07 Washington Post: Traffic deaths should top news
30 Dec 06 ABC: Young motorists banned from driving V8s [in Queensland] - no mention of choosing safer vehicles! It appears that some 5 star rated vehicles will no longer be able to be driven by provisional drivers.
27 Dec 06 SMH Drive: Motorists switch satnav on, brain off.
26 Dec 06 AAP: Neck injury tolerance under inertial loads in side impacts.
20 Dec 06 European Commission: Public consultation on daytime running lights.
20 Dec 06 IIHS: First crash tests of minicars: Nissan Versa earns the highest overall rating; three minicars earn poor ratings in side tests.
20 Dec 06 AI: Big risk seen in smaller autos.
20 Dec 06 Fleet News: Driver training and risk management: Are you responsible for road accidents? - So when we talk of ‘someone who established or condoned the working practices that contributed to a fatal accident’, could that someone be you?
11 Dec 06 Medical Journal of Australia: Preventing traffic accidents by mobile phone users + Phone use and crashes while driving: a representative survey of drivers in two Australian states.
8 Dec 06 DFP: GM to offer standard side air bags by 2012.
7 Dec 06 SMH Drive: Buy your P-plater a car for life - A safe car is their best chance of coming out alive (I agree) + Suzuki recalls Ignis cars due to airbags.
7 Dec 06 RACV: Toyota Aurion biggest winner at australia’s best cars - Base model buyers especially, would benefit from life-saving technology, such as Electronic Stability Control, anti-lock brakes and six airbags.
6 Dec 06 Fleet News: Drivers call for total mobile ban.
6 Dec 06 FEMA (PDF): Response to EU consultation paper on DRLs. Comment: several myths are perpetuated in this document. See DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS FOR MOTORCYCLES. In particular:

DRLs do not "distract" other motorists - they instantly make the vehicle more conspicuous. This is an advantage because other road users can devote more time to detecting less conspicuous objects.
DRLs do not create disabling glare. In any case, they have only a fraction of the luminous intensity of sunlight reflected off glass and polished surfaces.
I have suggested that yellow turn-signal DRLs be used on motorcycles so they stand out from white DRLs on cars.

The best DRL solution is low-powered (LED?) dedicated DRLs with a light sensor to switch to headlights when ambient light levels drop.

5 Dec 06 New Scientist: Wing-mirror cameras (transmitting video to following vehicles) + Seat Belt airbags (further down page)
4 Dec 06 The Times: What a teenage girl should worry about most: her boyfriend's driving
4 Dec 06 Reuters: Moroccan bus crash kills 12 - see also THREE POINT SEAT BELTS ON COACHES - THE FIRST DECADE IN AUSTRALIA
30 Nov 06 Euro NCAP: Euro NCAP continues to provide consumers with the latest information about the safety of new cars with its most recent releases - four more 5 star performers.
30 Nov 06 ABC: Labor calls for national summit on youth road toll - still no mention of choosing safer vehicles!
30 Nov 06 Livescience: Paths to self-destruction #5 - So hit the road, forget the speed limit, yak on your cell phone—or worse, eat—and don't buckle up if you're anxious to become part of this popular statistic.
29 Nov 06 NRMA: Growth in airbags makes new cars safer - The Subaru Tribeca, a large 4WD, scored 5 stars in the latest ANCAP crash test result
25 Nov 06 AI: Industry adds input on [alcohol] ignition locks - Automakers will discuss how to stop drunk drivers, but say technology won't hit the roads for years. "If we can't stop drunks from driving, we'll stop vehicles from driving drunks..." - MADD's president
24 Nov 06 Fleet News: New laws give fleets more clout - fleets are not getting enough executive support to run safe, efficient cars and vans...
22 Nov 06 Fleet News: Fleet management: Young drivers - but no mention of choosing safer vehicles! On a positive note: "Centrica has reprogrammed 3,000 new vans so they cannot exceed 70mph, with the aim of reducing high-speed motorway collisions and improving fuel efficiency. All the firm’s vans should be reprogrammed within the next four years."
22 Nov 06 IIHS: 2007 TOP SAFETY PICK award winners: award criteria are tougher; SUVs eligible for first time.
16 Nov 06 Forbes Magazine: Least-Safe Cars 2007.
16 Nov 06 NZ Herald: Large vehicles top security survey but drivers urged to consider crash tests too.
16 Nov 06 ABC: Fatal crash prompts call for truck 'black boxes' - A Victorian coroner wants recording equipment, similar to the "black boxes" used in aeroplanes, to be installed in all large trucks.
15 Nov 06 NHTSA: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Administrator Calls
for a Collaborative Effort to Solve the Tragic
Issue of Motor Vehicle Backovers + PDF: Vehicle Backover Avoidance Technology Study.
14 Nov 06 European Commission: Do other road users suffer from the presence of cars that have their daytime running lights on? "no evidence that the conspicuity of road users in the vicinity of a DRL-vehicle, as measured by the speed with which their presence was detected, suffered from a car having its Daytime Running Lights on." + SAVING LIVES WITH DAYTIME RUNNNG LIGHTS (DRL) - A Consultation Paper (closes 17 Nov)
14 Nov 06 European Agency for Safety and Health at Work: Young people are especially vulnerable in the workplace - thanks Will Murray. But no mention of choosing safer vehicles!
11 Nov 06 ABC: Holden hit with second Commodore recall - rear seatbelt buckles + NSW school zones to get warning systems. See also Flashing lights on school buses.
8 Nov 06 Drive/SMH: Unlimited speeds in NT axed + Rude awakening for drowsy drivers + New Scientist: Clever cars shine at intelligent transport conference.
8 Nov 06 Fleet News: Accident management: The aftermath.
8 Nov 06 Euro NCAP: Latest rsults - Honda Civic, Lexus IS and Kia Carnival

31 Oct 06 Fleet News: Prepare now for new [UK] minibus rules [speed limiters]
26 Oct 06 TAC: Subaru Tribeca earns 5 stars from ANCAP.
26 Oct 06 Drive SMH: Road safety drive to set limits on speed-loving Territorians - Territorians are at greater risk of being killed in a road crash than people in the rest of the developed world + Cars to automatically detect speed limit (there is already a device that does this - SpeedAlert)
18 Oct 06 Goauto: Some digs at Holden: Ford Oz spruiks European-ness as it takes a swipe at Holden's Korean-sourced models "[Holden have gone for a strategy of low-cost, bottom-end with their Korean line-up" + A host of standard safety features see Aurion go one step further than Commodore + Holden recalls more than 1500 examples of its V8-powered VE Commodore sedan (fuel leak)
13 Oct 06 New Scientist: Clever cars shine at intelligent transport conference - but no mention of speed control.
13 Oct 06 Fleet News: Driver safety top of [UK] sat-nav review. DoT: In-Vehicle Information Systems (IVIS) Consultation Document.
11 Oct 06 Drive (the Age): P-platers put on right road - but (once again) no mention of choosing safer vehicles!
11 Oct 06 Fleet News: Cameras target the tailgaters.
6 Oct 06 Consumer Affairs: Study: Aggressive Driving Negates Benefits of Safety Devices.
6 Oct 06 Fleet News: Call for at-work crash statistics + Five-star awards in NCAP tests.
5 Oct 06 AI: Study: Side air bags save lives "Consumers shouldn't buy cars without side air bags, says Adrian Lund, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety." (see also the graph above) + IIHS: Side airbags substantially reduce death risk in cars & SUVs; those that protect people's heads are especially effective. Oct Status Report has details.
3 Oct 06 ABC: Govt defends roads policy amid damning report.
3 Oct 06 Accident Analysis & Prevention
Volume 38, Issue 6 (Nov 2006) abstracts:

27 Sep 06 Drive SMH: Brock car: 'as good and as safe as you could get' - but see Side Impacts and Improved Occupant Protection.
23 Sep 06 BBC: Deadly crash on German monorail - comment: technology has difficulty with one dimension. Add another and the challenge for automated highways becomes evident.
15 Sep 06 NZ Autocar: Will Barina get back on Corsa? - "I am worried about selling cars and brand image, and there is no doubt the two-star rating impacted on that." Also Drive.
15 Sep 06 AI: Feds: Put anti-rollover controls in all autos + Ex-chief calls for NHTSA action - Runge says agency must complete new standards for roof strength, side crashes + Ford to roll out stability controls -
Automaker will make anti-rollover feature, which could save 10,600 lives, standard by 2009.
15 Sep 05 IIHS: New side crash tests: performance of two Fords improves with side airbags
13 Sep 06 Australian: Speed limit alert software unveiled
13 Sep 06 UK Think Safety: Child Restraints - New Law - New regulations governing the use of child car seats will come into force on 18 September 2006.
7 Sep 06 AI: NHTSA won't test Explorer roof.
6 Sep 06 Fleet News: Distraction major cause of accidents.
2 Sep 06 AI: Ford tests new seat belt ideas - Carmaker developing four-point, inflatable designs to improve safety.
1 Sep 06 SMH: Safe as cars, 4WDs escape green slip rise - Stuart Newstead, senior research fellow at Monash University's Accident Research Centre, yesterday cautioned against interpreting the study's results as a safety tick for 4WDs... + New Opel Corsa stars in crash test.
31 Aug 06 Goauto: Hyundai continues to back safety technology despite disappointing [ESC] take-up in Getz + Five stars for less than one per cent of 270 cars tested in the RACV's car reversing index
+ Toyota's Corolla targeted in latest vehicle parts theft scam, this time aimed at airbags + Lexus fits knee airbags and other safety extras to its SC430 coupe-convertible + Benz says almost a third of new S-class buyers have opted for night-vision technology
31 Aug 06 DoTaRS: Australian Design Rules now online!
29 Aug 06 Euro NCAP: Seat axes safety feature while Ford raises the stakes for MPV's.
25 Aug 06 Consumer Reports: Blind spots + [IIHS] Crash tests
24 Aug 06 NHTSA: Rise in Motorcycle and Pedestrian Deaths Led to Increase in Overall Highway Fatality Rate in 2005. [SUV fatalities down]
24 Aug 06 AI: Carmakers stall roof rules -
Safety activists say federal standards are too lax.
24 Aug 06 SMH: Speeding fines may come to sudden halt - to be given weight as evidence the digital cameras that took the photos had to be calibrated every day. The authority calibrated its cameras once a year...! Sounds like a misunderstandng over the purpose calibration of instrumentation.
12 Aug 06 AI: Vehicles, not drivers, safer - IIHS: Declining death rates due to safer vehicles, not better drivers or improved roadways + New crash tests: Toyota Camry and RAV4 earn top ratings in front and side tests; Dodge Caliber improves over Neon.
10 Aug 06 AI: Nothing like tragic stories to stop cell phone chat on road
9 Aug 06 Fleet News BREAKTHROUGH?: British Gas opts for speed limiters - BRITISH Gas is demanding manufacturers fit speed limiters to its fleet of more than 10,000 vans in a bid to ensure its drivers remain safe on the road.
9 Aug 06 Fleet News (caution: annoying ads): Call for action over A-pillar blindspots - see also the NRMA Insurance vision ratings.
8 Aug 06 Australian: Seat belt call after school bus crash + Courier Mail: Eight school children hurt in bus crash. See also this report on retrofitting seat belts to buses (in particular, page 18)
5 Aug 06 SMH: What's big in small cars - The Barina is the only new car in Australia with such a poor NCAP rating... we won't recommend it at any price... the Yaris... has achieved five stars out of five (with side airbags) in Euro NCAP tests. In a small car, you need all the crash protection you can get, so this is decisive.
5 Aug 06 AI: Ford cruise control recall widens.
5 Aug 06 Carsguide: How safe is your car? (NCAP)
2 Aug 06 Saferoads 2006 conference - Melbourne, 7-8 Sept 2006.
28 Jul 06 EuroNCAP: Euro NCAP spots weaknesses in two best-selling cars - Latest results.
27 Jul 06 NRMA: NRMA and RTA help protect your precious cargo - Parents trying to pick the safest car restraints for their children now have access to the latest testing results...
27 Jul 06 NRMA Insurance: Are you driving blind? - rear vision assessments for driveway safety. Vehicles that scored zero stars: RAV4, Prado, 380, CLK500, Odydssey & Viva!
27 Jul 06 Goauto: Both active and passive safety play big roles in Holden's billion-dollar Commodore.
26 Jul 06 Drive: Big Brother watches Commodore drivers - Drivers of Holden’s new VE Commodore could have their every move monitored and recorded by their boss - but needs speed limit advice.
21 Jul 06: USA Today: How to prevent backover deaths of kids? (thanks Automotive Digest)
21 Jul 06 Fleet Owner: Flatbed fleet cuts accidents with safety [ Lane Departure Warning ] system. (thanks Automotive Digest)
21 Jul 06 ABRN: Mercedes Autonomous Braking Can Reduce Crash Severity. (thanks Automotive Digest)
21 Jul 06 Todays Trucking: Complete truck crash study now available. (thanks Automotive Digest)
21 Jul 06 Fleet News: [UK] Roads safer but more is needed.
21 Jul 06 Goauto: Holden admits that the VE Commodore can only be a 'good four-star car' .
17 Jul 06 SpaceDaily: Smart Cars To Rule The Roads.
16 Jul 06 AI: A female voice men will actually listen to for directions.
14 Jul 06 AI: Toyota, Nissan recall tops 500,000 (Altima and Sentra engine cut-out, Highlander and Lexus RX 330 console panel)
13 Jul 06 SMH: 4WD drivers really as bad we thought - A person behind the wheel of one is far more likely to be wielding a mobile phone while driving, and less likely to wear a seatbelt...
11 Jul 06 Accident Analysis & Prevention
Volume 38, Issue 5(September 2006) abstracts:

6 Jul 06: Speed Alert now taking orders online - PDA or mobile phone displays speed zones and alerts driver to speeding and school zones (see example of program running on a PDA)
5 Jul 06 Drive: Smaller cars not so big on safety - note that recent small cars that perform very well in NCAP tests are not included in the Used Car Safety Rating.
3 Jul 06 Yahoo: Restricting teen drivers may reduce deaths - no mention of safer vehicles for teen drivers.
27 Jun 06 Goauto: Plea for standard ESP as Holden obliges
22 Jun 06 DFP: Side safety: Impala and Avalon best - IIHS Press Release.
22 Jun 06 Goauto: Mitsubishi 380 the ‘safest’ local large car, along with Ford’s big Territory SUV.
17 Jun 06 Goauto: Honda Odyssey recall (94-97 models - ignition switch)
17 Jun 06 ABC: Toddler killed in driveway accident.
16 Jun 06 ABC: Road accidents cut 2pc from GDP: study - the medical, property and emergency costs from serious accidents are about $17 billion each year...
16 Jun 06 Consumer.org New Zealand: What price safety? "In our view...the Holden Barina should be withdrawn from sale until it's improved..."
15 Jun 06 IIHS: Electronic stability control could prevent nearly one-third of all fatal crashes and reduce rollover risk by as much as 80%; effect is found on single- and multiple-vehicle crashes + Status Report (PDF) + GM news release: New Study Confirms GM Commitment to StabiliTrak. (thanks Adrian Lund)
15 Jun 06 LiveScience: New In-Car Device Warns Speeding Drivers.
14 Jun 06 Goauto: Dismal crash test result hurts sales and forces Holden to reconsider its Barina plan + SMH Drive: Sales crash causes Holden to rethink safety. See also Choosing safer vehicles for young drivers - "... about half of the young drivers who died in a vehicle that is in the least safe group would be alive today if they had been driving a vehicle from the safest group" [like the latest Barina, most of the vehicles in the "least-safe" group had a 2 star NCAP rating or equivalent - they cannot be called "unsafe" because they meet safety regulations but decide for yourself whether the improved safety of a 4 star vehicle is worth having - see this NZ article]
10 Jun 06 Fleet News: EU sponsors safety project - car sensor equipment to help motorists avoid accidents at junctions and intersections...
9 Jun 06 AI: Car seats safer for kids than seat belts - CHOP study: Effectiveness of Child Safety Seats vs Seat Belts in Reducing Risk for Death in Children in Passenger Vehicle Crashes (abs)
31 May 06 SMH: Steering defect triggers Prius recall - produced in Japan from July 2003 to November 2005
27 May 06 Carsguide: Barina that could've been - [the Holden Barina] scored only two stars in two separate New Car Assessment Program tests, a dismal result for a new car. The new Corsa has not yet been tested by NCAP, but it has a good chance of scoring five stars
27 May 06 Consumer Reports: Surprise! Parents and youth see eye to eye on used cars - buy the newest, most reliable model with the most safety equipment you can afford... If your budget can handle a newer car with multistage advanced front air bags, side and head-protection air bags, antilock brakes, and electronic stability control, so much the better (See also Choosing safer vehicles for young drivers) + Do-it-yourself car-monitoring devices.
26 May 06 WhatCar: £200 to save your life - electronic stability control (thanks Bill Bridgens)
24 May 06 Fleet News: Safety checks toll is getting worse - 18% were unroadworthy
23 May 06 IIHS Status Report: Bad statistics leads to misinformation + Vehicle design improvements are main reasons for declining death rates in recent years.
23 May 06 CNN: The future of car safety - All [most US] new cars do well in front crash tests, but wrecks still kill many thousands. How can we be better protected?
22 May 06 SMH: School safety plan: lights, cameras, ads. Research on flashing warning lights - a prototype 40 sign with flashing LEDs was trialled in 1994. Speed Alert product.
20 May 06 Accident Analysis & Prevention (abs):

Misconceptions regarding case-control studies of bicycle helmets and head injury
Crash costs in the United States by crash geometry
Motorists’ use of hand held cell phones in New Zealand: An observational study
Predicting severe head injury after light motor vehicle crashes: Implications for automatic crash notification systems
Injury potential of a three-year-old Hybrid III dummy in forward and rearward facing positions under CMVSS 208 testing conditions (note there appears to be an assumption that the dummy neck is biofidelic - Australian research suggests this is not the case)

19 May 06 Fleet News: Road death inquiry can be harrowing [for corporations].
18 May 06 ABC: Ghana bus collision kills 35
Thirty-five people were killed in a collision involving two buses in central Ghana, police said on Wednesday
17 May 06 AI: Toyota recalls 210,000 Prado SUVs worldwide for axle problem + When speed and wealth collide.
15 May 06 AI: [Ford lawsuit] 'Roof crush' data may go public
12 May 06 Carsguide: Barina crunched on safety Comment: NHTSA may have given the Aveo 5 stars in the (relatively easy) full frontal test but it got 3 stars in the side impact and NHTSA listed it as a "safety concern"!
11 May 06 NewSci (subs): Shape-shifting car will brace for impact.
11 May 06 Consumer Reports (Subs): New air bags safer than earlier [US] models - Air-bag related injuries have declined
10 May 06 Goauto: Barina gets another "poor" crash test rating - "If you have a choice between what is rated as a two-star NCAP vehicle and a four-star of the same size, the risk of injury is roughly 25 to 30 percent lower in the four-star vehicle compared to the two-star. That’s an enormous difference..."
9 May 06 RACV: New Holden Barina slips to 2 stars in crash tests.
9 May 06 NRMA: Revolutionary technology fights fatigue behind the wheel.
8 May 06 AI: Chrysler recalls [300, Charger & Magnum] sedans, Jeeps - brake leaks
30 Apr 06 SAE Australasia: COMMERCIAL BRAKE ENGINEERING Air Brake Systems & Design Rules TECHNICAL PRESENTATION. 15 May in Sydney. Contact RICHARD GRDUSIAK for details.
30 Apr 06 Euro NCAP: FIAT IDEA & NISSAN PATHFINDER: Euro NCAP awards four stars.
26 Apr 06 Fleet News: Top ten safety devices revealed - a poll of 1,100 motorists. Vehicle stability control has been overlooked!
30 Apr 06 Goauto: Ford boss casts doubt over the credibility of Australia's crash-test program. BUT the picture says it all...
24 Apr 06 News.com.au: Top cop wants car speed limiters. Comment: top speed limiting set at 120km/h was recommended to the NSW RTA in a report that I wrote in 1996. I considered the pros and cons of a range of top speeds and 120km/h came out best. This would also be a stong deterrent to car-jacking and joyriding.
24 Apr 06 AI: 80% of accidents caused by distracted motorists + Safety advances don't put brakes on traffic deaths + How Shanghai will compete
24 Apr 06 IIHS: Crash tests of small cars & minivans: 2 earn the Institute's Top Safety Pick award (Sedona and Impreza); 1st Institute test results for Prius hybrid.
24 Apr 06 SMH: Data hides the real numbers - Australia does not count those injured and killed in the workplace accurately and the true death toll is probably two to three times the count of 500 aged under 25 who have died in the past decade, it has been claimed. Comment: And the data does not count deaths travelling to or from work.
5 Apr 06 SMH: Crash test: Ford Courier and Mazda Bravo - This is the video - or more correctly, the crash test - that has Ford Australia fuming + Adelaide Advertiser: Utilities fall short on safety features + RACV: ANCAP crash test results - April 2006 + Latest ANCAP results downgrade [4x4] Ford Courier crash rating (not correct since the 4x4 model has never been tested. The 4x2 Courier/Bravo was tested in 2001. The scoring system has changed since then)
2 Apr 06 IIHS: Major change in crashworthiness evaluations for consumer information, based on 10+ years of success of the frontal crash test program + AI: Front crash test procedure is revised.
31 Mar 06 SeattlePI: Nader returns to auto safety watchdog role - More than 40 years after "Unsafe at Any Speed" shook up the auto industry, Ralph Nader is returning to his roots + FTS: Whites more likely to die in car crashes (thanks Automotive Digest)
29 Mar 06 Goauto: Latest ANCAP results downgrade Ford Courier crash rating - speculation
24 Mar 06 New Scientist (subs): How to tell a fender bender from a pile-up - Systems that send an alert when a car crashes risk swamping emergency services with trivial calls over scraped fenders - telling the difference is key
23 Mar 06 Florida Today: Kids and Cars aims to curb backover accidents. Comment: Technology will assist but there is no substitute for close adult supervision of children near vehicles.
23 Mar 06 SMH: Speedcam slip may cost $100m -
RTA loses a Supreme Court appeal over speed camera photos.
22 Mar 06 Drive: Holden hits safety barrier .
22 Mar 06 WP (revised): Bush Names Choice To Head Traffic Safety - Nicole Nason to be administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
20 Mar 06 CNN: Safety of Chrysler vehicles probed.
20 Mar 06 AI: 7 SUVs get top safety score (NHTSA)
14 Mar 06 Goauto: Holden announces one of its biggest ever safety recalls to fix 124,000 side airbags
6 Mar 06 IIHS: New crash tests of midsize cars: BMW 3 series & Lexus IS earn 'Top Safety Pick,' but new Ford Fusion disappoints.
1 Mar 06 Goauto: NITSC to save lives, reduce traffic (National Intelligent Transport Systems Centre - Victoria , Australia) - speed control?
1 Mar 06 CNN: $25 million initiative to boost child safety seats + Ford recalls 211,000 pickups for warning lights
27 Feb 06 Goauto: Holden defends two-star Barina sedan crash rating.[Euro NCAP rating for Aveo - see below]
25 Feb 06 Euro NCAP: A wake-up call for the motor industry as Euro NCAP awards two star strike-through for the new Chevrolet Aveo. Latest ratings.
21 Feb 06 ABC 7.30 Report: Hit-run kills six - calls for electronic stability control on vehicles - weak argument from Holden, which has none on "base" models! Opinion: manufacturers should be required to make key safety equipment available for all models, at least as an option.
17 Feb 05 DFP: Belted in back seat best for tweens.
16 Feb 06 Engineers Australia NCBII: Seminar on VEHICLE INCOMPATIBILITY - Keynote Speaker: Dr Adrian Lund IIHS. MELBOURNE—Wednesday 1st March
EA VIC Division Office, 21 Bedford St Nth Melbourne
SYDNEY—Thursday 2nd March
Carlton Crest Hotel, Thomas St Haymarket
12noon—5pm
11 Feb 06 Detroit News: Bush highway safety nominee to push safety programs
7 Feb 06 Euro NCAP: Euro NCAP 10th Anniversary Conference.
7 Feb 06 ADVEA: [Australasian] MADYMO User's Meeting 2005 - conference papers.
3 Feb 06 Fleet News: High-tech safety for new Volvo S80 saloon + Speed awareness + Fleets help reduce noxious emissions
2 Feb 06 NHTSA: Occupant Fatality Rates by Vehicle Type & Size (1Mb PDF) + CNN: Larger cars still safer, according to Gov't report
2 Feb 06 RACV: P-plate car ban lifts - NSW RTA backs down over banned cars for novice drivers – but the battle continues... (related discussion paper) + Road safety groups call for compulsory stability control in new vehicles (related presentation)
2 Feb 06 IIHS: ANOTHER LARGE LUXURY CAR EARNS TOP RATING IN DEMANDING SIDE IMPACT TEST.
1 Feb 06 SMH/Drive: Citroen C6 tops inside and out - several other items of safety news.
30 Jan 06 AI: Ford ordered to pay $29 million in rollover crash
28 Jan 06 SMH: Road safety funds slashed
27 Jan 06 Daily Telegraph: Quick justice for speeders - MOTORISTS caught speeding more than 45km/h over the limit could have their cars impounded.
27 Jan 06 Fleet News: Urban bike safety campaign launched + Plea for clearer advice on van speed limiters
25 Jan 06 Fleet News: Drivers don’t buckle up, according to survey + Safety technology ‘leads to crashes’ + Alfa 159 joins five-star NCAP club for occupant safety (Euro NCAP rating) + Call for action on sat-nav 'dangers'
24 Jan 06 ABC: 33 killed in Brazil bus crash At least 33 people have been killed and 21 injured after two buses collided in Brazil's Sao Paulo state.
10 Jan 06 Autonews: Safety ratings ready to expand - Scores for whiplash, crash compatibility, avoiding accidents? Euro NCAP is considering adding vehicle-to-vehicle compatibility and active safety to its test ratings. The European crash-testing organization also will soon assess how well seats protect occupants from whiplash injury in a collision.[speculation]
8 Jan 06 Toyota (USA): US version of Yaris to get side curtains as standard.
8 Jan 06 FleetNews: New crash findings reveal risk factors - new research reveals that one out of every five motorists has been involved in an accident while driving on company business over the past five years + Campaigners push for 80mph speed limit on motorways (but see Would relaxing speed limits aggravate safety?: A case study of Hong Kong - The relaxation of the speed limit from 70 to 80 km/h (not mph) increased the Fatal+Serious accident counts by 36%.)
5 Jan 05 FleetNews (regn): Renault uses its F1 technology for new child safety device
3 Jan 06 AI: High-tech will win car wars - The battle for buyers depends on smarter gadgets that offer safety, comfort, entertainment + Study shows children no safer in SUVs than cars -
Findings dispel myth that has helped fuel the growing popularity of SUVs among families...largely because the doubled risk of rollovers in SUVs
3 Jan 06 SMH: Mission impossible: how we [NSW] lost the fight to cut road toll - for some neglected countermeasures see above!
1 Jan 06 Accident Reconstruction: 'Real World' Safety Research vs. One Crash Test (Volvo press release)
31 Dec 05 Auto Eng International (SAE): Added rollover protection from Autoliv (page 4 of this PDF)
31 Dec 05 KidsAndCars: SENATOR CLINTON, CHILD SAFETY ADVOCATES JOIN TO HELP FAMILIES PROTECT CHILDREN IN AND AROUND VEHICLES DURING THE HOLIDAYS (press release pending).
29 Dec 05 CNN: GM expands SUV, truck recall (ABS braking problem)
29 Dec 05 New Kerala: 30 die in Indian bus crash inferno. Update: this now appears to have been a low severity impact but nearly all occupants were killed in a post-crash fire.
22 Dec 05 NHTSA: New Data Show Rising Safety Belt Use Rates in Most [US] States
22 Dec 05 FreePress: [US] Regulators won't alter frontal crash test specs.
22 Dec 05 Consumer Reports recall list (US): '06 AUDI A8, A8L, AND A8 LW12 - front-passenger-side air bag might not deploy in crash + '05 VOLVO S80 AND XC90 - battery may have been improperly connected to the starter motor + '05 FORD FIVE HUNDRED, FORD FREESTYLE, AND MERCURY MONTEGO - straps that secure fuel
tank to vehicle body could break + 05 FORD CROWN VICTORIA, LINCOLN TOWN CAR, AND MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS - battery-cable fusible link could be damaged
18 Dec 05 ABC: [Victorian] Bus crash victims flown to hospital
16 Dec 05 Landline Trucking News: Research on traffic enforcement cameras remains mixed + Stricter ban on cell phones advances in New Jersey
16 Dec 05 Chicago Sun Times: Making sense of safety ratings.
16 Dec 05 Fleet Safety (regn): Sprinter van brakes: fleet fears allayed + Cameras damage our trust in police
15 Dec 05 UWA: The Relationship Between Vehicle Power to Weight Ratio and Young Driver Crash Involvement - young driver serious injury crashes are not characterised by ‘high’
vehicle Power to Weight Ratio, nor is vehicle PWR statistically associated with an increase in the odds of being involved in a serious injury crash...(see also Choosing safer vehicles for young drivers)
14 Dec 05 Daily Telegraph: RTA blamed over road deaths. Opinion - I suspect irresponsible mobile phone use is the main culprit.
10 Dec 05 SMH Drive: P76 awards include - Bronze - For keeping P-platers safe ... not: the NSW Government - An old six-cylinder Ford or Holden with no airbags and no anti-lock brakes is OK for a novice driver but a car with five-star safety and less power than most other cars is not. Nice one. Silver: For identifying who is buying four-wheel-drives: Toyota - The new Toyota HiLux's catchcry "Get in or get out of the way" is another illumination of the real target market for 4WDs. The brochures promised "intimidating styling", an "aggressive bonnet scoop", "dominating moulded front bumpers" and various other things...Dishonourable mentions: The only car in Subaru's Australian range not to benefit from side airbags is the fastest, most sports-oriented model: the WRX STi + The JiangLing Landwind, displayed at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show and slated to be the first Chinese vehicle on sale in Europe, underwent European crash tests and recorded a score of zero.
9 Dec 05 Series VDR reports now available online: Encouraging the Purchase of Safer Vehicles
9 Dec 05 Daily Telegraph: Editor's illegal monster truck
9 Dec 05 CNN: Device stops speeders from inside car - "discovered" by North America some 8 years after Europe and Australia!
7 Dec 05 SMH: Mercedes crash test scandal (crash avoidance test).
7 Dec 05 Fleet News (regn); Fleet safety: A-pillars – how safety advances can backfire (see also NRMA Insurance driver vision rating) + Fleet safety: Decade of destruction proves a lifesaver
6 Dec 05 ANCAP/RACV: ANCAP lobbies for all cars to be fitted with side head protection. Also NRMA/RTA.
6 Dec 05 IIHS: FIRST SELECTION OF TOP SAFETY PICKS: INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES 10 CAR DESIGNS THAT WIN - Audi A6, Saab 9-3, Subaru Legacy/Liberty and Honda Civic achieve "gold".
5 Dec 05 NewSci (subs): Taking on the drugged and drunk drivers - Roadside devices to test people's motor skills and detect drugs might help police make travelling safer
29 Nov 05 Stuff.co.nz: Upgrades lift Ford's four-cylinder game (curtains standard)
26 Nov 05 Euro NCAP: CELEBRATING 10 YEARS IN CAR SAFETY WITH NEW INFORMATION ON CONSUMER CHOICE - As Euro NCAP has long suspected car buyers are also showing a growing concern and interest in protecting pedestrians as well as vehicle occupants.
24 Nov 05 ABC: School bus crash injures 13 children [in South Australia]
24 Nov 05 ACEM: Powered Two Wheelers are part of the society -
It is high time that European policy makers take positive measures to encourage the use of PTWs...
23 Nov 05 Euro NCAP: Euro NCAP announces first four-star award for pedestrian-protection - "Phase 17" test results.
18 Nov 05 University of Iowa: Driving Assessment 2005 - conference papers (thanks Marilyn Di Stefano)
18 Nov 05 CNN: $61M rollover verdict against Ford + Teen drivers: Keeping your kid alive (but no mention of putting them in safer vehicles!)
18 Nov 05 DFP: Carmakers OK [compatibility] crash standards + Trucking Info: ATA Outlines Truck Safety Initiatives [seat belts] + Landline: DOT pitches ‘wireless highways’ as possible safety system (thanks Automotive Digest)
16 Nov 05 Fleet News (regn): Never-ending battle to keep death off the roads
14 Nov 05 Daily Telegraph: Runaway bus may have lost brakes
11 Nov 05 Fleet News: Camera reforms set to aid other safety areas + Tyre shocker + New call for ban on iPod use on the move
10 Nov 05 BC Science: WHEELCHAIR SAFETY STANDARDS.
8 Nov 05 CNN: SUV backover deaths: What can be done? (see also Driveway safety) + Minivans tested for side-crash safety
8 Nov 05 IIHS: 1ST SIDE IMPACT CRASH TESTS OF MINIVANS:
TOYOTA, HONDA, NISSAN MODELS PERFORM BEST; SIENNA EARNS THE 'DOUBLE BEST PICK' DESIGNATION
7 Nov 05 ABC: Simulated truck crash highlights IR concerns
6 Nov 05 Sunday Times: VICTORY: WA SCHOOL BUSES TO GET SEAT BELTS
- The [West Australian] State Government has bowed to public pressure by agreeing to install seat belts in all school buses. Premier Geoff Gallop will announce today that WA will be the first state in the nation to make seat belts compulsory for all school buses. The existing fleet will be retrofitted on a priority basis...the policy would apply to all dedicated school buses, but not public transport buses + 23 Oct THE MANDURAH CRASH MIRACLE: Proof school buses need seat belts . Comment: There are clearly more cost-effective ways to spend $50 million to save child road fatalities in WA but the reality is that this much money would not be allocated for this purpose if there hadn't been a public outcry/media campaign (the campaign was because seat belts worked well in a serious crash - see the second article). ESV paper on bus seat belts. Draft national code for retrofitting seat belts to buses.
4 Nov 05 RTA: Technical Specification No 149 Devices to assist in reducing the risk to young pedestrians from reversing motor vehicles (PDF)
4 Nov 05 SMMT: Active safety is a mystery to most (consumer survey)
4 Nov 05 NYT: Illuminating Road Hazards That Lurk Beyond Lights
3 Nov 05 Euro NCAP: Croma (5 stars), Sirion (4 stars) and Yaris (5 Stars) results published
3 Nov 05 IIHS: AUDI, FORD, SUBARU, AND VW CARS EARN GOOD
RATINGS IN BOTH FRONT AND SIDE CRASH TESTS.
3 Nov 05 VFRM: Driving At Work Our Biggest Risk [in New Zealand] + Airbags Put Off-Roaders Poles Apart For Safety + Only A Little Bit Distracted, TAC Hopes.
3 Nov 05 Which Car: Huge success for UK's longest speed trap
3 Nov 05 CNN: GM recalls 106,000 SUVs to fix door - Trailblazer
3 Nov 05 AI: Government investigating Dodge truck and SUV -Durango and Dakota - possible loss in steering control.
31 Oct 05 KidsAndCars: SENATOR CLINTON, CONGRESSMAN KING, CONSUMERS UNION, AND KIDS AND CARS TO HIGHLIGHT NEED TO PROTECT CHILDREN IN AND AROUND VEHICLES.
29 Oct 05 TUV: 3rd international conference "Protection of children in cars", December 1 - 2, 2005,Munich, Germany. Email for details
28 Oct 05 Daimler-Chrysler (regn): Viano: as safe as the best passenger cars + 25 years of the airbag
28 Oct 05 Aftermarket Business: 'Black box' information driving convictions (slow to load)
26 Oct 05 Australian: One in five Aussies 'don't belt up'
25 Oct 05 ACEM Info (PDF): The Motorcycle Industry debuts Airbag system
24 Oct 05 SMH: Accident sparks call for 4WD cameras - Pressure is growing for rear-vision cameras to be made mandatory in all four-wheel-drives after Phil Kearns's daughter was accidentally run over. Comment: a camera would reduce the risk but there is no substitute for adult supervision of children near vehicles.
24 Oct 05 Fleet News: Call for law change after phone crash death case
23 Oct 05 ABC: Colleagues back Kearns after driveway accident - driveway safety
20 Oct 05 St LouisToday: Seat belting school buses could cost $80 million
19 Oct 05 SMH: Damage control - pedestrian protection (from New Scientist)
19 Oct 05 Consumer Reports: Are consumers sacrificing safety for comfort?
7 Oct 05 New Scientist: [Invention] Personal crash alarm
7 Oct 05 USA Today: New cars help drivers avoid crashes.
7 Oct 05 CNN: Mazda5 recalled for fire hazard
7 Oct 05 AI: Ford ordered to pay $30.4 million - Attorneys said girl died when F-150's roof crushed +
7 Oct 05 NHTSA: Transportation Secretary Mineta Announces Record Safety Belt Usage in the U.S. + NHTSA Releases List of Model Year 2006 Vehicles For Crash and Rollover Testing
5 Oct 05 SMH: 4WD tests stress value of side airbags.
25 Sep 05 IIHS has revamped its website. Most links to offset crssh tests have now been updated.
25 Sep 05 SMH: Technology advancing road safety The latest advances in intelligent traffic systems will go on display at a special forum in Adelaide this week.
22 Sep 05 Times: Chinese 4x4 gets zero in safety test.
21 Sep 05 AI: Child car seat safety pushed
- The National Transportation Safety Board plans to call today for greater protection for kids in cars as part of a renewed effort to nudge states and safety advocates to clear hurdles that remain in making sure children are safer as passengers + Government investigating Nissan Murano fuel tanks + Several minivans fare poorly in insurance industry tests of head restraints + Fire departments teach safety during hybrid car rescues
21 Sep 05 Space.com: Moon-to-Mars Plans Emerge: New Agenda or Apollo Retread? - On the list: A re-usable vehicle that's safer than the shuttle; technology for extracting fuel from the destination; and an airbag landing upon return to Earth.
20 Sep 05 IIHS: Tests of seat/head restraints in minivans: Fords are only models to earn top rating; most seat/head restraints provide inadequate protection against neck injuries in rear crashes.
19 Sep 05 AI: Chrysler recalling [2005] Jeep Grand Cherokees because of water contamination + Hyundai recalls Elantra over air bag system
17 Sep 05 NHTSA: Analysis of Speeding-Related Fatal Traffic Crashes + U.S. DOT Speed Management Strategic Initiative
15 Sep 05 NTC: Seat and Belt Configurations for Heavy Vehicles
September 2005 - Discussion Document on Options for Improved Design Requirements
10 Sep 05 CNN: Honda motorcycles to sport airbags
9 Sep 05 UniMel: Beating the Road Toll: Governance, Management and the Improvement of Community Safety Melbourne Uni, 17 Oct 05.
9 [Australian] National Transport Commission: Draft National Code of Practice and Engineering Certification Form for Retrofitting Passenger Restraints to Buses.
8 Sep 05 CNN: Auto roof rules draw criticism + Vibrating seatbelts could warn drivers
8 Sep 05 AI: New roof rules limit carmaker liability + Ford recalls 3.8 million pickups, SUVs [cruise control switch a fire hazard] + Toyota recalling nearly 1 million vehicles [pick-ups and SUVs - power steering]
6 Sep 05 SMH: Two killed, 22 hurt as tourist bus plunges off road [south of Sydney]
5 Sep 05 NHTSA: NHTSA Proposes New Child Booster Seat Rules + NHTSA Announces Tire Safety Ratings
5 Sep 05 Fleet News: Fleet drivers are ‘most dangerous’
5 Sep 05 SAE: Smart Demo 2005 (ITS) Adelaide 29-30 Sep + 2005 Emerging Transport Technology Conference Adelaide 4-5 Oct.
2 Sep 05 NYT: WHAT MAKES YOU SAFER IN A CRASH MAY POSE RISKS IN THE RESCUE + DOES LIGHTER EQUAL DEADLIER? + GM IS RECALLING 800,000 PICKUPS, AND SPORTS UTILITIES
2 Sep 05 Boston Chronicle: A BAD MIX--TEENS AND OLDER SUVS - see also Choosing safer vehicles for young drivers
28 Aug 05 NewSci (subs): Stopping the slaughter of innocent pedestrians + Lighting the way
28 Aug 05 AI: Nader wants government to issue advisory on Ford investigation
28 Aug 05 CNN: Fewer helmets leads to surge in deaths
4 Aug 05 AI: Roof rule pre-empts lawsuits
23 Aug 05 AI: [US] Government ends plans for new crash test, concerned about further injuries. NHTSA: NHTSA Ends Offset Test Rulemaking. Opinion: this seems misguided - improvements to vehicles to meet the offset crash test requirements have clearly reduced life threatening injuries. The claim about increased risk of lower leg injuries seems tenuous. See Offset crash tests - observations about vehicle design and structural performance (1998 ESV paper) and Injury and deformation trends with offset crash tests (the strongest improvement since the introduction of consumer crash tests has been reduced risk of tibia injury)
19 Aug 05 AI: Feds to toughen rules for car roofs + Government investigating air bag light on Honda Accord
19 Aug 05 USAToday: Putting kids in back seats saves lives
17 Aug 05 Fleet News: ESP set for a third of all fleet cars (stability control - not extrasensory perception!)
17 Aug 05 CNN: Safe cars that save on gas
17 Aug 05 SpaceDaily: Intelligent System Offers Safer Tunnel Traffic For Europe
13 Aug 05: Virtual Fleet Risk Management News - Will Murray. One to bookmark.
11 Aug 05 USA Today: Ohio senator makes his mark on highway safety
9 Aug 05 SMH: Driven to distraction.
5 Aug 05 New Scientist (subs): Turned off by daytime driving lights - opinions on daytime running lights. Interesting that one of the main antagonists is suggesting the LEDs would make better DRLs - a conclusion reached in my research.
5 Aug 05 CNN: Honda recalls Odyssey minivans - airbag
4 Aug 05 IIHS Status Report (PDF): Occupant deaths from inflating airbags have been all but eliminated + More than 300,000 lives have been saved, thanks to vehicle safety technologies - Federal motor vehicle safety standards and various safety technologies saved a reported 328,551 lives from 1960 to 2002. Full NHTSA report.
3 Aug 05 List of Australian cars under $30K with curtain airbags - new list.
3 Aug 05 SMH: RTA road toll reduction effort? Pathetic - The NSW Roads and Traffic Authority's controversial new ban on P-platers driving [powerful] cars, which came into effect on July 11, has been introduced despite clear evidence that it is unlikely to have any effect on young driver crash rates, injuries or deaths. Opinion: see also Choosing safer vehicles for young drivers - it seems likely that young drivers will be denied access to some of the safest vehicles on the road. The policy may encourage them into some of the least safe small cars.
3 Aug 05 AAP (abs) Jul issue: Are speed enforcement cameras more effective than other speed management measures? An evaluation of the relationship between speed and accident reductions + Effects of vehicle bumper height and impact velocity on type of lower extremity injury in vehicle–pedestrian accidents + more
3 Aug 05 ARN: Car computer systems at risk as viruses go mobile
3 Aug 05 SAE Aust: Road Safety Seminar, Melbourne, Wednesday 24th August, 2005
1 Aug 05 Fleet News: Speed camera link to [UK] fatal crash rise? [big question mark! - see also Evaluation of the crash effects of the Queensland speed camera program for a peer-reviewed scientific study]
1 Aug 05 SMH: [NSW] Watchdog investigates high-speed car chases
30 Jul 05 Consumer Reports Vehicle Recalls: '04 TO '05 MAZDA RX8 (fire hazard from exhaust pipe) + '05 KIA SPORTAGE AND HYUNDAI TUCSON (faulty parking brake) + '05 BUICK TERRAZA, CHEVROLET UPLANDER, PONTIAC MONTANA, AND SATURN RELAY (parking brake might engage while driving)
29 Jul 05 AI: Bill mandates car safety rules -
Congressional panel agrees on proposal that would strengthen vehicle roofs, rollover safeguards...putting crash-test results on new car window stickers, redesigning power-window switches to protect children, studying ways to prevent back-over deaths in driveways, doing research on tire aging and testing 15-passenger vans for safety.
29 Jul 05 NewSci: The real reason cars and cellphones do not mix - poor sound quality makes listening more demanding + (subs) Interview with Claes Tingvell: Zero tolerance for road slaughter
23 Jul 05 Parent's Magazine: Take Action!: Improving Car Safety - US Congress debating a bill that will make safer cars with higher standards.
19 Jul 05 Quicktime video presentation "When it comes to the crunch" updated (6Mb MOV). Targeted at young drivers.
19 Jul 05 IIHS: Front and side crash test results: 2 good performers; automakers are acting quickly to improve side impact protection.
19 Jul 05 Fleet news: Call for crash reporting law + Call to ban young recruits from powerful cars
19 Jul 05 AI: Nissan to recall Murano SUVs (alternator wiring) + Audi A6 and Infiniti M35 earn top scores in crash tests + Safety agency widens investigation (Ford cruise control) + A little girl dies; attention turns to a faulty Ford part(Ford cruise control).
13 Jul 05 IIHS: 1st evidence of effects of cell phone use on injury crashes: crash risk is four times higher when driver is using a hand-held cell phone.
13 Jul 05 SMH: Hands-free, but not crash-free - mobile phone study.
6 Jul 05 SMH Drive: Accident stats show 4WDs the deadliest - A 16-year study of Australian road accidents shows four wheel drives are far more likely than conventional vehicles to kill or maim other road users "Australia's road safety lemons are the Daihatsu Charade and Ford Festiva..." + Stability technology a smashing idea
5 Jul 05 Fleet News: Legal warning as garages fail test + Telematic systems all set to save firm thousands + Fleets face lethal risk combination
5 Jul 05 ETSC fact sheet: Alcohol interlocks.
5 Jul 05 AI: Mitsubishi recalls thousands of faulty station wagons [Libro hatchback hinge]
2 Jul 05 CarsGuide (Australia): New Hyundai Sonata comes with curtains and ESC standard on V6.
2 Jul 05 AI: Mitsubishi recalls thousands of faulty station wagons + Honda to put crash ratings on stickers
1 Jul 05 AAP (abs): Intelligent speed adaptation: accident savings and cost–benefit analysis.
30 Jun 05: Consolidated list of offset crash tests updated.
28 Jun 05 Euro NCAP: Euro NCAP announces ‘Highest Scoring Car’ - Euro NCAP, Europe ’s leading independent crash test organisation, has confirmed that the Peugeot’s 1007 becomes the highest scoring car ever in all classes for adult occupant protection. Latest results.
28 Jun 05 BBC: File-sharing suffers major court defeat - file-sharing firms liable for the piracy on their networks. ... the majority of people using a video recorder for legal uses outweighed any illegal use of the technology.
But in this latest ruling the judges set aside this precedent and the lower court decisions and means the makers of a technology have to answer for what people do with it if they use it to break the law. Comment: so if a car is capable of 250km/h and has a speedo that displays up to this speed...? It is interesting that the ruling does not appear to be confined to music and video technology.
27 Jun 05 ABC: Four killed in NSW collision [with a bus]
27 Jun 05 CNN: System reads speed limits for drivers
27 Jun 05 Fleet News: Corporate killing law a step nearer
26 Jun 05 AI: Feds push for safer back seats
24 Jun 05 AI: Feds: SUVs now safer, less prone to roll over
23 Jun 05 RTT: 9th International Symposium on Heavy Vehicle Weights and Dimensions (ISHVWD) to be held at the Pennsylvania State University, USA, June 18-22, 2006. The deadline for submitting abstracts is August 31, 2005.
22 Jun 05 Consumer Reports: Midsized-sedan Crash Tests - The little known safety feature that could save your life. (see IIHS on 6 June!)
21 Jun 05 IIHS: New frontal offset crash test results for 8 cars: large family and luxury cars are good; most earn 'best pick'.
20 Jun 05: I am sad to report that Andrew Justice died on the weekend. Andrew was the New Zealand government representative for ANCAP. "Andrew's professional and personal contribution to this organisation - and to vehicle safety in New Zealand - has been huge." - Simon Whiteley, Land Transport New Zealand.
20 Jun 05 CNN: Ford document: Millions of vehicles have fire risk part - big list of models (built 1992-2003) with suspect cruise control switch.
19 Jun 05 ABC: Mitsubishi reaches 'make or break' point - The chief executive of Mitsubishi Australia has admitted the upcoming launch of its new model car is make or break for the company.
13 Jun 05 NHTSA: NHTSA Administrator Presents Safety Awards to World’s Top Auto Engineers and Advocates At Global Conference - congratulations to Maurice Eaton from Euro NCAP who also received the OBE from Her Majesty over the weekend "For services to Vehicle Safety" (page 13 of this PDF)
10 Jun 05 AI: Feds: Car cell phone fix fails
9 Jun 05 Yahoo: Boost car safety: [Australian] motoring group (see also 2 June)
9 Jun 05 Uni Technology Sydney (UTS): Engineering students take safety designs to the world - [at ESV05] Ryan Kirk, Vatche Krikorian and George Vrionis will demonstrate their vehicle braking system for hazardous reversing situations while Mohamed Allam, Arnold Bundoc, James Hourn and Ben Nolan will demonstrate their GPS system for speeding awareness. ESV awards.
9 Jun 05 NHTSA: Abstracts for ESV conference (PDF). Bus seat belts paper.
9 Jun 05 AI: Feds hesitant to alter roof test
9 Jun 05 Euro NCAP: Next crash test launch on 28 June.
8 Jun 05 Fleet News: Fleet management: dealing with serious accidents.
8 Jun 05 AI: Chrysler minivans face safety probe on lights (Voyager headlight failures) + Automakers step up side-impact safety
6 Jun 05 AI: Study: Air bags endanger young teens in front car seat - note that more information is needed about seat belt wearing amongst the injured. Pediatrics: Effects of Child Age and Body Size on Serious Injury From Passenger Air-Bag Presence in Motor Vehicle Crashes - "values did not reach statistical significance..."
6 Jun 05 AI: Blame drivers, not SUVs, for deadly accidents - IIHS: Status Report special issue: latest information on crash incompatibilities + New side impact crash test results for five midsize cars.
4 Jun 05 CNN: GM recalls over 291,000 Saturns (tail lights)
4 Jun 05 Fleet News: High price of tyre advice (replacing worn tyres) + Low-speed shunts are biggest threat (whiplash)
2 Jun 05 Australian Govt: CURTAIN AIRBAGS SHOULD BE USED FOR HEAD PROTECTION IN VEHICLE SIDE IMPACTS - see also this Video clip from ANCAP pole tests with a split screen showing the benefit of a curtain. (15Mb Quicktime movie)
2 Jun 05 AI: [US] Government releases 2005 ratings for child safety seats + Government investigating engine stalling in Toyota Prius [hope they realise the engine is meant to cut-out when the car is stationary!] + Toyota to recall 173,000 vehicles in Japan, Singapore, Malaysia (Crown, Majesta and Mark X brakes)
30 May 05 AI: Smart recalls 58,000 forTwo models for possible axle defect + GM truck [pick-up] owners insist brakes are a problem
30 May 05 Fleet News: UK ‘Kill Bill’ moves a step closer for fleets
28 May 05 Euro NCAP: Crash test results for Passat, C1 and Zafira. Master list updated - Congratulations to GM for a big improvement in the Zafira - now 5 stars with curtains standard.
27 May 05 NHTSA Restates Rollover Warning For Users of 15-Passenger Vans [minibuses have 3 times the risk of rollover when fully laden].
27 May 05 AI: GM truck owners insist brakes are a problem + Chrysler: Change tires after 6 years + Feds urge van caution + Smart recalls 58,000 forTwo models for possible axle defect + Tires improperly inflated in large passenger vans, says government + Kia announces recall of Sedona minivans + Toyota recalling Kentucky-made Avalons
26 May 05 NRMA Insurance - update to reversing visibility assessment.
26 May 05 KidsNCars (USA): Three Children Killed Each Week in Preventable Auto-Related Deaths
24 May 05 BBC: Five girls killed in bus crash (Ireland)
21 May 05 Fleet News: Road safety takes centre stage in [UK] legal programme
21 May 05 NHTSA: Dorel Juvenile Group, Inc. To Conduct a [US] Safety Recall for Designer 22 Rear-Facing Infant Child Safety Seats
21 May 05 Engineers Australia: Engineers Australia is inviting nominations for its most prestigious awards in biomedical and mechanical engineering Award criteria and nomination forms can be found on each of the colleges' websites – Biomechanical (1 Jul 05) and Mechanical (31 Oct 05).
20 May 05 CNN: Toyota recalls 880,000 SUVs, pickups - front ball joint of Tacoma and Tundra pickup trucks and Sequoia, Landcruiser and 4Runner SUVs built between May 2001 and December 2003. Incudes 12,000 Australian vehicles.
20 May 05; 2005 Australasian Road Safety Research Policing Education Conference - 14-16 Nov, Wellington NZ.
17 May 05 CNN: Memos tell of Ford-Volvo safety dispute + Prius hybrids dogged by software
17 May 05 AI: Watchdog may post Ford roof documents + Bright headlights under review + Seat belt use lower, deaths higher among those in pickups
17 May 05 SMH: Ban 4WDs within 200m of schoolyards: coroner. Opinion: a "ban" seems excessive. Maybe there should be extra demerit points for some driving offences where the vehicle has a high risk of causing injury to others. Hopefully this would make drivers think more about risky practices.
16 May 05 ABC: Girl's death sparks push for 4WD ban
16 May 05 SMH: Death crash inquest told of 4WD design flaw - see also driveway safety.
14 May 05 AI: Stickers may get crash data
- New car shoppers may soon be able to look at the sticker on a vehicle's window to find out how well it avoids a rollover or holds up in a collision
12 May 05 BBC: Cars safe from computer viruses - Attempts to make computer viruses leap from phones to cars have failed [for now].
11 May 05 SMH: Child's play - first cars for teens - this article ignores NCAP ratings that show several of the reviewed vehicles perform poorly despite having desirable safety features. See Choosing safer vehicles for young drivers.
10 May 05 AI: Ford pushes to seal memos on vehicle roof strength
9 May 05 Fleet News: Speed cameras fail to cut road deaths - more correctly the road toll has not changed much (but other factors like mobile phone use confound the issue).
9 May 05 AI: NHTSA denies request to install fire extinguishers in pickups, SUVs
7 May 05 ABC: [Australian] Car makers urged to install extra safety features
7 May 05 ETSC: Talk on 2 June - Europe and its road safety vision - How far to zero? + hardcopy report: The Safety of Vulnerable Road Users in the Southern, Eastern and Central European Countries - recommends mandatory DRLs and expediting intelligent speed adaptation.
6 May 05 ABC: Corporate Psychopaths - Is your boss manipulative? Intimidating? Totally lacking in remorse? Yet superficially charming? Then you could be working with a workplace psychopath. The latest figures suggest one in ten managers are psychopaths...(what about road safety research?) - see also Space Review: “We must never fail”: Gene Kranz, Apollo 13, and the future - the role of teamwork.
30 Apr 05 AI: Government vehicle crash test needs SUV upgrade (GAO report) + Vehicle back-over deaths concern safety advocates
29 Apr 05 Washington Post: Safety Belt Usage
(Donna Glassbrenner from NHTSA) + Back-Over Deaths Decried
27 Apr 05 AI: GM plans to recall 2 million vehicles - centre rear seat belt in pickups and SUVs needs relocating + other defects
26 Apr 05 IIHS: New frontal offset crash test results: Volkswagen New Jetta aces side impact test; also earns good rating in frontal test.
25 Apr 05 NHTSA: Transportation Secretary Mineta Calls Highway Fatalities an Epidemic, Nation Should Prevent Traffic Deaths Like Any Other Disease
25 Apr 05 (back from vacation) AI: SUV deaths rose in 2004
8 Apr 05: 9th International Symposium on Heavy Vehicle Weights and Dimensions June 2006 - call for papers
8 Apr 05 NHTSA: NHTSA Releases Final Tire Pressure Monitoring Rule + Model Year 2005 Vans Crash Test, Rollover Ratings available on Safercar.Gov + CNN: Dakota, Tacoma safest pickups
8 Apr 05 Fleet News: Fleets suffer [!] over focus on safety + Five-star NCAP crash rating for new Lexus GS
7 Apr 05 Washington Post: School Buses to Give Live [surveillance] Video a Test-Drive.
6 Apr 05 AI: Car seat setup worries experts - possible problem with LATCH/ISOFIX + Texas may require safety seats to age 8
6 Apr 05 New ESV05 paper DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS FOR MOTORCYCLES
6 Apr 05 NYT: Child Car Seat Safety System Sometimes Fails, Study Says + Consumer Reports study.
6 Apr 05 AI: Risk of serious injury [slightly] higher for children exposed to older air bags + Source document.
5 Apr 05 ABC: Retailers deny pushing truckies
2 Apr 05 CNN: Hyundai, Kia to recall 38,000 SUVs - Tucson & Sportage - problem with their electronic stability program.
2 Apr 05: Video clip from ANCAP pole tests with a split screen showing the benefit of a curtain. (15Mb Quicktime movie)
1 Apr 05 Fleet News: Mercedes recalls 1.3 million vehicles (no joke!) - regulator and brakes + Safety directory available
1 Apr 05 AI: New study ties deaths to crushed auto roofs - the roofs collapsed before injuries occurred to crash-test dummies
1 Apr 05 ABC Science: Seat Belt Trap - myths about seat belt wearing by Dr Karl.
30 Mar 05 NRMA Insurance: Driver Vision Index - measures blind spots in Australia's top selling cars. Media release with diagram: New road safety study makes heads turn.
30 Mar 05 AI: Memos: Ford made Explorer roof weaker (comprehensive report on roof crush issues) + Software cuts out test dummy + Lawsuit over Ford car door latches settled
30 Mar 05 Euro NCAP: The new Lexus GS300 achieves best in class accolade for adult occupant protection. Details.
28 Mar 05 Sydney 4 April: Lecture about the Challenger disaster - Dr McDonald will speak on his involvement in attempting to delay the launch of the Challenger and the lessons learned from his experiences with the media, the Presidential Commission and the US Congress investigation. Something for Risk Engineers!
28 Mar 05 AI: States debate privacy safeguards on vehicle black boxes
27 Mar 05 Fleet News: Fleets face threat of action over crashes - the threat of companies being prosecuted for accidents involving their drivers is edging closer as official records will now be kept of work-related road crashes
27 Mar 05 ABC: Boy killed in driveway accident
25 Mar 05 Wards Auto: LIGHT WEIGHT IMPROVES SUV SAFETY - A new study [by Aluminum Assn. Inc.] shows increasing the amount of aluminum and other lightweight structural materials in vehicle design can reduce injuries in SUV-related crashes up to 26%.(AD)
25 Mar 05 CNN: FORD F-150S, EXPEDITIONS PROBED - A federal investigation into cruise-control problems is underway in an estimated 3.7M Ford F-150s, Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators.(AD)
25 Mar 05 Washington Post: GM RECALLS NEARLY 113,000 VEHICLES - General Motors is recalling 77,055 minivans because their rear brake lights or hazard lights can stop working. (AD)
25 Mar 05 Consumer Reports: The little known safety feature that could save your life - Consumer Reports’ auto experts believe that ESC (Electronic Stability Control) may be one of the most significant automotive lifesaving technologies.
21 Mar 05 AI: Ford and Mazda ordered to pay $27 million in crash death + Chevy Astro, GMC Safari get worst ratings in government crash tests of minivans - NHTSA: Model Year 2005 Vans Crash Test, Rollover Ratings
18 Mar 05 Consumer Reports: Top Picks 2005 - "We've removed the Ford Focus as our Top Pick for small sedans because it performed poorly in insurance-industry crash tests...."
17 Mar 05 SMH: Crashed school bus had no brakes + Speed limit to hit 80kmh on main roads (opinion - 80km/h on busy Victoria Road in Sydney seems crazy!)
16 Mar 05 IIHS: Risk of dying in one vehicle versus another (PDF) — driver death rates by passenger vehicle make/model + AI: Chevy Blazer model had highest death rate, study finds + NYT: Is the Car Unsafe, or the Driver?
16 Mar 05 USA Today: 'Pocket bikes' drive new debate. Australian concerns.
15 Mar 05 NYT (regn): Can a Virus Hitch a Ride in Your Car? - "not yet"
13 Mar 05 Benton Courier: School bus safety bills introduced (Arkansas)
13 Mar 05 AI: Kia SUV is big on safety.
13 Mar 05 940 News (Canada): Number of drivers falling asleep at the wheel is startling: safety institute.
13 Mar 05 Novosti: ROAD ACCIDENTS CHARGE 2.5 PERCENT OF RUSSIA'S GDP.
9 Mar 05 SMH: Review - Daihatsu Sirion SX - "For $1980 you can have optional side and curtain air bags and anti-lock brakes. Take it."
9 Mar 05 Queensland Minister for Transport: QUEENSLAND LEADS AUSTRALIA WITH $12M SCHOOL BUS SAFETY CHANGES
8 Mar 05 CNN: Small cars do badly in side crash test - Of 14 small cars tested by insurance group, 12 are rated as "Poor." IIHS press release.
4 Mar 05 AI: Explorer suit costs Ford $31 million
4 Mar 05 USAToday: More Americans than ever use cell phones while driving + NHTSA Reports Cellular Phone Use by Motorists Is on the Rise
3 Mar 05 Euro NCAP: Peugeot 1007 achieves 5 stars and best ever test score accolade. List of 5 star performers and graph of 5 star performers updated
1 Mar 05 Boston Globe: Standard system sought for vehicle backup safety - "a child backed over by an SUV purchased to keep the family safe on the road..."
1 Mar 05 Yahoo: Russia Has World’s Worst Road Safety Record — World Bank ...in terms of car accidents per 10,000 cars
1 Mar 05 SMH: High but not so mighty - Four-wheel-drives with jacked-up suspension are dangerous, safety experts say...
28 Feb 05 Fleet News: Fleets finally take action over safety
26 Feb 05 Consumer Reports: Ford recalls Focus and F150
25 Feb 05 Washington Post (regn): Pr. George's Tracks School Buses - GPS Devices Being Installed to Monitor Location, Speed
25 Feb 05 IIHS: Fewer 16 year-olds are getting involved in crashes.
24 Feb 05 Fleet News; Gadgets are blamed for half a million accidents
21 Feb 05 AAP Mar 05 edition

21 Feb 05 AAP Jan 05 edition:

21 Feb 05 AI: Samuel Alderson, inventor of crash test dummies, dead at 90
18 Feb 05 AI: Feds investigate Lexus [RX3330] SUV brake complaints
17 Feb 05 ABC: Brain Injury in Children: A Neglected Epidemic?
17 Feb 05 SMH: Cut in speed camera fines but increase in demerit points - NSW
17 Feb 05 ABC (Aust): PM urged to make school bus seatbelts compulsory
17 Feb 05 Engineers Australia: National Panel on the Biomechanics of Impact Injury presents an afternoon seminar on the latest International Vehicle Safety Research Date: Friday 25th February 05, 12.30pm – 4.15pm. Location: Engineers Australia Victoria Division Auditorium 21 Bedford Street, Nth Melbourne. RSVP Nina Lenz Phone 02 6270 6548 or email.
11 Feb 05 AFAS: Road and Vehicle Safety Seminar - Tue 8 Mar, NSW Parliament.
11 Feb 05 AI: GM recalls 155,465 pickups, vans and SUVs for brake problem
11 Feb 05 Autochannel: Inadvertent Airbag Deployments - 117 complaints involving 2001-2003 Volkswagen GOLFS, GTIS, and JETTAS have been filed with NHTSA.
10 Feb 05 AI: Government investigates DaimlerChrysler vehicles for possible defects - seat warmer in Mercedes M-Class.
10 Feb 05 NHTSA: Dorel Juvenile Group, Inc. To Conduct A Safety Recall For The Dreamride Child Restraint System
10 Feb 05 CNN: Ford in Focus recall (rear door latch) + Honda recalls 486,000 cars (Accord, Prelude & TL ignition switch)
6 Feb 05 ABC: Luxury cars in more accidents: study - A new study conducted in New South Wales has shown that people who drive luxury cars are more likely to have an accident than those who drive more common brands.[ Should the headline be "Luxury car drivers in more accidents"?]
4 Feb 05 NewSci: Dyslexia slows drivers' reactions.
3 Feb 05 Washington Post (regn): Cell Phone Use Ups Accident Risk - "If you put a 20-year-old driver behind the wheel with a cell phone, his reaction times are the same as a 70-year-old driver,"
3 Feb 05 BBC: Clever cars taking to the road - Parents, says Mr Illsley, might be interested in a vehicle that they can set the upper speed for, especially if they have teenage sons who are eager to get behind the wheel.
1 Feb 05 AI: 2 GM safety features will be standard (ESC and OnStar) + Ad campaign urges driver safety in SUVs
31 Jan 05 Fleet News: Safety seminars - [UK] Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) is staging two seminars in February on occupational road risk + Driving guide
29 Jan 05 AI: Ford recalls 800,000 pickups, sport-utes - fire hazard in F-150 pickups, Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators from the 2000 model year. Also affected are 2001 F-Series + Automakers struggle to cut costly recalls
28 Jan 05 Product Recalls Australia (issued 18 Oct 04): Kia Sportage (Campaign No 041029R0). Model years 1998-2000. Produced from 1 June 1998 to 31 May 2000. The front seatbelts may not latch correctly.
26 Jan 05 ARSREC 2004 Conference proceedings online (small selection below):

Pedestrian protection in vehicle impacts: Further results from the Australian New Car Assessment Program - Robert Anderson...
Trial of Seat Belts on School Buses in Queensland - Melissa Coutts
A model for considering the ‘total safety’ of the light passenger vehicle fleet - Max Cameron
Potential benefits and costs of speed changes on rural roads - Max Cameron
A preliminary evaluation of child restraint crash performance with three anchorage systems in a Holden Commodore - Judith Charlton
Survey of Motorcyclists and their safety initiatives -Liz de Rome
The Effectiveness of Anti-Lock Brake Systems: a statistical analysis of Australian data -Amanda Delaney
Mathematical modelling of pedestrian crashes: Review of pedestrian models and parameter study of the influence of the contour of the vehicle -Brian Fildes
Comparing IT-based driver assessment results against self-reported and actual crash outcomes in a large motor vehicle fleet -W. Murray
Characteristics of multiple impact crashes in ANCIS - Brian Fildes
Hazard perception and responding in car drivers and motorcyclists -Narelle Haworth
The contributions of speeding and fatigue to work-related road crashes -Narelle Haworth
Updating MUARC's Car Policy - Research meets practice -Narelle Haworth
Young driver research: Where are we now? What do we still need to know? -Narelle Haworth
Driver Adaptation to In-vehicle Intelligent Transport Systems: Preliminary Findings from the TAC SafeCar Project -D. Healy
Effects of Flashing Lights on Driver Speed Behaviours within School Zones -Tony Radalj

22 Jan 05 Consumer Reports: Tribute/Escape recall - sticky throttle.
21 Jan 05 AI: Safety features pay off, federal report says
20 Jan 05 Auto Digest (regn): Sensor, Camera Devices Can Prevent Backup Accidents + Delphi Launches Next Generation Forewarn Back-Up Aid + 'Black Box' Data Backs Up Trucker in Vehicular Homicide Case + 'Breakthrough Time' for Run-Flat Tires, Says Bridgestone; Tiremaker Eyes New Europe Plant + Study: Women Say Safety is Huge Factor When Vehicle Shopping
19 Jan 05 SMH: Safe as houses - With young children on board, you need space and protection
15 Jan 05 AI: Automakers find safety means sales
12 Jan 05 AI: Kia to put side airbags on all its [US] models + Honda pushes safety and tech initiatives + Feds weigh rollover rules
11 Jan 05 Consumer Reports: Britax [US] recalls top-line safety seats for faulty harness.
10 Jan 05 ABC: 57 killed in bus crash in India
9 Jan 05 News.com: States set road safety guidelines
31 Dec 04 ABC: Bus crash kills 31 in Pakistan
31 Dec 04 AI: Carmakers pay $10 million in civil fines - Automakers paid more than $10 million in civil fines for violating safety rules and fuel economy standards in 200
31 Dec 04 SMH: NSW records lowest road toll in 55 years - good news at last!
31 Dec 04 AI: Porsche recalls convertible 911s - roof mechanism
24 Dec 04 LAT: What to do when you hit the skids
24 Dec 04 AI: GM recalling more than 700,000 minivans to fix sliding door handle
23 Dec 04 SAE seminar: The Role of the Seat in Rear Crash Safety - Michigan, 3-4 Feb 05.
22 Dec 04 ABC: Peru bus crash kills 50
21 Dec 04 IIHS: New frontal offset crash test results: only 2 of 5 small cars earn good
ratings; 1 is poor.
21 Dec 04 AI: Ford recalls its $140,000 GT supercar for safety defect + Kia Spectra gets worst rating in frontal crash test
20 Dec 04 AI: [Court] Trial puts spotlight on safety of car seats + Hyundai recalls 120,000 Elantra sedans for air-bag fix + Oregon paraplegic sues Chrysler over heated seat
16 Dec 04 NHTSA: New Crash Test and Rollover Ratings for Select Model Year 2005 Now Available on SaferCar.Gov
16 Dec 04 Fleet News: Police chief calls for speed review - hopefully the setting of speed limits will be done on an objective basis, and not on motorists perceived safe speeds.
15 Dec 04 ATSB Report: Development of Novice Driver Education/Development Curriculum.
15 Dec 04 Daily Telegraph: Intensive training test for P-platers - see also Choosing safer vehicles for young drivers
13 Dec 04 AI: Auto safety is paramount for future car buyers + DaimlerChrysler recalling 600,000 Dodge Durango and Dakota trucks [road wheels] + Ford recalls 474,000 Escape SUVs for accelerator problem + Ford Escape, Honda CR-V rate well in side crash tests + More vehicles have cameras, sensors to help make backing up safer
11 Dec 04 IIHS: New side impact crash test results for small SUVs: Honda CR-V improves from marginal to good with standard side airbags; Ford Escape with optional side airbags also rated good.
9 Dec 04 AI: New federal headrest standard takes aim at whiplash
9 Dec 04 NHTSA: NHTSA Announces Upgraded Rule To Require Lap/Shoulder Safety Belts For Rear Center Seats in Passenger Vehicles + NHTSA Announces Upgraded Rule for Head Restraints in Vehicles + New Data Show Rising Safety Belt Use Rates in Most States
8 Dec 04 ATSB: Cycle Safety: A National Perspective.
8 Dec 04 SMH Drive: Toyota flexes hybrid muscle.
8 Dec 04 AI: Government investigating Hummer H2 for possible safety defect
7 Dec 04 AI: Automakers lobby for limits on lawsuits
7 Dec 04 Washington Post (regn): Kids, at Risk and Neglected + Safety Isn't Optional ( see also SHOULD SAFETY EQUIPMENT BE THE CHOICE OF CONSUMERS RATHER THAN VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS?)
5 Dec 04 NRMA Open Road now online - the Jul/Aug 03 issue has a feature article on the DRL research.
4 Dec 04 Scientific American annual awards: L. Craig Davis - Adaptive Crusie Control modelling + Nissan North America - lane-keeping system
3 Dec 04 AI: Sport Trac gets safety redesign + Toyota recalls 92,577 Celicas to fix daytime lights + Automakers have record year - for recalls
1 Dec 04 Ipswich Queensland Times: Slower speed carries risk, councillor says - "Cr Nardi said lowering the limit could create safety [?] issues including speeding and unsafe overtaking." [risk of being booked!]
1 Dec 04 Telegraph (UK): Drivers face tough penalties in road safety reform.
1 Dec 04 Fleet News: A star is born: Focus tops NCAP + Drivers willingly risk police action to make mobile calls
1 Dec 04 AI: GM may add 1.42 million vehicles to tailgate recall + Stability systems may boost suppliers

30 Nov 04 ABC: Car manufacturers urged to install side impact airbags + NRMA: Airbags that protect the head can make side-on crashes survivable
30 Nov 04 IRCOBI: Call for papers - 2005 conference.
29 Nov 04 RTA: Improving safety for young drivers. See also these tips about choosing safer vehicles.
29 Nov 04 AI: Complexity of vehicles, more vigilance cited as reasons for record recalls + Despite recall efforts, one in three vehicles fails to be repaired
26 Nov 04 Times: Small cars are getting safer, but not safe enough
25 Nov 04 Euro NCAP: Phase 15 launch - includes BMW 1 and 5 Series, Citroen C4 & C5, Ford Focus, Audi A6 and VW Tourareg. 5 star performers list has grown much larger!
25 Nov 04 ASME: "Advanced Vehicle Technologies" - International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition
November 6-11, 2005 — Orlando, FL USA
25 Nov 04 AI: DCX ordered to pay $105 million in minivan crash death + Mitsubishi Fuso again recalls trucks
24 Nov 04 Fleet News: Queen's Speech: Corporate manslaughter bill announced
24 Nov 04 Independent (UK): Drivers face tougher penalties in road safety crackdown
24 Nov 04 AI: Seat belt use up in 37 states
23 Nov 04 AI: High tech car safety devices standard.
23 Nov 04 Evening Standard (UK): Truckers criticised after safety checks
23 Nov 04 ABC (Aust): Ministers agree to national road safety plan Australia's transport ministers have signed off on a new national road safety action plan. The plan includes a large-scale trial for a compulsory driver education scheme for P-plate motorists + Washington Post: Safety Experts Doubt Benefits of Driver's Ed!
20 Nov 04 ATSB: AustralianNational Road Safety Action Plan for 2005-6 - speed control, DRLs and advanced seat belt reminders are prominent under "Safer Vehicles".
20 Nov 04 Fleet News: Bosch stresses the importance of ESP (ESC)
20 Nov 04 AI: Chrysler to equip SUVs with anti-rollover systems + U.N. adopts van safety rule
19 Nov 04 AI: Global deal on car door safety protects passengers - improved latches and hinges (a pity that power window switches were not included).
19 Nov 04 IIHS: MANY DEATHS IN VEHICLE-ANIMAL COLLISIONS ARE AVOIDABLE - One method that's proven not to work is the use of deer whistles mounted on vehicles.
18 Nov 04 ARC: Seems to be two roads safety projects in the latest round of Australian government grants (PDF) - child restraints and conspicuity of cyclists and pedestrians.
16 Nov 04 Consumer Reports: Guide to safety features has a good summary of electronic stability control
16 Nov 04: Australian Road Safety Conference finishes today in Perth.
16 Nov 04 Global release of low-speed rear collision tests:

Aust - NRMA Insurance: Poor car results are a $15 million pain in the neck..

13 Nov 04 AI: GM, Ford target SUV rollovers - they will make anti-rollover technology (Electronic Stability Control) standard equipment on 1.8 million SUVs next year.
10 Nov 04 AI: Safety group seeks tire expiration date
10 Nov 04 The Age: Bracks has safety plan for 'slowometers'
9 Nov 04 Daily Telegraph: 130km/h speedo limit sought + Reversing truck kills baby (payment)
9 Nov 04 SMH: Car chase dangers blamed on poor training
8 Nov 04 Drive.com.au: Stability aids save lives, says expert
8 Nov 04 AI: GM recalls nearly 1.5 million vehicles - rear lamps/sticky throttle/brake fluid leak
6 Nov 04 AI: Consumers eye cameras for SUVs (the problem is not just with SUVs) + Vehicle recalls hit record
5 Nov 04 Fleet News: Companies called on to support Road Safety Week
3 Nov 04 SAE-Aust: Conference on Intelligent Vehicles and Road Infrastructure to be held at The University of Melbourne during the period 16th and 17th of February 2005.
3 Nov 04 US Patents: Vehicular system having a warning system to alert motorists that a mobile phone is in use - other motorists beware!
2 Nov 04 Times: Sittt! Belt-uppp! Dogs get a new order
1 Nov 04 ABC: Man accidentally runs over infant son - see Driveway safety
30 Oct 04 SMH: Truckie's fatal flaws exposed
28 Oct 04 IIHS: Electronic stability control found effective; main effect is to reduce single-vehicle crash risk [by 40%], including the risk of fatal single-vehicle crashes [50%]. Traffic Injury Prevention: Effect of Electronic Stability Control on Automobile Crash Risk
28 Oct 04 ABC: Nine Britons among 12 dead in Jordan bus accident
27 Oct 04 ATSB: National Road Safety Strategy 2001-2010: Progress Report for 2004 - Key points:

There has been substantial progress in implementing action items from the Action Plan for 2003 and 2004.
The rate of reduction in national road fatalities improved in 2003: the fatality rate in 2003 was 8.2 deaths per 100,000 population, close to the rate required for pro-rata progress toward the 2010 target, which was 8.0.
However, the fatality rate has not fallen appreciably in 2004; for the 12 months to September it remained at 8.2, while the pro-rata progress rate has fallen to 7.7.

27 Oct 04 AI: Ford Focus, Ranger are worst in crash, rollover tests - The 2005 Subaru Outback, which NHTSA classifies as an SUV, was the only vehicle that earned five stars on all front- and side-impact tests. Side air bags are standard on the model...(it also did well in ANCAP tests)
27 Oct 04 NHTSA: NHTSA Illegal Lighting Crackdown Continues
27 Oct 04 BBC: Blind spot - Are your eyes fit for the road? This is how some drivers see life
26 Oct 04 AI: System goes to work for busy drivers
26 Oct 04 ATSB:Mortality and Morbidity in Australia Due to Transport Accidents.
26 Oct 04 Daily Telegraph: Another Volvo safety innovation - Blind spots could be a thing of the past...
25 Oct 04 AI: Feds may add shoulder belt - Children strapped in with a shoulder belt in the middle of the back seat are dramatically safer from serious injury in car crashes than kids who only have a lap belt, new [and old] research shows.
23 Oct 04 AI: Groups advocate safer power windows + NHTSA Announces New Measure To Enhance the Safety of Power Window Switches For the Protection of Children in Passenger Vehicles
23 Oct 04 ABC (Aust): One killed in Sydney freeway crash - Up to 36 cars are now believed to have been involved in an accident on the F3 freeway north of Sydney. "A semi-trailer has apparently lost its brakes..."
22 Oct 04 Australian Institute of Traffic Planning and Management: 2004 AITPM NSW Technical Conference - 4th November, Parramatta.
22 Oct 04 SMH: Boss blamed for truck driver's death.
22 Oct 04 AI: Industry looks at managing road distractions + Safety is No. 1 priority, Mitsubishi says
21 Oct 04 Market & Research (pay to view) : Automotive sensors: Market Shares, Trends, Companies and Forecasts to 2010 + Australian Automotive Intelligence Report
20 Oct 04 NHTSA: Study Finds Electronic Stability Control Benefits (with link to research paper)
20 Oct 04 AI: High-tech auto gadgets could reduce accidents - so could low-tech ones!
19 Oct 04 AI: Jury rules Crown Victoria police cruisers are safe
19 Oct 04 Nature: Mobile phone [tumour] risk revealed (using a mobile phone while driving is probably a much greater health risk than this) - AI: Distracted driver fixes don't work - Growing body of evidence suggests hands-free cellular phones are not safer
18 Oct 04 AAP Nov04 selected abstracts: Comparison of reporting of seat belt use by police and crash investigators: variation in agreement by injury severity + Some consequences of different older driver licensing procedures in Australia
18 Oct 04 Daily Telegraph: 4WDs: Fuel safety
18 Oct 04 USA Today: Experts push for improved tour bus safety
15 Oct 04 NHTSA:[Review of] Frontal New Car Assessment Program - notice and request for comments (PDF).
12 Oct 04 AI: DCX recalls 1.2M minivans for glitch [side airbag on Caravan/Voyager]
11 Oct 04 Yahoo: WHO calls on China to lower 680-a-day road accident death toll + Newest recreational bikes causing safety concerns
11 Oct 04 ABC: 20 killed as bus plunges into Chinese river
10 Oct 04 Yahoo: Tour Bus Crash in Ark. Kills at Least 15
9 Oct 04 AI: Feds push for safer seat belts
8 Oct 04 Transport Canada: Canada had adopted a new requirement for Rear Impact [under-run] Protection (CMVSS 223) for trailers with a GVW rating over 4,536 kg.
6 Oct 04 SMH: Why are male drivers at risk? A factor that has been overlooked is the high proportion of young male drivers in certain small cars that have a serious injury risk several times greater than average.
6 Oct 04 Scientific American: 2004 web awards: ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
5 Oct 04 AI: Automakers improve side-impact protection - IIHS Press release.
3 Oct 04 SMH: 4WD bullies are driving us nuts.
3 Oct 04 New Scientist: READING THE SIGNS
Drivers may soon have to come up with a better excuse than “Sorry officer, I didn’t know I was speeding” thanks to a new electronic device that can recognise passing road signs, such as speed limits, and warn drivers not to ignore them. The Australian invention...
3 Oct 04 AI: NTSB urges lawmakers to have older children restrained in booster seats
27 Sep 04 AI: Government backs off plan to release vehicle safety data, pending court ruling
25 Sep 04 ABC: Weekend road toll one of the worst
24 Sep 04 Euro NCAP: ‘EURO NCAP DRIVES SAFER CARS’ SAYS RENAULT CHIEF
24 Sep 04 AI: [Electronic] Stability units cut crashes
24 Sep 04 AI: Hyundai to recall Santa Fe for defect [electrical fault]
24 Sep 04 NewSci: Traffic deaths rise [in Israel] after terror attacks.
22 Sep 04 AI: Pressure mounts for Ford latch recall + New cars to warn of low tire [pressures]
13 Sep 04 SMH: Road horror prompts curfew call
13 Sep 04 AI: Feds to tighten window rules
13 Sep 04 AI: Ford recalling 234,208 Econoline vans + Honda to recall 158,000 vehicles to fix light problems + Kentucky case to use automotive 'black box' technology
13 Sep 04 Engineers Australia magazine (not online): Changing driver behaviour through [vehicle] technology - description of technology asssociated with the TAC Safecar project.
1 Sep 04 SMH Drive: Remote control - there are numerous errors in this article -see ISA speed control
31 Aug 04 Euro NCAP: [Renault] MODUS BREAKS MOULD – NOT PASSENGERS! Details pending (Superminis).
31 Aug 04 AI: More drivers dump SUVs for other vehicles + Automakers don't plan rollover standards in 2004
30 Aug 04 ATSB: Deaths and serious injuries among female motorcyclists.
30 Aug 04: International Conference "Protection of Children in Cars"(in German), taking place on 14 - 15 September 2004 in Cologne/Germany.
30 Aug 04 Consumer Reports: Britax recalls 355,000 top-line [USA] safety seats.
29 Aug 04 AI: GM pulls ad of boy on fantasy ride + Ad campaign says abandoning SUVs could cost drivers their lives
29 Aug 04 ABC: Moroccan bus crash kills 29 +
Spanish bus crash kills 2, injures 30
21 Aug 04 AI: Ford settles Florida rollover lawsuit
19 Aug 04 AAP (in press, abstracts): Community-based programs to promote car seat restraints in children 0–16 years – a systematic review + Factors influencing the use of cellular (mobile) phone during driving and hazards while using it
19 Aug 04 Times: Padded cars hail crunch-free future (pedestrian protection)
19 Aug 04 NewSci: Crash victims' head injuries spotted by 'pupilometer' The hand-held device, which measures the contraction of the pupils in an accident victim, may help identify head injuries faster
19 Aug 04 AI: GM not liable in Thomas crash + Ford sued again over door latches on trucks, SUVs
17 Aug 04 AI: Feds link injuries to weak roofs (see rollover page) NHTSA rollover page (no sign of the new report on the NHTSA website).
16 Aug 04 SMH: The expert who can save lives
One of the world's leading authorities on road safety, Anders Lie, visits Melbourne to outline Sweden's goal of a zero road toll...The next big gains, he argues, will be from intelligent speed adaptation (ISA), a system that enables the car to know the speed at which it should be legally travelling + Testing times for teens + What women want
13 Aug 04 NRMA: Seventy Three Older Car Models Receive Good Crash Ratings. RACV latest Used Car Safety Ratings.
13 Aug 04 ATSB: Fatal road crashes involving articulated trucks.
12 Aug 04 ABC: Family of crash victim backs call for slower cars
12 Aug 04 AI: GM begins lawsuit defense + SUVs rank lowest in rollover ratings + New air bag adjusts protection
8 Aug 04 AI: Kids' auto crash safety lags
6 Aug 04 AI: Safety agency pushes 'black boxes' for cars + Saturn recalls more than 246,000 VUE sport utility vehicles
4 Aug 04 Engadet: A step-closer to automated-cars, a step further from traffic
3 Aug 04 AAP selected abstracts Sep 04: Effects of an active accelerator pedal on driver behaviour and traffic safety after long-term use in urban areas + Vehicle mismatch: injury patterns and severity + Costs of large truck-involved crashes in the United States + Vehicle speed affects both pre-skid braking kinematics and average tire/roadway friction + Work-related road fatalities in Australia + Bivariate ordered-response probit model of driver’s and passenger’s injury severities in collisions with fixed objects + Perceptual and attentional effects on drivers’ speed selection at curves + Environmental factors associated with crash-related mortality and injury among taxi drivers in New South Wales, Australia +
2 Aug 04 SpaceDaily: Enhanced LEDs Promise To Transform Lighting
29 Jul 04 MAA: The Potential for Improved Side Impact Protection in Australian Child Restraints
27 Jul 04 IIHS: New crash test results: small SUV from Toyota (RAV4) is 1st to earn 'double best pick' designation for both front and side crashworthiness.
24 Jul 04 AI: Ford to add anti-rollover system to '05 Explorer + Blind-spot auto safety advocated
19 Jul 04 NYT: As Safety Standards Rise, So Will the Air Bag Count
19 Jul 04 Public Citizen: Court Ruling to Block Truckers’ “Hours of Service” Rule is Sweeping Victory for Highway Safety
19 Jul 04 AI: Feds aim to curb auto crashes + Self-driving vehicles take first steps toward reality + Ford recalls 899,060 Taurus and Sable vehicles
14 Jul 04 AI: Stronger auto roofs pushed + Danger overhead: Crushed roofs + Army targets driver training, safety upgrades for truck fleet.
13 Jul 04 AI: Air bags have saved lives but also claimed victims + Honda investigating reports of CR-Vs catching fire
9 Jul 04 BBC: Call for mobile tracking controls
9 Jul 04 AI: Consumers Union, Suzuki settle eight-year-old lawsuit + Rising auto recalls eat profits
8 Jul 04 NHTSA: The 19th ESV Conference, which will be held in Washington, DC, June 6 - 9, 2005. Abstracts can be submitted at the 19th ESV website by clicking on the Call for Technical Papers link (from 9 Jul).
7 Jul 04 Yahoo: Automotive black boxes getting more use [in court]
6 Jul 04 AI: Power car windows cost lives + By dashboard's light, auto icons often symbols of confusion
1 Jul 04 AI: Honda expands U.S. auto recall for transmission flaw - Accord and Acura cars.
30 Jun 04 AI: Anti-skid technology is heralded
25 Jun 04 SMH: Short life in the fast lane + How the mighty mite falls (Barina safety feature removed)
24 Jun 04: Euro NCAP Phase 14 results: FIAT DOBLO, PEUGEOT 407, TOYOTA COROLLA VERSO, TOYOTA PRIUS, VOLVO S40, HONDA JAZZ, VAUXHALL ASTRA, VW GOLF, BMW Z4, RENAULT MEGANE CC, SAAB 9-3 CONV, VAUXHALL TIGRA. 5 star list updated.
23 Jun 04 SMH: $10m recall for 230,000 Fords (AU Falcons with steering problem) + Mother should know - choosing a car for teenagers (pity the authors did not consult the NCAP results)
23 Jun 04 'Bus safety day?' BBC: Pakistan, Nepal [bus] crashes kill 49 + Passengers injured in [UK] bus crash + Yahoo: 38 Dead After Bus Plunges in Bolivia + Jakarta Post: Baby among 14 killed in Lampung [Indonesia] bus crash
19 Jun 04 AAP Abstracts: Effects of an active accelerator pedal on driver behaviour and traffic safety after long-term use in urban areas - compliance with the speed limits improved considerably. Reduction in average speeds and less speed variation by the test vehicles indicate a great traffic-safety potential. Travel times were unaffected, while emission volumes decreased significantly. + Vehicle mismatch: injury patterns and severity+ Vehicle speed affects both pre-skid braking kinematics and average tire/roadway friction + Work-related road fatalities in Australia
19 Jun 04 AI: Recalled Mitsubishi trucks catch fire on Japanese roads
19 Jun 04 BBC: Europe's five worst child killers - includes motor vehicle accidents and air pollution - "There should be legislation about driving with no alcohol, about slowing the speed in urban areas and planning settlements so that children can play, walk and go to school safely,"
16 Jun 04 Yahoo/NYT: As Risks Make a Helmet More Vital, Fewer Motorcyclists Wear One + Scientists seek to protect drivers from their own mistakes (including speed control at last!)
14 Jun 04 AI: Mitsubishi truck company announces recall of 450,000 vehicles + Ford Escape improves crash test rating IIHS: June 13, 2004 news release
10 Jun 04 SMH: Texting while driving the latest risk on road.
7 Jun 04 AI: Mazda is tops in test for rollover
7 Jun 04 Yahoo: New Restraints Could Cushion Crash Impact (A vest and harness safety system for cars may help protect people with osteoporosis and other brittle bone disorders) + Ford to Pay $369M in Rollover Accident + U.S. Issues New Warning on Van Rollover Risks - NHTSA Repeats Rollover Warning to Users of 15-Passenger Vans
7 Jun 04 AI: Indiana appeals court says cell phone makers are not liable for auto crashes + DaimlerChrysler recalls more than 430,000 PT Cruisers - fire risk
2 Jun 04 Yahoo: Kids' Use of Bike Helmets, Seatbelts Less Than Parents Think
31 May 04 ABC: Call for brakes to be put on speeding truckies + Six children injured in Sydney bus crash
30 May 04 Newhouse: Costs Crimp Buyers' Interest in Car Safety Options - increasing the uptake of safety features.
27 May 04 AI: Porsche, VW recall cars for seat belts - Cayenne and Touareg rear seat belt anchorages.
27 May 04 SMH: Them's the brakes ... - possible recall of Renault Megane due to braking problem with right-hand-drive vehicles.
26 May 04 SMH: Safest seat in car is kept for the little ones.
24 May 04 ATSB: Benefits of Retrofitting Seat Belt Reminder Systems to Australian Passenger Vehicles.
24 May 04 ReviewJournal: ROAD WARRIOR: Dangers of backing up underestimated.
19 May 04 [Sydney] Daily Telegraph: Merc bends to Monaro + The Age: Monaro tops crash test results
18 May 04 RACV: ANCAP crash test results - Sports cars May 2004. Holden Monaro.
17 May 04 AAP (abstracts): The impact of speed and other variables on pedestrian safety in Maine + Bicycle-related head injury: a study of 86 cases + An evaluation of the effectiveness of forward facing child restraint systems + The influence of seatback characteristics on cervical injury risk in severe rear impacts + The actual threat posed [to front occupants] by unrestrained rear seat car passengers
14 May 04 AI: New rules would protect side-crash victims
12 May 04 AI: Sweeping roof rule changes in doubt + Chrysler recalls more than 320,000 pickups, SUVs (Durango and Dakota wiper defect) + [US] Government set to release side-impact safety proposal + Mercedes recalls 680,000 E-, SL-class models (brakes)
12 May 04 ABC: British courts say women are better drivers
11 May 04 Yahoo: Safety Proposal May Lead to Side Air Bags - proposed NHTSA rulemaking
7 May 04 AI: GM [SUVs] safer for side crashes
7 May 04 SMH: Power to the people [movers] + How safe are your space-saver tyres?
6 May 04 AI: Rescue workers prepare for challenges of hybrid car accidents (electrical hazard)
5 May 04 NHTSA Publishes Report on Non-traffic Motor Vehicle Injuries and fatalities - CO poisoning, reversing, power window strangulation...(2Mb PDF) - (thanks www.kidsandcars.org)
30 Apr 04 Volvo: VOLVO (Australia) GUIDE TO IN-CAR CHILDCARE.
29 Apr 04 AI: [US] Highway death toll increases - driven in part by a spike in SUV rollover deaths
28 Apr 04 Engineers Australia: Seminar: International Perspective's on Vehicle Safety Factors - Sydney, 12 May 04
27 Apr 04 AAP (abstracts): The impact of speed and other variables on pedestrian safety in Maine - A strong relationship was also found between crash severity and speed + Bicycle-related head injury: a study of 86 cases + An evaluation of the effectiveness of forward facing child restraint systems.
24 Apr 04 Yahoo: Avant-garde approach to saving lives on Sweden's roads - Vision Zero: under development is a geographic signalling system that tells the driver he is exceeding the speed limit.
22 Apr 04 SMH: [Sydney] Taxi airbags a safety sticking point - Opinion: these days there is absolutely no excuse for taxi drivers in Sydney to not wear seat belts. Australian airbags are designed to work with seat belts. There are suggestions that unscrupulous operators are disabling airbags (a fatality resulted from such action several years ago). The taxi industry seems to regard exmption from seat belt wearing as a win over the government. The exemption dates from the late 1960s when fixed seatbelts were a nuisance to wear and adjust and the huge benefits of seatbelts were unproven. Since then the industry has raised concerns about security. These were tenuous and are no longer relevant (with screens and cameras). I am surprised that the insurance (workers compensation) industry has not insisted that all taxi drivers wear seat belts.
21 Apr 04 AI: Watchdog calls for improved seat belts (also Yahoo: Group: Seat Belts Inadequate in Rollovers)
21 Apr 04 USA Today: 12 of 15 midsize cars fail new side-impact test - NOTE THAT CURRENTLY AUSTRALIANS CANNOT BUY THE TOP-PERFORMING TOYOTA CAMRY WITH A SIDE CURTAIN. Without the curtain "serious skull fracture and/or brain injuries would be likely".
19 Apr 04 FIA Foundation: Crash tests down under -
The FIA Foundation has become a funding member of the Australian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP).
19 Apr 04 IIHS: Side impact crash test results: Camry and Accord with side airbags rated good, Malibu acceptable; 10 other midsize cars rated poor in tests simulating crash with SUV.
19 Apr 04: Presentation on speed control and DRLs at WHO road safety day now online (700K PDF).
19 Apr 04 BBC: McCartney's wife backs safety ads
19 Apr 04 Yahoo: New Technology to Help Drowsy Drivers
19 Apr 04 AI: Modified trucks pose road risk + GM recalls surpass 2003 levels (seat belts on SUVs) + Honda recalls 600,000 vehicles (Odyssey, Pilot, MDX) for transmission defect + Mazda, GM to recall sport utility vehicles (Tribute/Escape stalling)
10 Apr 04 ConsumersUnion: House Transportation Bill Doesn't Include Key Child-Car Safety Measures (power window hazard)
10 Apr 04 AI: Crown Vic cleared in fiery crash
6 Apr 04 ABC: New car helmet in final testing phase - CASR Headband
5 Apr 04 WHO: World Health Day 2004: Road Safety is NO Accident - Sydney forum on Wed 7 April, 9.30 to 3.30 at Parliament House, Macquarie St. Contact details at ACRS.
5 Apr 04 Yahoo: WHO Campaign Meant to Cut Traffic Deaths (Traffic accidents kill 1.2 million people worldwide every year and the number is expected to nearly double in the next 15 years...WHO) + Seat belt use down in state, survey finds
2 Apr 04 AI: Infiniti to use lane-departure warnings in upcoming vehicles - see ITS links.
1 Apr 04: Accident Analysis & Prevention - Volume 36, Issue 3 (May 2004) - abstracts online
1 Apr 04 Yahoo: Side Air Bags Keep Drivers Safe + Ford Ordered to Do Cop Car Crash Tests + LAT: Automakers Seek Numbers in Safety
25 Mar 04 AI: Groups push bill on auto safety
24 Mar 04 AutoNews (subs): Subaru Liberty & Outback Rate Highest Ever for Crash Safety.
24 Mar 04 SMH: The bustle-backed Megane turns heads but its outstanding trait is the five-star crash-test rating.
22 Mar 04 IIHS: Results of new high-speed crash tests: five midsize cars are rated good and one is acceptable; structural designs improve compared with old models.
22 Mar 04 AI: Trendy oversize wheels tread on driver safety + Midsize cars score higher in high-speed [IIHS] crash tests. +Jury awards family $52 million in suit over Ford truck brakes + Chrysler car in St. Patrick's parade crash was recalled for throttle problem
22 Mar 04 Austroads: A Review of Literature and Trials of Intelligent Speed Adaptation Devices for Light and Heavy Vehicles (PDF)
20 Mar 04 Engineers Australia: Robots fail desert challenge - Not one of the 15 entrants came even close to finishing the 230km Grand Challenge race for robots in California last Saturday...
20 Mar 04 AI: Auto safety rules battle brews + GM announces recall of 4 million 2000-04 full-size pickups (tailgate strap)
19 Mar 04 NewSci: Vibrating pedal says 'ease off gas'.
17 Mar 04 AI: GM to boost safety of large vans + Judge OKs $149 million tire settlement + Sedans to stand taller hoping to draw SUV owners + GM halts sales of some '04 models (transmission fault)
16 Mar 04 SpaceDaily: Mobile Tracking System Features Start/Stop Motion-Monitoring.
15 Mar 04 AI: Ford to make big vans safer + GM recalling Oldsmobile Aurora because fuel leak can cause fire
12 Mar 04 ATSB: Working Paper: Heavy Truck Crashes at 500 to 1499 Kilometres Outward Distance from Base 1998 to 2002.
12 Mar 04 AI: Ford recalls 1.3 million vehicles - brake lights on Taurus + Consumer groups sue traffic safety agency over recall policy
10 Mar 04 AI: High-tech gadgets could boost safety (side obstacle detection - a big challenge for ITS)+ High-tech braking gives drivers more control
9 Mar 04 ABC TV (Australia): Catalyst 8pm Thu 11 Mar - Safety of roadside barriers.(late program change?)
8 Mar 04 AI: '03 vehicle recalls hit 19.5 million - teething troubles with onboard computers?
8 Mar 04 Yahoo: Cell-phone ban urged for drivers under 18 + Cell-phone ban urged for drivers under 18
6 Mar 04 AI: Nissan recalls Quest minivan for failing air bag standards + New Audi A8 features LED day lights (DRLs)
2 Mar 04 Yahoo: Toddlers Face Injury Risk in Shield-Type Car Seats. AAP news release. Pediatrics article.
28 Feb 04 ABC: Ministers vow to ease indemnity insurance burden - ...should see ultimately in the long-term some downward pressure on their premiums...
26 Feb 04 Crossecom People Tagging - for "Anyone whose whereabouts is necessary to monitor for safety, security or audit monitoring." (Orwellian - but a possibility for improving driveway and swimming pool safety for kids)
26 Feb 04 West Australian: Police warn on carjacking threat (a top speed limiter may be a good deterrent)
21 Feb 04 UKDoT: Many of us are scared and angry when our partners speed (thanks DriveandstayAlive] From Think! magazine,
19 Feb 04 World Health Day 2004: road safety. 7 April 2004. Watch for a seminar in Sydney.
16 Feb 04 ABC: Up to 40 killed in Uganda [mini] bus crash
13 Feb 04 Yahoo: Senate Rejects Boost for Seat Belt Laws + Studies: Kids Still Riding in Front Seats (73 percent of the 5,527 child passengers it surveyed were in seats that were improperly used.) + More big trucks mixing with cars worries officials
9 Feb 04 AI: GM recalls 1.8 millions cars - ignition switch on some 97-01 Cavaliers, Sunfires, Grand Am and Skylark.
6 Feb 04 Engineers Australia: The National Panel on the Biomechanics of Impact Injury, Seminar & Discussion Forum on Side Impact Injury. Friday 27th Feb 2004, 1.30PM – 5.00PM, Engineers Australia Sydney Division Auditorium, 118 Alfred Street, Milson’s Point, Sydney. Contact Nina Lenz via phone 02 6270 6548 or email.
6 Feb 04 IIHS: Status Report (PDF): Test performance predicts vehicle crashworthiness in real-world crashes
6 Feb 04 USA Today: Ford Explorer Sport Trac gets worst rollover rating + SUVs: Rollovers unlikely [? not by the accident records] + Value of crash test questioned [it is the quality of reporting that should be questioned!]
5 Feb 04 AI: Crash tests could mislead [but drivers of cars rated "poor" by IIHS are 3 times more likely to die in relevant crashes (highway head-ons between similar vehicles) than those in "good"
vehicles - IIHS press release ] + [some] SUVs do well in rollovers
5 Feb 04 Yahoo: Study: Drivers Ignore N.Y. Cell Phone Ban + Ford to Pay $23.7 Million in Calif. Rollover Lawsuit + Study questions value of driver-ed
4 Feb 04 AI: Army learns lesson from Ford [driving simulator] - Dialing a cellular phone while driving is not advisable...teens were unaware 54 percent of the time when other vehicles swerved erratically. + DaimlerChrysler minivans investigated for possible defect - failing air bags, horns and cruise control systems + GM reskins '05 minivans with more [aggressive?] sport, utility
29 Jan 04 (Oz) ABC: Minister to probe four-wheel-drive safety + The Bulletin: 4WDs: FATAL IMPACT
29 Jan 04 ABCNews: Big Vehicle Blind Spots Leaving Kids Dead - not just big vehicles! KidAndCars.org.
28 Jan 04 AI: Crown Victoria axles probed
27 Jan 04 ETSC: latest issue of Safety Monitor
27 Jan 04 AI: 'Star on Cars' bill would put safety ratings on new vehicles. + Explorer verdicts go Ford's way
24 Jan 04 ECE: DRAFT PROPOSAL FOR AMENDMENTS TO [ECE] REGULATION No. 87
(Daytime running lights) - PDF (thanks Julian Del Beato)
23 Jan 04 Yahoo: Britons Feud Over Speed Cameras
22 Jan 04 IDS: New reports by Dr Will Murray on work-related road safety launched.
22 Jan 04 AAP: Effect of repeal of the national maximum speed limit law on occurrence of crashes, injury crashes, and fatal crashes on Utah highways. (note confounding factors: Trends of behavioral risk factors in motor vehicle crashes in Utah, 1992–1997)
21 Jan 04 SMH: Four killed in 4WD highway crash - single vehicle rollover?
20 Jan 04 Monash Uni: Crashworthiness & Road Safety - IEAust Warren Medal award winning papers by Raphael Grzebieta and George Rechnitzer
19 Jan 04 CARSP: 14th Canadian Multidisciplinary Road Safety Conference will be held in
Ottawa, Ontario during the period June 27-30, 2004
17 Jan 04 Cambridge Uni: Mechanics of Heavy-Duty Truck Systems - course in UK.
17 Jan 04 NHTSA: Vans Take Top Scores in Government Crash Ratings
16 Jan 04 ECE: Technical Prescriptions concerning test provisions for pedestrian protection (PDF)
16 Jan -4 NewSci: Crashed cars to text message for help - The Europe-wide system automatically senses a crash and then contacts the emergency services in the local language
16 Jan 04 AI: Sales of redesigned Durango halted because of throttle problem
14 Jan 04 AI: General Motors Corp. recalls more than 800,000 cars for power steering repairs - several models made in 1996/97.
12 Jan 04 NewSci (magazine only): TRENDS: BLACK BOXES FOR CARS - If your car doesn't record the way you drive, it will do soon (p.24 10 Jan 04 issue)
12 Jan 04 AI: DaimlerChrysler recalls 33,000 Mercedes-Benz cars (seat belt buckles) + U-Haul rejects Explorers
12 Jan 04 SMH: Grossest of motor skills + Bloody Volvo drivers clear the blindspot (video assistance).
Tony Davis and the Drive Team present the fifth annual P76 awards for mediocrity.
23 Dec 03: DRL web page added.
23 Dec 03 NZH: New Zealand's most dangerous roads
22 Dec 03 ATSB: Review of the literature on daytime running lights - new report
22 Dec 03 AI: GM makes new police Tahoe speedy, versatile + Drivers of silver cars least likely to [be seriously injured in] crash, study reports (BMJ PDF) + Redesigned Fords earn top marks in high-speed crash tests. (IIHS Press Release)
18 Dec 03 BBC: Bendy lampposts may save lives.
16 Dec 03 AI: High-tech auto lights go mainstream
15 Dec 03 AI: Container chassis unsafe, union says (brakes on semi-trailers)
12 Dec 03 NewSci: SUVs double pedestrians’ risk of death. From AA&P: The fatality and injury risk of light truck impacts with pedestrians in the United States. + Pedestrian injuries and vehicle type in Maryland, 1995–1999.
12 Dec 03 AA&P: Passenger seating position and the risk of passenger death or injury in traffic crashes. We estimated that the rear seat passenger position may reduce the risk of death in a motor vehicle crash by about 39% and reduce the risk of death or serious injury in a crash by 33%, compared with the front seat passenger position.
12 Dec 03 AI: Ford offers anti-rollover device for SUVs in 2005.
11 Dec 03 Action Imports: Carminder System - uses GPS and mobile phone system to give vehicle location and speed to a caller.
11 Dec 03 AI: Truckers shun seat belts
10 Dec 03 SMH: Small cars safer: report. Latest ANCAP release.
7 Dec 03 AI: SUV safety fix to cost Big 3
5 Dec 03 NYT: Honda announced Wednesday that it plans to stake out a leadership position in vehicle safety.- curtains to be standard by 2007 (Drive and Stay Alive)
4 Dec 03 AI: Carmakers strive to stem car-SUV crash injuries - Safety equipment to be installed to protect passengers. Head-level airbags will be available on half of all models by the 2008 model year, and will be universal by 2010.
3 Dec 03 SMH: Crunch time - pedestrian protection
2 Dec 03 AI: Pacifica, Caddy SRX earn top safety rating - IIHS press release
28 Nov 03 Euro NCAP: Latest release and new protocol for assessing child restraints (but see also PROTECTING CHILDREN IN CAR CRASHES: THE AUSTRALIAN EXPERIENCE - ESV03 1Mb PDF)
28 Nov 03 AI: Tougher fuel tanks ordered + Court slashes Bronco damage award to $23.7 million
25 Nov 03 NYT: Study Links Higher Speed Limits to Deaths (regn) - IIHS Status Report "Faster Travel" (PDF).
25 Nov 03 AI: Ford recalls Focus cars for fuel filter
25 Nov 03 IRCOBI: The 2004 International IRCOBI Conference on The Biomechanics of Impact
will be held in Graz, Austria 22 – 24 September 2004.
21 Nov 03 NewSci: Hand-held device detects impaired drivers. A hand-held device designed to identify drivers impaired by drugs, alcohol or excessive tiredness, is being evaluated by the British police.
21 Nov 03 GCN: Car data recorders debated + Mitsubishi, Honda to recall combined 570,000 cars (Galant & Legnum suspension, Grandis wipers, Stream, CR-V, Integra & Civic steering) (regn required)
21 Nov 03 AI: Auto 'black boxes' defended
18 Nov 03 USA Today: Study supports tougher state seat belt laws
18 Nov 03 SFC: Top court lets Suzuki sue Consumer Reports.
15 Nov 03 Times Colonist, Canada:Taken for granted in Canada, daytime running lights still contentious in U.S.
15 Nov 03 SMH: Ministers put brakes on car ads.
15 Nov 03 AI: Florida jury finds Ford negligent in woman's air bag death.
13 Nov 03 Yahoo: Aussie cars test as safe. ANCAP results for the Mitsubishi Magna.
10 Nov 03 AI: Chrysler recalling Jeep Liberty for ball joint failure + Ford recalling Windstar minivans for safety problem (rear seat anchorage)
10 Nov 03 GCN: Rushing home on Fridays? Watch out for crunch times.
5 Nov 03 AI: Hella seeks growth with new technologies + Honda recalling nearly 652,000 vehicles due to defect (rolls when parked)
4 Nov 03 NewSci (next issue): Now who's in the driving seat? Computers and cars have one thing in common: they crash. Put them together and the results are impossible for the car industry to ignore + Smart software helps robots dodge collisions
1 Nov 03 EA: Europe invests in Australian driver fatigue monitor.
1 Nov 03 AI: Honda to make side air bags standard
29 Oct 03 GCN: Lotus seeks U.S. safety rule exemption; Insight tops in fuel economy
29 Oct 03 AI: Feds' inquiry targets Chevrolet Silverado
29 Oct 03 ABC: Syria fuel truck collides with bus, 13 dead
26 Oct 03 Carsguide: New Odyssey lifts the bar on peoplemovers - adaptive cruise control, electronic stability control, cornering headlights, pre-emptive seat belt pretensioners...sounds like a top of the line Lexus! (I drive a 1997 Odyssey)
26 Oct 03 ABC: WA toddler in intensive care after driveway accident
25 Oct 03 Letter about speed cameras and speed control.
23 Oct 03 IIHS: Crash test protocols revised - includes injury rating for side impact test.
23 Oct 03 AI: Honda improves crash safety
22 Oct 03 NewSci: Crunch time for Sports Utility Vehicles.
21 Oct 03 : Presentation to Staysafe on Speed Control - 13 Oct 03 (800K pdf)
19 Oct 03 Motor Trends: Government Should Rethink Seat Belt Regs (US should look at Euro NCAP requirements)
17 Oct 03 AI: Dodge recalling [Dakota] pickups for wiring problem
17 Oct 023 AI: Feds note lighter cars raise deaths. The 3Mb NHTSA report can be downloaded here.
14 Oct 03: The late John Stapp receives an Ignobel award, together with Edward Murphy ("Murphy's Law")
14 Oct 03 IIHS: HEAD RESTRAINTS ARE MUCH BETTER THAN THEY USED TO BE; MOST OF THEM STILL NEED TO BE ADJUSTED TO PROTECT THE NECK.
14 Oct 03 Yahoo: Police Cracking Down On School Zone Speeding + GOP Lawmakers Seek Safety-Rule Exemption for Trailers
14 Oct 03: Smart Demo 2003 - demonstration of latest ITS technology - postponed until 2004.
12 Oct 03 AI: Road test beefs up rollover ratings
12 Oct 03 SMH: Deflating feeling if your bag is past use-by date (airbag durability) + Stop right there -- immobilisers vs carjacking.
25 Sep 03 Yahoo: Vehicles Perform Well in New Crash Tests - IIHS News Release.
24 Sep 03: Daytime Running Light Presentation at Sydney Road Safety Conference (500K PDF)
22 Sep 03 Yahoo: Nader Chides N.M. Gov. on Driving Fast + Ohio Bus Company Recalls 177 School Buses
22 Sep 03 NYT: Scooters, Long a Nuisance, Draw Anger as a Safety Risk - scooter safety.
21 Sep 03 ABC: Pakistan rail crossing crash kills at least 40
19 Sep 03 Folksam: Effective whiplash protection systems
can reduce the risk of a neck injury by 50% (1.2Mb PDF - tip from Ines LEVALLOIS)
17 Sep 03 Yahoo: Safer, More Fuel-Efficient SUV Developed.
17 Sep 03 AI: Delphi touts safer brake technology + Computer devices aim to make vehicles safer
15 Sep 03 AI: Auto firms rush to share crash [defect] data
12 Sep 03 NewSci: Smart fender recognises pedestrian impact
12 Sep 03 EuroNCAP: New Renault Scenic achieves five stars - Details.
11 Sep 03 NewSci: Downpour after drought raises road deaths
8 Sep 03 SMH: Death traps that can't be banned around kids - A magistrate has blasted parents who drive large four-wheel-drive vehicles around children...
8 Sep 03 AI: GM recalls 783,000 cars to replace hazard-warning switch (turn signals might not work).
7 Sep 03 NZ Herald: 'Remuera tractors' in the gun - They plan to distribute thousands of car stickers reading: "One Less 4WD."
2 Sep 03 AI: Toyota enhances safety of SUVs
2 Sep 03 DT: Unroadworthy car exploded, inquest told.[LPG explosion]
2 Sep 03 BBC: Digital cam translates in a snap
30 Aug 03 AI: F-150 ads tout rugged side (reckless?)
28 Aug 03 NYT: Fear of Air Bag Sends Children to Back Seat, Saving Many
27 Aug 03 SciAm: NEXT-GENERATION GPS - new, more sophisticated applications, such as intelligent highway and traffic-safety systems.
26 Aug 03 IIHS: IN REAL-WORLD CRASHES, SIDE AIRBAGS WITH HEAD PROTECTION ARE SAVING LIVES - a stunning 45% reduction in fatalities in side impacts. See the Status Report download for details. More on curtain airbags. AutoInsider report.
26 Aug 03 Engineers Australia: Annual Impact Biomechanics Conference - Tuesday 23rd September 03 in Sydney. This will be a combined event with SAE Australia.
The Seminar topics are New Car Assessment Program & Vehicle Occupant Vunerability due to Incompatible Vehicles A Draft Program & Registration Details can be downloaded HERE
The Panel will also host a Workshop on Current Vehicle Safety Factor Issues - Threats and Opportunities. This Workshop will be on Wednesday 24th September during the Road Safety Research, Policing & Education Conference in Sydney at the Sydney Convention Centre, Darling Harbour. It will be facilitated by Dr Robert Anderson from the Centre for Automotive Safety Research, Adelaide. Program details will be posted shortly. Registration for this workshop is via the RSRPE Conference website: http://www.iceaustralia.com/rta/
26 Aug 03 SAE-A: Technical Accident Investigation & Reconstruction Course - Monday 22 to Friday 26 September 2003, North Melbourne. Also NCAP seminar in Sydney on Tue 23 Sept.
25 Aug 03 Economist: Feeling the danger (smart materials)
25 Aug 03 Telegraph: Space robot (parking aid)
25 Aug 03 AI: More drivers are using seat belts (in the USA)
21 Aug 03 AI: Activists target power windows (at least 23 deaths in the last decade) + New headlights may cut glare (but be skeptical about the term "glare-producing yellow light" - see Daniel Stern's report on glare!)
17 Aug 03 AI: Toyota recalling 2004 Sienna minivans - fuel tank.
13 Aug 03: Smart Demo 2003 - demonstration of latest ITS technology - Sydney Oct 28-29.
13 Aug 03 Yahoo: Van Operators to Have New Safety Rules
10 Aug 03 AI: Autos' blind spots put kids in danger - see Driveways
10 Aug 03 SMH: Eat breakfast, comb hair, write a cheque, watch out for the car ahead
10 Aug 03 Sunday Tele: Speed blamed for our road toll
10 Aug 03 Yahoo: Drivers Distracted by Phones, Eating, Grooming
10 Aug 03 AI: Ford recalling 1.6 million sport utes, also Crown Vics (wheel defect) + Runge brings medical experience to nation's top auto safety job + Cops: Ford fix not enough
9 Aug 03 Engineers Australia Biomechanics Committee: Vehicle safety seminar in Sydney on 24th Sept.
9 Aug 03 Staysafe: Speed and motor vehicles - inquiry by NSW parliament road safety committee - submissions sought. get some ideas here.
7 Aug 03 AI: Ford to upgrade Crown Vic + Tire pressure rule tossed
6 Aug 03 BBC: [double] Accident risk for fat drivers.
6 Aug 03 SMH: Corner by ESP.
6 Aug 03 Yahoo: Young Americans Still Shunning Seat Belts.
6 Aug 03 AI: Opposites attract for car safety - proposed auto safety regs.
3 Aug 03 Drive/SMH: Why survival is in the bag... side-impact head protection should be a priority for new-car purchasers...
3 Aug 03 ABC: Vic Govt reviews reckless driving laws.
28 Jul 03 Today Tonight has an item about 4WD safety tonight at 6.30 on Channel 9.
28 Jul 03 Denver Post: More elderly dying behind the wheel, study says
28 Jul 03 Auto Insider: Emerging crash-avoidance systems: Will drivers want them? + GM sending 1.7 million child seat instructions as part of recall
23 Jul 03 Yahoo: Safety Regulators Probe Chrysler Vehicles ( + High-Tech Vehicle Control Not Catching On
23 Jul 03 AutoInsider: Feds put spotlight on glare (from HID headlights) + Ford won't sell patrol cars to police agencies suing it
19 Jul 03 Cambridge Consultants: Innovative radar technology brings smart anti-collision systems within range of automobile makers.
18 Jul 03 SMH: NRMA says "Lights out? Never!"
17 Jul 03 Auto Insider: Feds call for safer big vans.
17 Jul 03 DFP: Ford device fails crash tests - It could worsen police car fuel leaks, officials say.
17 Jul 03 Yahoo: Toyota Tacoma Gets Worst Rollover Rating. Latest NHTSA ratings.
14 Jul 03 NRMA: The magazine Open Road has a feature article on Daytime Running Lights.
14 Jul 03 Auto Insider: Minivan safety is first big task.
3 Jul 03 ATSB: Articulated Truck Fatalities.
3 Jul 03 Guardian: Raise m-way limit to 80mph, say Tories + Why drivers need a one-track mind
3 Jul 03 NYT: Planned Auto Safety Rules Focus on Rollovers and S.U.V.'s
EuroNCAP: Latest Test Results from Euro NCAP launched in London - Renault Espace, BMW X5, Saab 9-5, and the Volvo XC90 added to 5 Star list.
27 Jun 03 Yahoo: GM Recalls Buick SUV to Fix Liftgate
26 Jun 03 EuroNCAP results released later today - check this page.
25 Jun 03 Autoinsider: Federal standards for tires tightened + GM recalls about 254,000 Saturn L-Series for engine (fire) problem
25 Jun 03 Yahoo: Britain to Ban Use of Hand-Held Phones at Wheel
20 Jun 03 SMH: Crash course in danger for terrors on two wheels (recreational scooters).
18 Jun 03 SMH: Big Brother on board - [the driver] had no idea his vehicle contained an electronic data box recording what he did just before the crash. But the information will almost certainly help send him to prison.
18 Jun 03 IIHS: FIRST RESULTS OF SIDE IMPACT CRASH TESTS:TWO SMALL SUVs EARN GOOD RATINGS; ONLY ONE (FORESTER) IS RATED GOOD IN BOTH FRONT AND SIDE CRASH TESTS. Yahoo: Most SUVs Flunk New Crash Test
17 Jun 03: Latest JNCAP release added to Offset Test List.
17 Jun 03 DFP: Air bags on sides of cars pushed
17 Jun 03 Yahoo: Programs Focus on Older Drivers, Safety
16 Jun 03 Auto Insider: Side-impact crashes continue to challenge automakers, regulators. + SUV safety rules proposed
12 Jun 03 IIHS: LATCH SYSTEMS FOR CHILD RESTRAINTS AREN'T ALWA YS A SNAP; NOT EVERY CHILD RESTRAINT WILL WORK IN EVERY VEHICLE.
12 Jun 03 NHTSA: NHTSA Announces "Ease of Use" Child Safety Seat Ratings + Child Safety Seat Ease of Use Ratings + 18th Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV) Proceedings now online.
8 Jun 03 ABC: At least six killed, 38 injured in bus crash in Italy + 26 killed when bus overturned into a river in southern China + Bus crash kills 27 in Turkey. (yes - posted on ABC on one day) Note that Australian coaches built from July 1994 have had 3-point seat belts built into all passenger seats. This followed two severe crashes in 1989. It is now more than a decade since the technology has was developed to make high speed bus travel much safer but other countries seem reluctant to mandate them.
5 Jun 03 UMTRI: Functional Requirements for Daytime Running Lights.(abstract of new report)
4 Jun 03 Yahoo: NTSB Backs Limited Car Cell-Phone Ban + Car safety experts push for new stability device
31 May 03 NASA: Wheels In The Sky (actually on Mars) - "mobility engineers" (!) and the design of a Mars rover.
31 May 03 RTA Library: Vehicle compatibility in car-to-car collisions + Review of Ireland's road safety strategy.
31 May 03 Yahoo: Mazda to Recall Over 174,000 Vehicles - Atenzas, MPVs and Roadster - fire hazard due to front fog light fault.
29 May 03: ICRASH 2004 - San Fransico, July 2004. Call for papers.
29 May 03 UMTRI: Lateral-Acceleration Experience of Six Commercial Vehicles (exec summ - PDF).
28 May 03 Guardian: MP urges 4x4 ban in urban jungle + Cycle groups attack road safety 'skull' campaign to shock youngsters
28 May 03 BG: U.S. pushes for wider seat belt use Buckling up could save about 9,200 lives a year
27 May 03 2003 NRMA: May 03 issue of Hub and Spoke magazine has a summary of my research on Daytime Running Lights - new technology makes them far more effective and efficient than low beam headlights.
27 May 03 Yahoo: Ford to Recall 185,000 Trucks - Steering fault in 1997 model year F-150 and F-250 pickups and Ford Expedition SUVs.
27 May 03 DFP: Regulators to give SUVs actual rollover tests + SUVs perform poorly on tests
16 May 03 DFP: GM promises stabilizers for its 15-passenger vans
14 May 03 RACV: ANCAP large car crash test results - 4 stars for Commodore, Camry and Falcon.
14 May 03 NYT: Revamped S.U.V. Found to Cause Worse Injuries.
11 May 03: Australian NCAP release of large car results on Wed 14th. Commodore Vs Falcon Vs Camry.
11 May 03 NYT: Free Air or Not, Your Tires Need It.
4 May 03 NYT: Head Injuries Are Noted in [NHTSA] Crash Tests of 3 S.U.V.'s
1 May 03 EuroNCAP: New Toyota Avensis achieves highest Euro NCAP score to date
1 May 03 Yahoo: Subaru Recalls 170,000 Vehicles in U.S. (rust due to salted roads) + Nissan, GM, Ford, Others Hit with Recalls (engine fires, windscreens and steering faults)
29 Apr 03: Preprint copies of ESV 2003 papers by VDR available - Child restraints and reversing safety.
27 Apr 03 DFP: High-tech cars soften the blow to pedestrians + Biggest SUV risk: Drivers + SUV SAFETY: Stability control is gaining favor + SPORT-UTILITY VEHICLE SAFETY TIPS
27 Apr 03 Yahoo: Nissan to Replace Air Bags in Altimas: NHTSA
27 Apr 03 ATSB: Survey on Speeding and Enforcement (2003).
27 Apr 03 NYT: Fraud Charged in Rollover Case.
18 Apr 03 Yahoo: Newly Designed Cars Do Better in Crashes + Car's Electric Window Kills Boy
17 Apr 03 ATSB: Evaluating and improving fleet safety in Australia.
17 Apr 03 IIHS: Crash test results: 5 of 6 vehicles earn good overall ratings, demonstrate automakers' commitment to improving designs.
14 Apr 03 ATSB: Where are your kids? Child safety in your driveway.
14 Apr 03 ABC: Greek school bus plunges into ravine, killing 20.
12 Apr 03 NYT: On a Straight and Narrow (lane departure ITS).
12 Apr 03 CBC: SUVs, trucks more prone to roll over: Transport Canada
12 Apr 03 Yahoo: Road Work-Zone Crashes Kill More Drivers
9 Apr 03 DFP: Air bag injuries, deaths fall but then Front air bags hurting children (Auto Insider)
9 Apr 03 Yahoo: GM Recalls 1997 Blazer, Jimmy, Bravada. Seat belt recall.
7 Apr 03 NYT: [F1] Drivers Try to Avoid Wearing Neck Ring.
5 Apr 03 NYT: Cooling Film for Windows - Previous attempts to screen out the bright sun relied on metal-based coatings that reduced visibility...[the new product is clear!]
5 Apr 03 DFP: [NHTSA] Safety data peril [!] seen.
5 Apr 03 NewSci: Head injuries' double whammy explained
A high school student helps solve the long-standing mystery of why damage to the brain is often worse at the point opposite the impact. (server may be down)
20 Mar 03 USA Today: Laws to buckle down on seat belts face resistance.
20 Mar 03 Times-Picayune: Buckle in the back.
17 Mar 03 NYT: Rollover Safety Moves to Center Stage.
14 Mar 03 DFP: Top family haulers listed - Convenience, safety features highlighted.
12 Mar 03 Yahoo: Group Questions Safety of Ford SUV.
11 Mar 03: Ergonomics Society of
6 Mar 03 NewSci: Crunch time for Sports Utility Vehicles.
6 Mar 03 Auto.com: New dummy simulates a 10-year-old.
6 Mar 03 Yahoo: Installing a Safety Seat? It's Not Child's Play.
6 Mar 03 NBS: Workshops on improving work-related road safety - [UK] Nottingham Business School’s Centre for Automotive Industries Management, the New Zealand AA Driver Education Foundation and the Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland (CARRS-Q) . (thanks Will Murray)
5 Mar 03 NYT (regn): Protection: Safer Travels, After the Car Seat - Few children from 4 to 8 years old are strapped into booster seats in cars, despite the documented risk.
4 Mar 03 SMH: The real impact of 4WDs. Latest Used Car Safety Ratings.
28 Feb 03 ANCAP: Subaru Forester XS-LP (PDF) earns 5 stars. First ANCAP vehicle, first Japanese vehicle and first 4WD/SUV to do so. Subaru press release. RACV press release: ANCAP Welcomes 5 Star Vehicles at the Melbourne Motor Show.
28 Feb 03 LAT: New Safety Standards for SUVs Are Expected.
28 Feb 03 NYT: Commitment of Automakers to Safety Is Under Fire .
28 Feb 03 1IIHS: The IIHS Crashworthiness Evaluation Side Impact Crash Test Protocol has the correct barrier c of g height (should be 630 +/- 25 mm from the ground). Associated reports may have had it wrong.
26 Feb 03 WP: Detroit Tries to Tackle the Car-SUV Safety Issue Head On.
26 Feb 03 Autoinsider: Automakers go to bat for SUVs.
26 Feb 03 Denver Post: Crash survivor rethinks blame - Firefighter: Ford at fault, not driver
26 Feb 03 Courier Mail: Truck company facing charges - A BRISBANE trucking company, its managing director and eight drivers face 273 charges after an investigation following a fatal accident involving an ex-employee two years ago.
25 Feb 03 CSM: Shades of gray in SUV debate.
24 Feb 03 Yahoo: Child Booster Seat Campaign Doubles Usage Rate.
15 Feb 03 Auto.com: Industry pledges [!] to make SUVs safer.
14 Feb 03 Autoinsider: Automakers explore ways to make car-SUV collisions safer
14 Feb 03 Auto.com: Death rate lowest for
13 Feb 03 IIHS: The IIHS Crashworthiness Evaluation Side Impact Crash Test Protocol (Version I) is now available for download from the Institute's website. The first crash test program for consumer information, which uses this protocol, has already begun and testing is scheduled to
12 Feb 03: Latest EuroNCAP results added to Consolidated list of offset crash tests
12 Feb 03 DFP: Seat Belt Use Among Kids at Record High but (Auto Insider) Parents jeopardize kids in front seats.
10 Feb 03 NYT: SUVs Under Fire.
8 Feb 03: 5th International Conference on
7 Feb 03 Detroit News: Children in day care improperly transported - with tips. See also this Australian report that analysed misuse.
4 Feb 03 ATSB: Road fatalities among older pedestrians - new report.
4 Feb 03 Auto.com: BMW recalls 164,000 sport-utility vehicles for brake problem - X5s made between August 1999 and April 2002.
1 Feb 02 SMH: Car makers urge better road skills.
31 Jan 03 NYT: Regulators Seek Ways to Make S.U.V.'s Safer. Concern about SUV occupants and other road users.
31 Jan 03 Auto.com: SUVs are back on hot seat.
29 Jan 03 SMH: Attention, driver: you're about to crash.
28 Jan 03 EuroNCAP: Latest release - Skoda Superb (4 stars), Opel/Vauxhall Meriva (4 stars), BMW X-5 (4 stars), Mitsubishi Pajero Pinin (3 stars), Audi TT (4 stars) and MGTF (4 stars)
25 Jan 03 NYT: Lighting Dark Corners.
23 Jan 03 Auto.com: Ford's Volvo 850 cars investigated gasoline leaks (1993-1996 year models) + Ford fined, told to turn in van evidence.
19 Jan 03 Auto.com: SHATTER-PROOF: Luxury cars move toward plastic-laminated side windows.
17 Jan 03 NYT: G.M. Critical of Regulator Who Faulted S.U.V. Safety - Dr. Jeffrey Runge, the administrator of N.H.T.S.A., reiterated in a speech on Tuesday that the propensity of S.U.V.'s to roll over and the dangers they pose to passenger cars are among his top priorities.
17 Jan 03 European Red Cross: One Life Road Safety Campaign.
14 Jan 03 Yahoo: More Car [child] Seats Registered, More Recalls Repaired. + Crash-Scene Research Eyes Hidden Injuries.
14 Jan 03 ATSB: CR213 - Community Attitudes to Road Safety.
10 Jan 03 Auto.com: TV spots heating up SUV fight - Local stations decline to run contentious ads.
8 Jan 03 ABC: Australian road toll one of lowest: report. ATSB report: Benchmarking road safety.
8 Jan 03 ATSB: Benefits of Seat Belt Reminder Systems.
6 Jan 03 SMH: Christmas crackdown steers state to lowest road toll.
6 Jan 03 NYT: Police Departments Scramble To Make [Crown Victoria] Patrol Cars Safer.
31 Dec 02 NYT: Automakers Block Crash Data Recorders
31 Dec 02 Auto.com: Ford settles suits over risk of SUVs.
30 Dec 02 Auto.com: SPORT - UTILITIES - Pundits predicted the SUV
16 Dec 02 Ford US: 15-PASSENGER ECONOLINE VANS ARE SAFE VEHICLES - advice about importance of seat belts.
11 Dec 02 Auto.com: Honda, Toyota cars among 5 named as 'Best Pick' in crash tests - Latest IIHS results.
6 Dec 02 enews: Is Bigger Safer? It Ain't Necessarily So + ACEEE: An Analysis of Traffic Deaths by Vehicle Type and Model (source document for sale, or there is a free PDF). Note that the analysis makes no compensation for seat belt wearing.
6 Dec 02 Auto.com: Belt law will give children greater shield in crashes - Rear middle seats must get 3-point restraints
6 Dec 02 WP: D.C. to Enforce Child Safety Law - requires children to ride in a car safety seat until the age of 8.
6 Dec 02 BBC: Sleep disorder risk for drivers.
5 Dec 02 AAA: Compact four-wheel-drive crash test results from ANCAP.
2 Dec 02 Auto.com: CAMERAS IN CARS: COVERING ALL THE ANGLES. Nissan Motor Corp. offers an optional rear-facing camera on some Infiniti models that works when the transmission is in reverse. Driveway safety.
26 Nov 02 SMH: Assume the position -- new technology pinpoints radar, cameras and more. First step towards Intelligent Speed Adaption. Blackspot.com.au.
26 Nov 02: EuroNCAP launch later today. Update: The Renault Megane is the first small car to earn 5 stars. Summary of Phase 11 results. Please note that the adverse comments about some forward facing child seats in the detailed EuroNCAP pages have not been substantiated - see the cautions about using dummies to predict injuries in children in the Australian Automobile Association report. In 25 years of infants using forward facing child seats in Australia there has been no case of serious neck injury from deceleration forces alone. Many of these crashes were much more severe than the NCAP test. Similarly all overseas cases that Australian researchers are aware of have involved a head impact (sometimes this came to light after the initial announcements were made). The number one priority in child occupant protection is to limit forward excursion and so avoid dangerous head contacts. Australian child restraints perform exceptionally well in this regard. It is unfortunate that the wording of some EuroNCAP pages will raise doubts about Australian practices - doubts that are entirely unfounded.
26 Nov 02 Auto.com: Autoliv will close two U.S. plants, save $20 million .
26 Nov 02 Yahoo: Saab Recalling 55,000 Cars - airbag in 1995 Saab 900.
25 Nov 02 USA Today: Orlando tops list of danger zones for pedestrians.
22 Nov 02 AAA: Three reports on the effectiveness of Australian child restraints.
22 Nov 02: Unofficial Tribute to Rodney Vaughan, who passed away in 2001.
22 Nov 02 LAT: Congress OKs Auto Safety Rules for Older Children.:
18 Nov 02 Auto.com: New cruise control does everything but steer + GM recalling 1.5 million vehicles for power steering problem (1997-98 models of the Pontiac Grand Prix and 1996-98 models of the Chevrolet Cavalier, Pontiac Sunfire, Chevrolet Lumina, Chevrolet Venture, Oldsmobile Silhouette, and Pontiac Transport).
16 Nov 02 Institution of Engineers Australia: Warning of upcoming PI crisis for consultants - the average increase in premiums will be 400%, excesses will increase by 600%, and 15% of firms will be struggling to get PI insurance.
14 Nov 02 EuroNCAP: Small car achieves Euro NCAP five star rating (to be announced on 26 Nov)
14 Nov 02 Auto.com: School vans need more wheels, consumer group says + NYT + WP.
12 Nov 02 SciAm: Moderate Alcohol Consumption Clouds Brain's Ability to Detect Mistakes - interferes with a person's ability to recognize when he has committed an error...unlike their sober counterparts who slowed down after making a mistake to try to correct their actions, men who had imbibed alcohol showed no signs of such corrective behavior.
11 Nov 02 Auto.com: Subaru recalls 163,243 vehicles in U.S. for transmission flaw - some 2001 Legacy models; some 2003 Baja models; and all 2002 and some 2003 Legacy, Outback, Forester and Impreza vehicles. May slip out of 'park'.
11 Nov 02 Yahoo: Chrysler Group Recalls Minivans - 1996-1998 models of Dodge Caravan and Grand Caravan, Plymouth Voyager and Grand Voyager and Chrysler Town & Country. Fault may cause... air bag warning lamp will illuminate and the driver's air bag, horn or cruise control may stop working
7 Nov 02 SAE: Role of the Seat in Rear Crash Safety. + New restraint system for improved [aircraft] passenger safety. (watch out for the abdomen loading and HIC without one of these!)
6 Nov 02 Auto.com: U.S. safety board urges safer 15-passenger vans [small buses?].
6 Nov 02 Yahoo: Ford Recalls 572,795 Troubled Focus Cars.
6 Nov 02 CBC: Kids And SUVs: Preventing Accidents - [in the USA] at least 53 children have died and 28 have been seriously injured so far this year by a car running over them...
1 Nov 02 NRMA: Reversing Visibility Index + MAA: Tips for improving safety while reversing(PDF).
1 Nov 02 Auto.com: GM announces [passenger] air bag shutoff system - sensor for child restraints.
1 Nov 02 New Scientist: Alertness pill could perk up shift workers.
28 Oct 02 Auto.com: Toyota begins Los Angeles trial in suit over Paseo belt design + Chrysler loses appeal of $3.2 million accident award - supposed recklessness in failing to equip the truck with a door latch that would have spared Mr. Clark the inconvenience of buckling his seatbelt. !
28 Oct 02 BBC: Mobile car ban drives Bluetooth - Legislation banning the use of mobile phones in cars is spurring car manufactures to look for alternatives such as Bluetooth.
25 Oct 02 ABC (Australian TV): CATALYST - High speed impact: The hidden Toll - Thursday October 31, 8pm.

There is a hidden toll on our roads the trauma of serious brain injury. To understand why, we need to see what really happens in a car crash. This special report looks at the cutting edge science of crash testing and investigates one accident that changed a woman's life forever. The

latest computer modelling techniques reveal for the first time what happens to the human brainat the moment of impact, and what can be done about the way we design our vehicles.

25 Oct 02 SMH: Four die in [school bus] crash at 'worst level crossing'.
25 Oct 02 Auto.com: $290-million verdict in Bronco deaths holds.
25 Oct 02 Dr Karl: Daylight saving and accidents (Canadian research).
24 Oct 02 UK DoT: Code of Practice for the Safety of Loads.
24 Oct 02 SpaceDaily: Hikers [and motorists?] Get Same Satellite Protection As Pilots And Mariners.
24 Oct 02 Auto.com: Government upgrades investigation into 1997 Grand Cherokee (bonnet opening).
24 Oct 02 Yahoo: Study: Restraints Reduce Whiplash - IIHS report.
16 Oct 02 ABC: Drivers urged to don headbands for protection.
16 Oct 02 SMH: How do we make our roads safer? (Victorian enquiry)
13 Oct 02 Nature: Model irons out traffic jams - (variable) Speed limits and driver assistance technology could keep cars moving.
8 Oct 02 BBC: Many cars offer poor whiplash protection.
8 Oct 02 Yahoo: U.S. Proposes Road Tests to Measure Auto Rollover. NHTSA press release.
8 Oct 02 Yahoo: Parents Surrender in Booster Seat Battle (to have children use boosters).
1 Oct 02 Auto.com: Auto suppliers seek global rules on safety.
1 Oct 02 Yahoo: Auto Show Reveals High-Tech Wizardry.
1 Oct LAT: Ford to Retrofit Police Cruisers (fuel tank problem with Crown Victorias)
26 Sep 02 LAT: Car Booster Seats Defective, Parents Allege in Recall Bid - concerns about shield style child seats.
25 Sep 02 SMH: Total recall + Wheels within wheels: new book damns 4WDs ... and their owners - Commentators in the US are comparing a new book that is highly critical of four-wheel-drives,

big utes and their owners with Ralph Nader's landmark 1965 publication, Unsafe At Any Speed.

20 Sep 02 Auto.com: Trucks aren't as mean as portrayed.
13 Sep 02 Auto.com: Study: Bigger not better when it comes to SUVs - lightweight, fuel efficient autos are safer for the driving public than the average sport utility vehicle.
13 Sep 02 Yahoo: GM to Recall 280,000 Cadillacs - DeVilles from model years 2000 to 2002 - faulty seat belts
12 Sep 02 SMH: With knobs on...Buyers who play the automotive options game add bells and whistles but frequently overlook safety gear.
10 Sep 02 BBC: Big Brother watches you drive - fatigure detection.
3 Sep 02 NHTSA: NHTSA Administrator Announces New Child Restraint System (LATCH - from 1 Sep 02) + NHTSA's rulemaking priorities - 2002-2005.
3 Sep 02 SFC: SUVs, trucks and tots can be a fatal combination.
2 Sep 02: Teenagers Road Accident Group - Victorian initiative.
OnStar - New technology determines severity of accidents, sends out calls for help.
21 Aug 02 IIHS: New York’s ban on hand-held phones convinces many motorists to give them up (Status Report - PDF)
15 Aug 02 Yahoo: Group Says Fake Airbags Installed in Some Used Cars. (Automotive Occupant Restraints Council)
14 Aug 02 Yahoo: 464,000 PT Cruisers Recalled - fuel pump leak.
9 Aug 02 Auto.com: Consumer group asks for recall of air bags in 1994-95 Nissan Altimas.(potential eye injuries) + Report says U.S. car crashes killed fewest children since 1975.
7 Aug 02 SMH: Kids' lives on the line (Holden initatives)
4 Aug 02 Ford: FORD PILOTS AUTOMATIC CRASH NOTIFICATION TECHNOLOGY DESIGNED TO SAVE LIVES.
3 Aug 02 New Scientist: Emergency vehicle alert cuts car stereos.
1 Aug 02 SMH: Take them off road - forever (opinion about 4WDs) and a response. More about 4WDs.
1 Aug 02 Mitsubishi-Electric: Car Vision Vehicle Rear View System. See Driveway safety.
1 Aug 02 Auto.com: CRASH SENSITIVE: GM unveils new
31 Jul 02 SMH: Car child-safety conference hits a bump (despite this report Holden deserve congratulations for its child occupant safety initatives, including the thorough testing of child restraints in Holden vehicles and making the best performing child restraints available from Holden dealers) + Law may force 4WD owners to fit new bullbars.
27 Jul 02 Auto.com: Japanese cars: Boring, safe -- and selling.
27 Jul 02 Ford: FORD TO ADDRESS SEAT BELT CONCERN ON THUNDERBIRD. (slight risk of seat belt being partially cut - discovered during an NCAP test).
23 Jul 02 Auto.com: Cops consider bladders for Crown Victoria fuel. Ford Press Release.
18 Jul 02 Winterthur (Swiss Insurers): Mini-vans: multi-purpose, spacious, safe? (thanks Lino Marques)
18 Jul 02 Volvo: Safety Sells (Forbes - good review of technology) + Mothers-To-Be Want More Information on Where Best to Place Seat Belt.(pending)
18 Jul 02 (back from holiday!) SMH: No joke: Volvo to sell speed ... again.
28 Jun 02 Auto.com: Ford recalls 250,000 Windstars (brakes); Hyundai to fix 145,000 Sonatas (side airbags)
28 Jun 02 Auto.com: Ford recalls minivans and Volvo cars (brakes on Winstar & colling fan on Volvo S80) + Math gives poor marks to sport-utilities (latest NHTSA ratings)
28 Jun 02 Autoengineer: Productivity Commission - A win for the auto industry (but apparently no conditions on upgrading safety) + Mercedes-Benz C-Class

goes 5-Star where it counts

27 Jun 02 ANCAP: Small car release - PDFS at AAA.
27 Jun 02 SMH: Safety isn't music to young small-car buyers' ears - Small cars are becoming safer but young buyers, who buy most of them, are still not prepared to pay for improved protection.
25 Jun 02 EuroNCAP: latest release. Mercedes C-Class joins the Renault Laguna on 5 stars (based on extra points for seat belt reminder).
25 Jun 02 LAT: Recall Pressure Rises Against Ford - fire hazard with Crown Victoria.
24 Jun 02: 18th ESV Conference - May 19-22, 2003, Nagoya, Japan. Abstracts due 15 Sept 2002.
19 Jun 02 SMH: Gongs and whistles - electronics risk overkill.
16 Jun 02 Renault press release (PDF): Renault continues to be innovative in the field of passive safety - frontal airbag for the rear seats. Note the Renault Clio has side airbags with head protection as standard in Australia. Also has pretensioners on all outboard seat belts.
15 Jun 02 TrafficLinq - transportation links - great search system
12 Jun 02 Auto.com: Government probes Crown Victoria police cruisers in wake of fatal accidents (fires in rear-enders)
7 Jun 02 EuroNCAP: Next launch on 25th June - including the second 5 star rating.
7 Jun 02 Houston Chronicle: Fuel plan may take brake off 55 mph - State agency to use diesel in its Houston fleet to get speed limit back to 70.
6 Jun 02 Just-auto: GM’s US executives fight over [test driving] Holden’s Monaro (not safety-related but amusing!)
6 Jun 02 LANL: Pioneer race car driver to give safety talk (driver distraction).
1 Jun 02: Consolidated list of offset crash tests updated with latest IIHS and JNCAP results. Now more than 400 vehicles listed.
30 May 02 Today Tonight (TV): Driveway Dangers. (30 seconds of fame!)
30 May 02 Yahoo: BMW to Recall 7-Series Cars Over Possible Motor Faults (stalling). Auto.com.
29 May 02 SMH: Crooks get inflated returns in airbag scam.
29 May 02: USAToday: A crash test 1st: All [mid size] cars 'good' Years of safety fixes pay off. IIHS press release.
29 May 02 Today Tonight (TV): Mobile [phone] danger.
25 May 02 Yahoo: Honda Recalling 1.3M Vehicles (in US) - ignition switch in Accord, Civic, Prelude, CR-V and Odyssey built 1997-2000 + some Acura models.
23 May 02 TAC: New website http://www.howsafeisyourcar.com.au/ + The Age.
21 May 02 ATSB: New report 'Driveway deaths: fatalities of young children in Australia as a result of low-speed motor vehicle impacts' - refers to MAA research.
18 May 02 Veh_tech: Automakers focus on crash compatibility among different size vehicles.
18 May 02: 7th International Symposium Heavy Vehicle Weights & Dimensions, June 16 - 20, 2002, Delft The Netherlands. Includes: ADVANCES IN CRASH PROTECTION INVOLVING HEAVY GOOD VEHICLES, DYNAMIC STABILITY OF DOUBLE B-DOUBLE ROAD TRAINS and TANKER TRUCKS IN THE CURRENT ACCIDENT SCENE AND POTENTIALS FOR ENHANCED SAFETY.
14 May 02 British Medical Journal: War on the Roads (try a search for "seat belt")
14 May 02: Yahoo: Seat Belts Save Lives, Air Bags Less Effective + Safety Features Designed to Cut Pedestrian Deaths. + GM Recalls Midsize SUVs for Fifth Time in a Year (Chev TrailBlazer fuel filter).
14 May 02 BBC: What your mechanic is really doing - has a feature that alerts the driver [owner] via SMS when the car is going above the speed limit.
4 May 02 Auto.com: Detroit may pay high price for saving on [safety] features
24 Apr 02 Ford: FORD STATEMENT ON INTEGRATED CHILD SEATS
24 Apr 02 Auto.com: NHTSA investigates whether gas, brake pedals too close on Taurus, Sable.
22 Apr 02 Veh-tech: [Japanese] Government reveals results from FY2001 [NCAP] assessment tests.
20 Apr 02 Ford: FORD PROTECTS PEDESTRIANS WITH NEW POP-UP BONNET AND DEFORMABLE HEADLAMPS + FORD'S BOOSTER SEAT PROGRAM HITS NEW HIGH.
20 Apr 02: Brakemate - invention.
20 Apr 02 LAT: Jeep Rocked by Fire, Rollover Concerns.
10 Apr 02 The Age: Ford rejects govt. speed claim [that] one of its advertisements glorified speed. Note that Ford's brochure for the T-Series Falcon is titled "Own the Road"!
6 Apr 02 The Age: Inquiry launched as [Victorian] toll escalates.
6 Apr 02 MSNBC: GM recalls 1.9 million vehicles - ignition switches that may cause a fire in the steering column.
3 Apr 02 GoAuto: First Oz drive: Laguna flies Renault flag. 5-star NCAP rating causes a stir.
1 Apr 02 New Scientist: Obese people more likely to die in car crashes - People weighing between 100 and 119 kilograms are almost two-and-a-half times as likely to die in a crash as people weighing less than 60 kilograms.
28 Mar 02 SpaceDaily: How to Land Softly on a Hard Planet (airbags of course!)
27 Mar 02 AutoNews: Renault's All-New (well - one year old) Laguna Offers Stunning Style and Exceptional Safety (5stars from EuroNCAP)
27 Mar 02: Consolidated list of offset tests updated. More than 350 now listed.
27 Mar 02 SMH: Passengers belt up for take-off on the M2 - A suburban bus company's passengers will today become the first in Sydney to be able to use seatbelts while travelling into the

25 Mar 02 The Age: Nearly 80 per cent of cars unroadworthy because of tyres - an annual survey conducted by [tyre dealer] Beaurepaires. [Note that contrary to common belief, it is not just wet weather that is a concern with "bald" tyres. A tyre with thin tread is less able to deform to the road surface irregularities and therefore has less grip in the dry than a new tyre.]
23 Mar 02 LAT: Drivers Complain of a Glaring Problem (bright high-mounted headlights on SUVs).
14 Mar 02 BBC: Fast music - dangerous driving - Listening to fast music in the car may make people drive too quickly as well - increasing their risk of having an accident.
13 Mar 02 MUARC: [most] Papers from Road Safety 2001 now available.
12 Mar 02 BBC: Drink-drive 'safety device' developed [be wary]. Also, not automotive but a triumph of engineering: Longitude clock comes alive.
12 Mar 02 Auto.com: Arizona AG seeks big Ford car recall, citing fires - the state had already made its own modifications to Crown Victorias to reduce the risk of fuel tanks being punctured in collisions.
7 Mar 02 ABC: Renault recalls [Scenic] cars with anti-roll bar defect.
7 Mar 02 NYT: Small Pickups Seen to Pose Greater Risk to Children - side mounted seats less safe.
5 Mar 02 Auto.com: Microsoft pushes Windows for automobiles (the crash within the car?)
1 Mar 02 ANCAP: Utility crash test results released - Commodore and Falcon utes earn 4 stars.
24 Feb 02 NASA: NASA DEVELOPS CHILD CAR-SEAT SAFETY DEVICE - alerts parents who inadvertently [?] leave their children strapped in car seats (Engineers Australia)
20 Feb 02 The Age: Free immobilisers to be fitted in Impreza WRXs. Subaru Australia will upgrade immobilisers in 1999, 2000 and 2001 Impreza WRXs after the NRMA warned there had been a dramatic increase in thefts of the cars last year.
19 Feb 02 SMH Drive: Secret crash business. [opinion: there is nothing sinister about keeping the results of ADR regulation testing secret - it has been the case since the ADRs were introduced in the early 1970s. For example, the release of just injury measurements, without intrepretation, could be confusing. Also, in general, NCAP tests raise the bar by setting higher crash speeds than the regulations and so tend to show up differences better]
18 Feb 02 LAT: 1.6 Million Cherokees Are Recalled - slips into reverse. Also Auto.com.
15 Feb 02 Recall week: Ford Recalls Cars (1995 Mustang, Taurus, and Mercury Sable) With Fire Risk + Chrysler Recalls 585,000 Jeeps, Pickups + Ford recalls vehicles (KA, Fiesta and Courier) with defective braking systems
15 Feb 02 NYT (regd): Safety Agency Rejects Request to Investigate Ford Explorer.
13 Feb 02 ETSC: ETSC urges MEPs to reject the voluntary agreement on pedestrian protection. (12 page PDF)

Auto safety innovation urged

suggestion

SAFETY CZAR: NHTSA leader puts science on the road

13 Feb 02 LAT: A Lonely Quest for Safer Cars (roof strength).
5 Feb 02 Canberra Times: [School]Speed zones in force [again]
4 Feb 02 Auto.com: NHSTA announces recalls of Hyundai, Nissan, BMW vehicles - Nissans engine problems, Hyundais airbag warning light + seat belts + engine problems, BMWs tyre fouling.
4 Feb 02 Yahoo: Ford Loses Explorer Rollover Civil Suit.
29 Jan 02 ABC: Device to battle driver fatigue - A Canberra firm has won a $3 million Federal Government grant to develop a device to combat driver fatigue.
28 Jan 02 Auto.com: Chrysler pulls ad after complaints it encourages unsafe driving + Mercedes recalls 65,000 vehicles; GM recalling 268,000. (Chevrolet Blazer, GMC Jimmy and Oldsmobile Bravada - brake/hazard light failures, Mercedes-Benz C Class - battery fault)
24 Jan 02 SMH: Concern over bicycle helmets comes to a head - funding for a study.
22 Jan 02 NRTC: Draft National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual.
19 Jan 02 Yahoo: Chrysler to Recall 1.3 Million Minivans - after a year's delay - potential fire hazard with Voyager style minivans built from 1996 to 2000.
18 Jan 02 Now online: Options for crash tests four wheel drive (SUV) vehicles (400K PDF - prepared for ANCAP last year). See also Consumer crash tests: the elusive best practice.
17 Jan 02 American Academy of Pediatrics: National Child Passenger Safety Week - Feb 10-16, 2002.
11 Jan 02 New Scientist: Combined accelerator and brake pedal could save lives + (old item) Rear seatbelt use slashes front seat deaths.
10 Jan 02 Auto.com: Car safety returns as a major priority + Chrysler embraces hands-free calling + Taurus pushed aside to make room for SUV (Taurus was the first car to score full marks in the IIHS offset crash tests)
7 Jan 02 NSF: Drunken Driving Costs and Risk Measured More Accurately by

Economists

Drunk drivers are at least 13 times more likely to cause a fatal crash than sober drivers

7 Jan 02 WP: Life in the stalled lane - luxury imports bypassing safety and emissions rules in the USA.
2 Jan 02 Auto.com: U. of Pittsburgh center to study wheelchair safety in vehicles.
27 Dec 01 Auto.com: Ford chime gets more drivers to buckle up.
22 Dec 01 Yahoo: Mazda to Recall Cars (in Australia NZ) for Brake Woes - Mazda Tribute / Ford Escape 4WDs
22 Dec 01 Yahoo: GM Asks US to Compel Daytime Lights + Auto.com.
20 Dec 01 SMH: It could save your life ... but would you wear one? - Australian motorists could soon be wearing protective headbands to guard against brain injury under plans by the Federal Government to reduce deaths on the road.
14 Dec 01 Guardian: MG recalls best-selling (MGF) sportscar - check of seat belt pretensioners.
12 Dec 01 Yahoo: Explorer Improves in Crash Test - latest IIHS crash test results.
11 Dec 01 New Scientist: Cause for alarm Too many warning signals can be as dangerous as none at all - about chemical plants but lessons here for ITS.
10 Dec 01 Yahoo: DaimlerChrysler Recalls Jeep Liberty SUVs - airbag problem - the problem... was first detected about three weeks ago in 40 mph crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
5 Dec 01: Safety of recreational scooters - new web page.
2 Dec 01 Yahoo: Feds Probe Toyota 2002 Minivan Fires - Sienna vans.
2 Dec 01 Carnet: Peugeot 307 released in Australia. From around $22,000 you can now buy a small car with curtain airbags.
29 Nov 01: Latest Australasian NCAP and EuroNCAP results incuded in Master List of Offset Crash Tests.
28 Nov 01 ABC: Tests show small cars improving safety standards - latest Australasian NCAP release - details at NRMA (if you can access their website!)
28 Nov 01 EuroNCAP: LATEST TEST RESULTS.
28 Nov 01 Yahoo: Ford Recalls 2000, 2001 Focus Compact - rear wheel bearings.
24 Nov 01 SMH: FORD AND HOLDEN HEAD FOR THE OFF-ROAD GOLDRUSH - being based on the Falcon and Commodore sedans, hopefully these will be less aggressive than most 4WDs.
22 Nov 01: Proceedings of 24th Australasian Transport Research Forum avilable online. Conference announcement: E-Safety, Lyon, France, Sep 2002. (thanks RTA library)
15 Nov 01 ABC: 19 die in coach crash in southern Spain.
14 Nov 01: Next Euro NCAP launch to be held in Barcelona on Tuesday, November 27th, 2001
13 Nov 01 SAE-Aust: Brochure on International Crashworthiness Conference

2002

13 Nov 01 LAT: Safety Probe of Jeep Grand Cherokees Widens. - 865 complaints of "inadvertent rollaway in reverse"
13 Nov 01 Auto.com: GM recalls more than 86,000 sport-utility vehicles - Chevrolet TrailBlazer and GMC Envoy SUVs - gear shift lever suddenly moves out of "park."
9 Nov 01 SMH: Speed curbs at every [NSW] school next year. 40km/h limit.
7 Nov 01 USA Today: Some side air bags in '02 autos fall short
31 Oct 01 Yahoo: Ford Issues Recall for Wiper Motor Defect - 2000-01 model year vehicles included in the recall: certain Taurus, Expedition, Focus, Excursion, F150-F650 series pickups, Continental, Town Car, Navigator and Sable models. Wipers might stop working.
27 Oct 01: Yahoo: Ford Suffers Setback in Settlement - Taurus, Mustang, Escort and Ranger, remain prone to stall without warning...
23 Oct 01 The Guardian: Back-seat computer to beat road rage...a speaking car that avoids road rage by telling drivers when they are overreacting and praises them for good road manners (?!) + Happy the car that thinks it's your friend.
23 Oct 01 Auto.com: U.S. considering tougher crush standards for car and truck roofs. See also rollover crashes.
23 Oct 01 WP: Court Upsets $259 Million Award in Van Crash.
17 Oct 01 Yahoo: Toyota Recalls Highlanders for Brake Work.
15 Oct 01 Auto.com: Ford, Explorer not clear of NHTSA investigation (Firestone recall)
11 Oct 01: Sydney Motor Show opens today.
11 Oct 01 Auto.com: Aztek aces rollover tests - Four-star rating is the first for a SUV.
11 Oct 01: Leonid meteor "storm" links. Around 18th to 20th November 2001 don't trust your life to systems that depend on satellites being operational!
9 Oct 01 Yahoo: Audi Says Will Recall Over 40,000 Cars. TT and S3 models made between September 1998 and March 2000, and A3 models made between February 1999 and March 2000 - rust problems in the rear suspension of some four-wheel-drive models.
3 Oct 01 USAToday: Explorer probe decision on hold.
3 Oct 01: Visited the 8th World ITS Congress Exhibition in Sydney. Intelligent Speed Adaption a clear safety development with succesful trials being run in several countries. The Ford/TAC/MUARC SaferCar vehicle was on display with its ISA features.
2 Oct 01 Auto.com: Saab recalls 7,000 (9-3) cars due to steering problems.
27 Sep 01 CNN: Ford focuses on safety - Automaker plans to experiment with new belts, other safety devices.
27 Sep 01 NYT: Chevy Camaro and Pontiac Firebird Fall Victim to S.U.V.'s Popularity.
14 Sep 01 Yahoo: No Jeep (gear ) Shifting Problems Found.
13 Sep 01 Yahoo: New SUVs Better in Crash Tests. IIHS release. Consolidated list updated.
12 Sep 01 Scientific American: Driving the Info Highway - The Internet has hit the road. Drivers can now access anything from custom traffic reports to spoken e-mail messages to video games. But is it safe? ...the van's onboard GPS locator indicated that he had exceeded the speed limit three times during his travels. As noted in the rental contract, the company charged Turner $150 for each alleged infraction...see Speed Control.
11 Sep 01: 8th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems - Sydney 30 Sep - 4 Oct.
8 Sep 01 Nature: No more fumbling in the car.
7 Sep 01 :DaimlerChrysler to Present Its Accident-free Driving Vision at the IAA (thanks Christian Schwarz)
7 Sep 01 Auto.com: Smarter and safer: High-tech devices may help cars avoid accidents. (ITS review)
7 Sep 01 Yahoo: Ford Recalls 1.6 Million Minivans, Cars - Windstar minivans, Mercury Cougar coupes and Contour and Mystique small sedans due to possible fire hazards.
6 Sep 01 Auto.com: U.S. probes possible suspension problem with Ford Expedition.
4 Sep 01 Veh-Tech: Toyota to strengthen sales of ULEVs in the US + Installation of speed limiters to be imposed on trucks
4 Sep 01 BBC: BMW recalls new Mini - Static electricity could cause a small spark when a petrol pump nozzle is inserted which could in turn ignite fuel vapour in a flash fire.
4 Sep 01 Auto.com: Seat belt use increasing as safety messages sink in (73 percent offront-seat motorists buckle up)+ Ford hides defects, lawyers say.
28 Aug 01 SMH Drive: Car phones send the wrong signal + Turn it down! (loud music)
23 Aug 01 New Scientist: Hit and stun - Car bonnets that pop up slightly if the car hits a pedestrian could dramatically reduce deaths and head injuries. Also from NS, via Engineers Australia: Lighting the way for pedestrians - A pedestrian crossing that automatically lights up before someone crosses the road...
23 Aug 01 Auto.com: Ford recalls about 28,000 Mondeos in Europe for cruise control. + Unanswered questions in Earnhardt crash investigation.
16 Aug 01: Buying a four-wheel-drive? Do your homework first.
15 Aug 01: DaimlerChrysler Joins International Association of Chiefs of Police to Tackle (child) Safety Seat Misuse.
14 Aug 01 Yahoo: Ford Settles Ignition Lawsuit - ignition switch blamed for stalling.
9 Aug 01 IIHS: NEW CRASH TEST RESULTS: DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AND HYUNDAI ELANTRA EARN POOR RATINGS AFTER 3 TESTS EACH; FUEL LEAK IN GRANDCARAVAN FIXED. (posted by IIHS on 17 Jul)
9 Aug 01 Auto.com: Explorer tops rivals in tests (not crashworthiness)
7 Aug 01 Auto.com: Ford's Explorer under NHTSA probe for rear seat-belt design.
7 Aug 01: I have just learned that Rod Vaughan passed away on the weekend (consulting engineer, Greenwich New South Wales). Rod was a great boss, colleague and friend. He made an enormous contribution to road safety.
5 Aug 01 SMH/Drive: European Commission to ban bull bars from next year (not online yet) as part of its pedestrian safety package. More details to follow. ETSC Briefing.
4 Aug 01 LAT: U.S. Expands Probe of Grand Cherokees. idling in "park" allegedly lurched into reverse without warning...
4 Aug 01 SMH: Brain puts the brakes on drivers using mobiles.
3 Aug 01 Yahoo: DaimlerChrysler Recalling 216,100 Trucks - Dakota and Ram pickups and Durango SUV - driver airbag.
31 Jul 01 Auto.com: Montero's 'not acceptable' [rollover] rating leaves consumers wondering whom to trust. Consumer Reports magazine did the tests.
27 Jul 01: Summary of VDR bus safety projects added to website.
26 Jul 01 SciAm: More Children Are Seriously Injured on Playgrounds Than in Traffic.
25 Jul 01: ICrash 2002 - International Crashworthiness Conference - Melbourne February 2002. Call for papers (deadline 30 July) and registration. See also SAE-Australasia.
23 Jul 01 Auto.com: IBM robot takes aim

at sleepy drivers

23 Jul 01 Yahoo: Subaru Recalls 180,000 Vehicles. - 1995-1998 and some 1999 Legacy vehicles - corrosion on their front springs + Crash-test fuel leaks lead to Caravan redesign.
16 Jun 01 CARRS-Q: Fleet safety resources now online.
15 Jun 01 MAA: Report on Devices to Reduce the Risk to Young Pedestrians from Reversing Motor Vehicles (pdf 1.2Mb)
15 Jun 01 Auto.com: Ford fires a broadside in Firestone war.
11 Jun 01: Two new ESV papers online.
11 Jun 01 Sun-Sentinel: SUVs weather the risks, negative press.
9 Jun 01 Discussion paper: SHOULD SAFETY EQUIPMENT BE THE CHOICE OF CONSUMERS RATHER THAN VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS?
8 Jun 01 Yahoo: Chrysler to Offer SUV Side (Curtain) Air Bags. Also Auto.com plus A look at safety options to be offered on DaimlerChrysler SUVs.
6 Jun 01: Latest EuroNCAP crash tests released. Honda Civic just misses out on four stars for pedestrian protection.
5 Jun 01 Yahoo: Toyota Pickup Bests Rivals in Crash Test. Latest IIHS crash tests - the F-150 exhibited major collapse of the occupant compartment in the offset test. Also CNN and USA Today.
4 Jun 01 Auto.com: Firestone on the attack - Tire maker's report calls Ford Explorer unsafe. Bridgestone/Firestone's chief called on the U.S. Transportation Secretary to investigate the Ford Explorer, charging that a substantial number of the country's best-selling sport-utility vehicles are unsafe and "defectively designed." AlsoLawyers ask huge recall of Explorers.
2 Jun 01: Information on curtain airbags posted, with video.
2 Jun 01: Japanese NCAP results available. MASTER LIST updated.
1 Jun 01 Yahoo: Chrysler to Recall 136,000 Minivans. Chrysler Town & Country and Voyager and Dodge Grand Caravan and Caravan , to replace locks on sliding side doors that flew open during federal crash tests. NHTSA Press Release.
31 May 01 SMH: Falcon tops safety tests - changed tune (see below) and ABC Australian made cars shine in crash testing.
30 May 01 ANCAP: Large car crash tests - Commodore, Falcon, Magna, Avalon and Camry all got 3 stars. The Falcon nearly got to 4 stars. See Master List for links. SMH: Aussie cars less safe than Europeans but the Telegraph headline is Australian car safety improving
28 May 01 Yahoo: Chrysler recalls 515,000 Neons for brake hose fix.
25 May 01: Australian Federal Budget - spending on road safety in 2001-2. (compare with last year). ATSB info on Black Spot Programme.
25 May 01 ATSB: new report Motorcycle and Safety Barrier Crash-Testing: Feasibility Study.
24 May 01 Auto.com: Feds upgrade probe of Lincoln Continental air bags and U.S. investigates defect reports on Ford cars, Volvo trucks - Lincoln Continental airbags and Volvo Series VN truck suspensions.
24 May 01 Yahoo: Bigger SUVs Score Low in Latest Rollover Rating.
23 May 01: 6th International Symposium on Heavy Vehicle Weights and Dimensions - now online.
21 May 01 Yahoo: Ford Recalls 50,000 New Explorers - possible tyre damage during assembly.
18 May 01 SMH: Road toll plummets after speed crackdown.
17 May 01: FATAL ACCIDENTS DOUBLE ON MONTANA’S INTERSTATES - Caution: this is not an IIHS website (.com not .org)
17 May 01 Yahoo: Digital Connection Hot in Autos - telematics review.
14 May 01 SMH: Mitsubishi wagon recall to check possible wiring fault - Magna and Verada station wagons built since 1997.
10 May 01 Nature: Floppy men more at risk (of whiplash!)
10 May 01: Submission of abstracts for the 2001: Road Safety Conference in Australia close next week. The conference is on from 18 to 20th November.
10 May 01 Yahoo: Official: Too Early to Ban Phones While Driving.
9 May 01: Renault Laguna due to be released in Australia in October. See 28 Mar - first 5 star car for EuroNCAP.
9 May 01 San Jose Mercury: U.S. ignores auto device that's touted as life-saver - carbon-monoxide detectors could eliminate most of the estimated 2,800 accidental deaths and suicides a year from auto exhaust
9 May 01 Auto.com: Distracted drivers pose safety hazard - US study (surprise surprise!)
7 May 01 Veh-tech: Car navigation systems become more sophisticated as information

technology develops

3 May 01 Veh-tech: (Japanese) Government reveals results from the 2000 crash test evaluations.
3 May 01: Yahoo: Ford to Give Away 1 Million Child Booster Seats.
30 Apr 01 LA Times: A History of Fiery Deaths on the Road - Facing lawsuits, GM moved gas tanks of its C/K pickups inside the frame. But it denies the design was unsafe, and federal regulators retreated from a costly recall.
30 Apr 01 USA Today: GM adds child-in-hot-car sensor to host of reminders for drivers. (sounds like a microwave oven sensor!). Also Yahoo.
27 Apr 01 WP: Daimler Recalls Minivans - "potentially dangerous steering defect - call a tow truck". Vehicles built from March 22.
27 Apr 01 NYT: New Doubts About Safety of Explorer (Sport).
26 Apr 01 Yahoo: Ford Escape Gets Low Marks in Crash Test. Latest IIHS release. WP: New Setback for Ford Escape.
26 Apr 01 Auto.com: Study finds red light cameras reduce collisions and injuries. IIHS press release.
23 Apr 01 SMH: Watch this pace - satellite tracking of teenagers in cars!
23 Apr 01 Veh-tech: Government to set up safety standards for car navigation monitor systems The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will soon start studying ways to establish safety standards for car navigation monitor systems by year end. They have set up a group consisting of engineers from automakers and specialists in biotechnology. The ministry also intends to promote the new standards as an international standard. They plan to examine: (1) the current market conditions in Japan and overseas, (2) accident conditions related to car navigation monitors and (3) test items. They are scheduled to entrust tests (demonstration) to JARI.
22 Apr 01 Yahoo: GM Recalls 550,000 Minivans - side door latches on Chevrolet Venture, Pontiac Trans Sport/Montana and Oldsmobile Silhouette vans
13 Apr 01 NYT: What's Next: Helping Drivers Keep Their Eyes on the Road.
13 Apr 01 Yahoo: DaimlerChrysler Recalling 701,000 Pickups - Dodge Ram pickup trucks

because of a spring problem on the hood latch

12 Apr 01: New website Roadwatch.com.au - helping drivers avoid fatigue (and speed cameras!).
9 Apr 01 Auto.com: Sorry, no answer: Cell phones linked to accidents, but defenders cite other distractions.
6 Apr 01 Auto.com: Court allows lawsuit claiming airbag death against Chrysler.
6 Apr 01 Yahoo: GM Calls Its New SUVs Unsafe, Idles Plant - Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy and Oldsmobile Bravada unsafe at any speed because of a faulty suspension part.
5 Apr 01: Euromotor Vehicle Dynamics in Simulation and Testing - course
4 Apr 01 SMH: Easter crackdown means drink drivers are going nowhere - The cars of repeat drink drivers will be fitted with devices that will immobilise them unless the person at the wheel is under the legal blood-alcohol limit.
3 Apr 01 NYT: Ads for Ford's New Explorer Sidestep Safety Issue - [the ads] will not mention the many changes that Ford has made to reduce the risks that the Explorer will roll over or kill other motorists in crashes. Two magazine ads will run lists of features that will include optional side-curtain airbags — but will not explain that the airbags are designed to protect occupants' heads and necks in the event of a rollover.
1 Apr 01: Crash test master list updated with latest EuroNCAP results. 5 stars needed for the Laguna! (see 28 Mar)
30 Apr 01 Yahoo: Subaru Recalling Some 2001 Legacys - seat rail . USA Today: NHTSA explores safety of air bags in older Altimas. Also auto.com.
29 Mar 01 Auto.com: Working the bugs out: Recalls climb as automakers increase production - Automakers sold a record 17.4 million vehicles in 2000 but recalled 22.8 million for safety defects and parts that didn't meet federal requirements.
29 Mar 01 USA Today: GM's new SUVs don't carry (rollover) warning (label).
28 Mar 01 EuroNCAP: First five star performance - Renault Laguna achieves Euro NCAP’s coveted fifth star.
23 Mar 01 New Scientist: Asleep at the wheel - Software will stay awake and tell dozy drivers when to pull off the road.
22 Mar 01 Auto.com: GM recalls 778,000 cars to fix potential fire hazard - Pontiac Grand Am, Buick Skylark and Oldsmobile Achieva cars from 1994 and 1995.
21 Mar 01 Yahoo: New Civic, Lexus Get High Marks in Crash Tests. New IIHS results. See master list for more. Also USA Today, Auto.com. Fastlane (Mercedes PR).
15 Mar 01 IIHS: AUTOMATED ENFORCEMENT MYTHS.
14 Mar 01 Yahoo: Probe of Hyundai Air Bag Deaths Ends. At least eight of the children killed were not properly restrained in a seat belt or child safety seat and were probably very close to the air bag when it deployed...
12 Mar 01 Yahoo: Toyota Recalls 53,061 Camrys - accelerator cable
3 Mar 01: Audi A4 gets 4 stars from EuroNCAP.
3 Mar 01 Auto.com: U.S. probes Ford (F250, F350 and Excusion SUV) brakes and Jeep Cherokee door hinges also dashboards in Fords (Mystiques, Cougar and Contour electrical fault).
2 Mar 01 MAA: Child Fatalities & Injuries in Driveways (pdf 1.81MB) - report by Dr Michael Henderson.
2 Mar 01 SMH: BEEP, BEEP ... MAKE WAY FOR THE NEW BARINA - "big improvements in both passive and active safety"
2 Mar 01 LAT: Rolls-Royce Explosion Prompts Investigation.
1 Mar 01: Intelligent Speed Management - German initiative.
26 Feb 01 Scientific American: Gotcha! - radar speed detection.
26 Feb 01 The Times: Bosses face jail if stressed drivers crash.
22 Feb 01 Auto.com: Study: Older drivers respond more slowly to electronic data.
21 Feb 01 Auto.com: Drivers' safety should top list of priorities - NASCAR
17 Feb 01 Yahoo: Ford Recalls Mercury Villagers - possible fuel leak. Also an F-series recall.
16 Feb 01 New Scientist: Eye test - A Bladerunner-style eye scan reveals if you are too drunk, stoned or tired to work. Also Soft hat - A crash helmet mimicking the head's own flexible structure could save lives.
16 Feb 01 BBC: Reliant Robin passes into history
15 Feb 01 Yahoo: Report Says Seat Belt Use Hits Record. NHTSA PDF report. Also child safety.
15 Feb 01 CNN: Cars' rollover risk low. NHTSA ratings.
15 Feb 01 SpaceDaily: Singapore Keeps The Buses In line With GPS.
14 Feb 01: French invention: A.C.S. - Speed Sensitive Accelerator Pedal. (See also 'Speed control devices')
14 Feb 01 Yahoo: Nissan Issues Recall on Minivans - Quest fuel line cracking.
11 Feb 01 Yahoo: DaimlerChrysler Recalls Mercedes - A-Class braking fault in 55,000 (European?) vehicles
7 Feb 01: 'Assessment of Child Restraint Performance in Australia' - paper presented at a seminar in Melbourne.

Mexican truck safety at issue in expected NAFTA ruling

Mexican truck drivers say they can't afford U.S. safety standards.

"...the biggest problem with the trucks -- the brakes give out."

5 Feb 01: Holden Barina seat recall. No links but I heard it on the radio! Now at SMH (6/2).
3 Feb 01 Infoworld: New car alarms can call home and track thieves.
3 Feb 01 Yahoo: Americans Favor Cars Over Kids (and spouses) - Seventeen percent of male participants planned to buy their vehicle a gift on Valentine's Day, the poll said!
1 Feb 01 Auto.com: Feds upgrade investigations of Windstar, Jetta and Passat (Windstar - suspension problem, VWs - tyre blowout may puncture fuel tank) and BMW recalls 22,000 vehicles to check for possible steering defect (X5 SUV)
30 Jan 01 Adelaide Advertiser: SCHOOL BUS DRIVER DIES - SEATBELTS will be installed in all school buses in the state following yesterday's Barossa Valley tragedy. See also "School Bus Seatbelts".
30 Jan 01 SMH: Stop, thief (slowly, until police get airbags)
26 Jan 01 Auto.com: Eye on the driver - Some insurance companies are going so far as to use global positioning satellites to track customers [what, where and when people] drive to bill them accordingly. Big brother had nothing on them!
24 Jan 01 ATSB: Bull Bars and Road Trauma - new CR report on the topic of bullbars seems to lack useful conclusions due to poor accident data.
24 Jan 01 Auto.com: Rules set on auto gadgets ...a first set of standards that will allow such electronic modules as voice recognition and mobile telephones to work with each other...
23 Jan 01 SMH: VICTORIAN SPEED CHANGES, 50 K/HR IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS - From today Victoria becomes the first (Australian) state to introduce the 50kph speed limit in most built up residential streets. Motorists in Victoria will be required to drive 10kph slower on all unsignposted roads. Also Fatalities multiply while NSW idles in the slow lane.
23 Jan 01 Yahoo: High-Tech Cars Could Bring Overload - see ITS Electronic Document Library for analysis of this problem.
22 Jan 01 CBS: Ford's top safety chief to retire.
22 Jan 01 LA Times: GM Ordered to Pay $15.4 Million to SUV Crash Victim - the Blazer was defectively designed due to the weakness of its roof...GM has been a leading exponent of this "roof dive" theory. Piuze spent much of the trial attacking GM studies that underpin the theory. The government's minimum standard for roof strength is widely considered to be extremely weak...
22 Jan 01 Sunday Times: Police issue radar guns to civilian snoopers - Members of the public recruited as informers to mount roadside - some motoring groups called the project "absolutely crackers"

17 Jan 01: UMTRI: Crash Protection for Child Passengers: A Review of Best Practice - research report available.
17 Jan 01 NYT: Luring Drivers From Their Trucks.
13 Jan 01 SMH: MEET THE BUCKLE-UP AIRBAG - Ford in the US has teamed with BFGoodrich to develop and promote an inflatable shoulder seat belt for cars.
11 Jan 01 (back from holiday!): Yahoo: Automakers Focus on Green, Safety Issues.
11 Jan 2001 USA Today: Rollover ratings draw criticism, consumers. Also NYT and WP.
11 Jan 2001 AP : Ford Vows SUV Safety Improvements.
29 Dec 2000 Veh-tech: Technological triumphs in the latter half of 2000 - mostly emissions.
29 Dec 2000 Seattle Times: How Porsche stays sharp: It rents out its engineers - The engineering unit is Porsche's secret weapon, enabling it to employ more engineers than if it worked alone, giving it an edge in product development.
28 Dec 2000 New Scientist: Don't be a dope - If you're going to smoke a joint, don't drive home.
27 Dec 2000 Auto.com: Device can sense rollover, deploy air bags - Ford's safety canopy on '02 sport-utilities.
22 Dec 2000 Veh-tech: (Japan) Ministry to standardize protectors for large trucks. The Transport Ministry will soon start a study on safety standards for large trucks in order to minimizedamage to smaller vehicles. In many car accidents, passengers in smaller vehicles are injured more severely because the vehicles tend to go under large trucks. The ministry is thinking about standardization of "front under run protectors" for large trucks and plan to exclude mid-size trucks and small trucks for protector installation. The new standards are scheduled to go into effect in 2003 or 2004 in order to catch up with the European standards to be implemented in October 2003.

21 Dec 2000: The Great (School Bus) seat belt debate (see also the Henderson and Paine report)
16 Dec 2000 Auto.com: Side airbags are the difference between a headache and death. IIHS News Release.

14 Dec 2000 NASA: EMERGENCY VEHICLE EARLY WARNING SYSTEM TO BE TESTED IN MONROVIA.
10 Dec 2000 LA Times: New Technologies Alter How Rates for Auto Policies Are Set - Patterns found in extensive reviews of computer databases are leading to higher premiums on SUVs.
8 Dec 2000 Yahoo: SUVs More Dangerous to Pedestrians.

8 Dec 2000: NRMA crash test web pages have changed without warning. Unfortunately the links in the Master List will need updating.
8 Dec 2000 NYT: Documents on Design of Ford Explorer Reveal a Series of Compromises.
8 Dec 2000 New Scientist: Road rage.
4 Dec 2000 Yahoo: SUV Liability Insurance May Rise - insurance companies are raising liability premiums for sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks and big vans because of evidence that they cause more damage in accidents...(but see 29 Nov!). Also Impact of High Premiums Can Be Cushioned By Safer Car--But What's 'Safer'?
1 Dec 2000 Yahoo: Ford Recalls 846,591 Explorers - 1995 through 1997 models - sway bar links can break off. Also DaimlerChrysler Recalls 769,000 Minivans - 1993-94 vehicles - steering wheel "damage".
1 Dec 2000 SMH: X5 shifts the crash barrier - Days after Volvo proclaimed its S80 the world's safest car, BMW is crowing that its X5 off-roader has been given a "best ever" crash test rating by the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

30 Nov 2000 Space.com: Mars Probes Take On Tough Challenges - more plans to use airbags on Mars landers.
29 Nov 2000 MSNBC: State Farm [US insurer] offers‘safe car’ discount - SUV critics say plan will hurt drivers of smaller cars.
Opinion: There is a worrying trend where insurance companies are pursuing savings for a particular line of insurance rather than the overall costs of road accidents (and pollution) imposed on society. For example, in Australia, injury to other people is covered by separate insurance to that of people and property in the insured vehicle. The latter insurer therefore has no interest in reducing injuries or damage to others and may well promote highly aggressive vehicles.
29 Nov 2000 Auto.com: Latest [Ford] Escape recall its largest - This one involves sport-utility's windshield wipers.
28 Nov 2000 Fastlane: Top Results in Several Independent Crash Tests: S80 the `Safest Car in the World’? Also The Guardian.
24 Nov 2000 Auto.com: Honda Civic, Volvo S80 earn top crash test marks.(NHTSA ratings)
22 Nov 2000 Auto.com: Michigan joins effort to protect children in cars. Also Truck tires under scrutiny.
21 Nov 2000 SMH: Crash tests reveal lethal risks in some small cars (Australian NCAP small car crash tests) - Hyundai Accent (3 stars) and Nissan Pulsar (2 stars) plus several EuroNCAP tested vehicles. SMH Videos (RealPlayer). Also Drive.
21 Nov 2000 MSNBC: Two Cambridge students hope to replace car mirrors with cameras.
20 Nov 2000 The Times: Deaths fall as speed camera penalties soar.
20 Nov 2000 Detroit News: Feds may toughen [rear] crash tests.
17 Nov 2000: Powerpoint presentation on the EuroNCAP Assessment Protocol added to website.
16 Nov 2000 ATSB: New statistical reports - Bicycle helmets and Injury Prevention: A formal review. CR195 and Vehicle Compatibility: Analysis of fatal crashes CR181
16 Nov 2000 IIHS: New SUV (4 wheel drive) Crash Test Results. Offset Crash Test Master List updated with revamped IIHS links.
16 Nov 2000 Auto.com: Isuzu Trooper recalled after [IIHS crash] tests show fuel leak.
15 Nov 2000 Auto.com: Honda recalls 126,000 all-terrain vehicles for welds, brakes. Rancher TRX350 - possible steering failure. TRX400EX - possible brake failure.
13 Nov 2000 The Times: EC waters down car safety proposals - pedestrian impact standards.
13 Nov 2000 Auto.com: Hyundai recalls Equus luxury model for first time (steering column part)
9 Nov 2000 Nw Scientist (letters): Robert Thomson invented the pneumatic tyre in December 1845 - 43 years before Dunlop!
7 Nov 2000 CNN: Ford recalls Mustangs - 1994 to 2001 Mustangs with manual transmissions - the parking brake could sometimes slip, causing [allowing?] the car to move.
6 Nov 2000 Japan Times: Nissan manual tells how to hide secrets in pop [Ministry of Transport] inspections.
4 Nov 2000 Auto.com: Government to crash a record number of 2001 vehicles. Responding to consumer demand for more safety information, the federal government plans to smash a record 113 vehicles for the 2001 model year to judge how they hold up in a crash. Congress gave the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about twice as much money -- $5.6 million -- to increase the number of vehicles it puts through its New Car Assessment Program. It tested 58 vehicles last year.
4 Nov 2000 Yahoo: Ford Recalls 709,245 Pickup Trucks - F-150 and F-250 potential fuel leak. Also Auto.com.

Clinton to approve auto safety bill

Trucks at record 40 percent of U.S. vehicle registrations, study finds

31 Oct 2000 Auto.com: Rollover formula is under scrutiny.
29 Oct 2000 Yahoo: Man Who Filed Air Bag Suit Probed (a strange tale) and DaimlerChrysler Recalls Minivans (Dodge Caravan and Grand Caravan, Plymouth Voyager and Grand Voyager and Chrysler Town & Country - potential fuel leak)
24 Oct 2000: Dainese Inflatable Vest for motorcyclists.
24 Oct 2000 Yahoo: GM Recalls Cadillac [DeVilles]Air Bags. + Federal Regulators Upgrade Probe Into GM Trucks possible wiring problems that can cause headlights to go out - Chevrolet and GMC pickup trucks, and Suburban, Yukon and Tahoe SUVs.
20 Oct 2000 Auto.com: Swaddled in safety - ITS
20 Oct 2000 Yahoo: Study Highlights Value of Car Seats for Children. Archives of Surgery article (regn required)
18 Oct 2000 Yahoo: Ford Recalls 351,000 2000-Model Focus Small Cars.
17 Oct 2000 Auto.com: Swift action on Capital Hill on auto safety. - automotive industry officials could

face up to 15 years in prison for hiding information on defects that lead to deaths or serious injuries.

12 Oct 2000 Yahoo: LifePoint Makes New, Portable Drug Test.
12 Oct 2000 Chicago Tribune: Senate sends auto safety bill to Clinton.
9 Oct 2000: Toyota Australia disappoints - I was hoping to be able to remove the 'revamped' Toyota Camry from my list of Australian cars without airbags but the driver's airbag is still not standard! The new Mitsubishi Magna has a standard driver's airbag so the Camry is now the only Australian family-size car without one.
9 Oct 2000 Yahoo: Seat Belts in (nearly 300,000) Fords, GMs Recalled - Explorer; Ranger pickups; Lincoln Town Cars; Escorts;Explorer/Mercury Mountaineers;Mercury Villager ans; Contour/Mercury Mystique; Windstar vans; Buick Century sedans; Chevrolet Lumina and Impala; Monte Carlo coupes; Chevy Blazer;Chevy Venture minivans; GMC Jimmy; OldsmobileIntrigue; Olds Silhouette minivans;Olds Bravada;Pontiac Grand Prix;Pontiac Montana minivans; and Saturn L-Series! Also GM Subsidiary Saab Recalls 130,000 Cars (9-5 model - electronic fault - not a safety issue)
9 Oct 2000 LATimes: McCain on Attack as Senators Block Auto Safety Bill.
5 Oct 2000 Yahoo: Explorer Gets Low Rollover Rating in NHTSA Tests. Also Auto.com: Federal agency gets green light for plan to rate risk of rollovers.
29 Sep 2000 APB: Calif. Toughens Law on Child Safety Seats - Requires Booster Chairs For Kids up to Age 6
27 Sep 2000 The Times: Reliant Robin at end of the road, 'Superminis' make safety breakthrough and Driver protection: star performers. Toyoya Yaris (Echo?) top performer in the latest EuroNCAP release.
27 Sep 2000 USA Today: Outrage over tires brings good news on rollovers - a consumer-friendly system that rates the rollover risk of sport-utility vehicles.
21 Sep 2000 NYT: Honda Warns the Owners of Over 500,000 Vehicles - wiring in audio equipment in 1991-97 Accord, Prelude and Legend and defective oil seal in 1993-95 Odyssey and Accord.
20 Sep 2000 NYT: Auto Industry May Ease Safety-Ratings Stance.
20 Sep 2000 SMH: Fatigue rivals drink driving as road risk.
13 Sep 2000 Yahoo: Senate Hearing Calls for More Auto Safety Rules - legislation to improve the way that safety regulators detected, investigated and recalled defective vehicles
13 Sep 2000 Yahoo: Ford Recalls [only!] 23,500 Vehicles - Escape SUV (road wheels) + Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car sedans and Ford Windstar minivans for a flaw that could cause air bags to deploy without a crash.
13 Sep 2000 LA Times: Unlimited Fines Sought for Car Safety Violations.
12 Sep 2000 Yahoo: GM Recalls 270,000 Cars for Air Bag Problems--Report - Buick and Oldsmobile driver air bags may fire unexpectedly.
11 Sep 2000 The Times: How safe is that baby on board? Nearly two-thirds of child car seats are the wrong size or fitted incorrectly.
6 Sep 2000 Auto.com: Honeywell (Bendix) unit warns of air-brake failure in buses - school bus and truck makers are recalling as many as 300,000 vehicles + Volvo trucks.
5 Sep 2000 US Gov: Commercial Vehicle Safety: Technology and Practice in Europe (PDF - RTA Library alert)

Is this the season for recalls?!

4 Sep 2000 Yahoo: U.S. Bus Maker Issues Warning on Brakes (Thomas) ...possible defect involving the anti-lock brake system on about 6,000 buses...the temporary loss of braking ability.
4 Sep 2000 BBC: Peugeot recalls 206 model - in about 60 cases airbags had inflated for no reason while the car was on the move.
1 Sep 2000 Auto.com: VW recalls 36,095 Golfs in Japan after defect found - insecure brake vacuum hose.
28 Aug 2000 Auto.com: Volvo recalls some 116,000 cars - ball joints in S70 and V70 models.
28 Aug 2000 Washington Post: New Car Safety Rules Weighed - recalls.
17 Aug 2000 NRMA: Australian NCAP small car release - Lanos, Nubira, Mazda 323/Ford Laser and Sirion + EuroNCAP cars. See Master List.
16 Aug 2000 BBC: Faster than a speeding phone.
15 Aug 2000 Auto.com: Firestone recall won't hurt SUV sales, dealers say - consumer advocates say the recall could prompt consumers to pay closer attention to safety issues involving larger vehicles, such as rollover.
10 Aug 2000 Yahoo: Ford to Add Stability System to SUVs - brain implants??

Opinion

anymore than two wheels is downright dangerous

comments about rollover crashes in Australia

physics of rollover crashes

9 Aug 2000 Yahoo: Firestone to Recall Millions of Tires.
8 Aug 2000 NYTimes: Poor Crash Results for 2 Popular Cars - two of the nation's most popular new vehicles, the Chrysler PT Cruiser and Ford Focus ZX3, have fared badly in government (NHTSA) crash tests.
7 Aug 2000: IIHS(PDF) and NHTSA HTML (or PDF) reports (issued May 2000 and Oct 1999!) showing the link between vehicle travel speeds and pedestrian injuries.
4 Aug 2000 Yahoo: U.S. Agency Looking at 21 Deaths in Tire Probe.
2 Aug 2000 BBC: Drive safely, pay less. Some safe drivers in Texas are paying less for their car insurance by agreeing to have satellites monitor their driving habits.

27 Jul 2000 Auto.com: Lesley Hazleton: Carmakers accept the reptile in SUV buyers !!
27 Jul 2000 Auto.com: Safety regulators hear complaints. Mentions Ford Contour, Mercury Mystique, Windstar minivans, F Series pickup trucks, Kia Sephia and Sportage.
21 Jul 2000 Yahoo: Auto Cos. Urged on 'Smart Cars' - still no mention of the enormous potential of smart speed control!
19 Jul 2000 LA Times: Automakers resist female-sized dummies.An effort by federal safety regulators to

improve crash tests of new cars by using a dummy of a small woman has run into a roadblock in the Senate because of auto industry objections.

19 Jul 2000 Yahoo: Study: Some SUVs Roll Over in Half of Accidents. Also USA Today.
19 Jul 2000 Auto.com/Detroit Free Press!: GM and fuel-tank fires (historical article)
13 Jul 2000 APB: Illegal Drivers Kill 8,000 a Year.
13 Jul 2000 USA Today: Large drivers demand safety belts fit for all.
1 Jul 2000 Auto.com: Safety, money at heart of debate over recycled air bags.
27 Jun 2000 Auto.com: GM, Subaru may be allies, but not in Subaru's ads - In advertisements promoting the safety of its Legacy wagon, which scored top ratings in crash tests conducted by a U.S. insurance group, Subaru shows competitors' vehicles flashing by in a blur and crashing into a wall.
8 Jun 2000 Auto.com: U.S. report warns about misuse of older seat belts. ..automatic two-point systems where occupants fail to buckle the lap belt.
6 Jun 2000 Yahoo: Children Graduate to Seat Belts Too Soon-U.S. Study. (Press release and PDF)
6 Jun 2000 Los Angeles Times: Side Air Bags Largely Safe, Auto Industry Panel Finds.
2 Jun 2000 Yahoo: Truckers Unhappy With New Limits (proposed fatigue regulations in the USA)
2 Jun 2000 Yahoo: Automakers Unveil Side Air Bag Plan.
2 Jun 2000 MSNBC: Luxury car crash tests. IIHS News Release. Also Auto.com, Reuters & AP.
Hot 2 Jun 2000: 16th ESV Proceedings now available in PDF format from NHTSA.
31 May 2000 NYT: S.U.V. Suits Still Face Long Odds - ...judge in Los Angeles who concluded that the automaker had no legal duty to consider what would happen to other vehicles and motorists struck by its products...Paradoxically, a particularly gruesome aspect of accidents involving sport utility vehicles also discourages plaintiff lawyers from filing lawsuits over their designs. Statistics show the high front ends of sport utilities make them more likely to hit other motorists in the head, neck and upper torso and kill them, instead of crippling them with injuries to the waist or leg. Large liability awards tend to go to people who are severely injured but survive to provide vivid testimony.
31 May 2000 Business Week: Just How Dangerous Is a Cell Phone behind the Wheel?

NHSTA

30 May 2000: ATSB has the abstract and Executive Summary of our report 'Passenger Car Roof Crush Strength Requirements' online. A PDF of the full report can be downloaded (477K).
30 May 2000: Rollover rankings proposed , U.S. Sets Star System to Rank Auto Rollover Risk and Feds to rank SUVs on likelihood of tipping over.- but there is a lot more to rollover crashes than the tipping threshold - see my 1998 comments on heavy vehicle performance standards: Another example is the regulation of roll stability - an effective roll warning device could more than compensate for a vehicle which did not meet a prescribed limit on roll threshold. Therefore any regulation which limits roll threshold should be linked to a principle about the prevention of rollover. See also Tom Gillespie's book 'Fundamentals of Vehicle Dynamics'.
25 May 2000 ETSC: 'Spring' Newsletter covers

SAFER CAR FRONTS FOR PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS,
MANDATORY FRONTAL UNDERRUN PROTECTION ON TRUCKS and
FOLKSAM CRASH PERFORMANCE RATINGS FOR IN-CAR SAFETY.

24 May 2000: Road Safety Think Tank in Sydney 27-28 May.
24 May 2000 Yahoo: DaimlerChrysler likely to build beefier pickup.
24 May 2000 USA Today: Injured motorists can't sue for lack of air bags. Also Washington Post.
23 May 2000 Policy.com: A Bumpy Road Ahead for SUVs? also Auto.com: Feds to rank SUVs on likelihood of tipping over.
23 May 2000 Yahoo: Court Blocks Some Air Bag Lawsuits and Supreme Court Rules for Automaker in Air Bag Case.
23 May 2000 Yahoo: Police To Target Unbuckled Children.
22 May 2000: Tips for kids safety.
22 May 2000: Dog restraint performs well in US tests.
19 May 2000: Airbags for computers??
15 May 2000: NRMA Crash Test website revised.
12 May 2000 Auto.com: DC prevails in air bag trial - In a major win for the auto industry in the air bag debate, a Wayne County jury cleared DaimlerChrysler Corp. on Thursday in the 1995 death of a 7-year-old girl killed after an air bag deployed in her face.
6 May 2000 Yahoo: Feds Announce New Air Bag Rules. NHTSA Press Release.
2 May 2000 Washington post: Car Air Bags Must Pass 25-Mph Test. Also Yahoo.
2 May 2000 Yahoo: BFGoodrich Unveils Inflatable Car Seat Belt.
2 May CSM: The suburban beast that ate the minivan?
1 May 2000: SCHOOL BUS SEAT BELTS: THEIR FITMENT, EFFECTIVENESS AND COST - Executive summary of a 1994 report added to website.
20 Apr 2000 Radio Netherlands: Putting a Price on Traffic Congestion. The odd thing is that if you wait for the bus, people consider that as waiting. If you wait in a traffic jam people consider that as travelling, but standing still. People are not totally rational. (here here!)
20 Apr 2000 Auto.com: Delphi, Palm set deal for Palm access in car - voice recognition system
19 Apr 2000 VDR: Vehicle roadworthiness and accidents
15 Apr 2000: Side impact tests now being conducted by Japanese NCAP (OSA).
14 Apr 2000 Auto.com: Safety campaign targets British motorway deaths - Alistair Cheyne, director of the Automobile Association's Road Services division, said in a statement: ``Around two recovery operatives are killed each year while working on the hard shoulder, and many others are injured.
14 Apr 2000 Auto.com: Lernout, Ford race to give drivers voice control - voice-recognition technology which would allow car drivers to check e-mail and surf the Internet while keeping their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel (how about their mind on the driving task?)
13 Apr 2000 Yahoo: Seven Carmakers Recall About 490,000 Vehicles - mostly seat belt problems.
13 Apr 2000 Auto.com: Subaru Legacy wins top marks in front crash test. Latest IIHS crash tests. Still some vehicles being rated 'poor' (Daewoo Leganza, GM's Grand Am and Oldsmobile Alero).
12 Apr 2000 SMH: Footballer plucks boy from burning car Truck runs into a line of cars stopped at traffic lights at the end of a long descent (2 km from my home!)
7 Apr 2000: Reports on extensive speed limiter trials available in PDF format from Uni of Leeds. See also Speed Control Devices for Cars.
7 Apr 2000: MUARC Newsletter nowavailable in PDF format.
4 Apr 2000 Yahoo: Airbags protect people but threaten the environment.
4 Apr 2000 CBC: Air bag may have caused 'fender-bender' death. Also Yahoo
3 Apr 2000 SciAm: Plastic Bodies On Display - Do plastinated corpses cross the line between science education and desecration?
31 Mar 2000 IEAust lecture: Tuesday 4th April 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm Transport Engineering Panel *NSW Road Safety Strategy 2010* John Brewer RTA Harricks Auditorium 118 Alfred St, Milsons Pt. Contact David Kilsby Ph: 02 9928 2273 Fax: 02 9928 2510 DKilsby@skm.com.au
30 Mar 2000 Detroit News: Dead girl's dad fights air bags - Case may shape future safety standards.
30 Mar 2000 Yahoo: Mazda Recalls 2000 Model Year MPV Minivans - front bumper design (not safety related)
30 Mar 2000 New Scientist: Bugs behind the wheel : ...They hope the robot's neural network program, which mimics part of the locust's brain, will be the basis of a collision-avoidance system for cars.
29 Mar 2000 Yahoo: Feds Investigate Cadillac Air Bags
27 Mar 2000 Auto.com: Regulators upgrade probe into Cadillac side air bags.
25 Mar 2000: List of Australian cars without driver's airbag updated - fortunately several models were taken off the list. The remaining 'shame file' makes are: Hyundai?, Kia, Landrover, Mitsubishi, Nissan (2), Proton (2), Suzuki (4) and Toyota. Lada and Seat were in the previous list but are no longer listed by Which Car.
22 Mar 2000 Yahoo: Automakers Looking to SUV Design Changes for Safety - lower frames for better compatibility with cars.
22 Mar 2000 The Times: Safety call for side air bags in all cars - latest ENCAP results (family and luxury car update - PDF downloads).
20 Mar 2000: Assessment of Pedestrian Protection Afforded by Vehicles in Australia - paper presented at Impact Biomechanics conference.
14 Mar 2000 Auto.com: Drivers click it to avoid a ticket - Seat belt law appears to be working, cops say
14 Mar 2000 USAToday: Honda inflates safety for all sizes - smart airbags.
11 Mar 2000 Auto.com: Auto makers offer to pay for more air bag data A group of automakers offered on Thursday to pay for increased analysis of accidents in an effort to resolve a disagreement over upcoming new rules for the next generation of vehicle air bags.
8 Mar 2000 : Victims want to disconnect car phones - distraction a safety hazard.
8 Mar 2000 Auto.com: Peugeot swerves to avoid ``moose test'' blackspot.
6 Mar 2000: Master list of offset tests updated and converted to show "stars".
6 Mar 2000: GM recalls 900 electric cars, pickup trucks.
2 Mar 2000 Yahoo: Air Bag Regs Nearly Finished.
26 Feb 2000 Auto.com: Kia recalls Sportage sport-utility vehicles.
25 Feb 2000 The Times: Super-minis beat crash test barrier - the latest Euro-NCAP (new homepage) results.
23 Feb 2000: IIHS has released the results of research on the effects of 'cosmetic' parts such as bumpers and door skins on crash performance. They make no significant difference! Note the link to download a PDF copy of Status Report.
23 Feb 2000: University of New England (Australia) is taking enrolments for a post graduate distance education study program in road safety. The Academic Director of the Road Safety Studies program is (RTA's) Paul Duignan...!
23 Feb 2000 Yahoo: Armstrong Unveils Century's Top Engineering Feats - the automobile comes 2nd! See also Great Engineering Achievements.
21 Feb 2000 Yahoo: Cosmetic Aftermarket Auto Parts Safe - Insurers.
21 Feb 2000 DallasNews: High cost of gasoline no roadblock to SUVs (gas-guzzlers)
17 Feb 2000 Yahoo: US Group Launches New Ads on Child Airbag Danger.(limited posting)
17 Feb 2000 Auto.com: Consumer advocate Ralph Nader to run for US President (again).
12 Feb 2000 Washington Post: NHTSA Pondering Ratings for Child Seats - similar idea to CREP in Australa.
12 Feb 2000 Washington Post: Safety Effort Adds Character - DaimlerChrysler nationwide Fit for a Kid campaign. Also Chicago Tribune.
9 Feb 2000 Auto.com: U.S. safety group urges higher speed air bag test.
7 Feb 2000: Popular Mechanics - Buyers Guide for 2000 now available. Includes "Which are safer- cars or trucks?" - be sceptical!
7 Feb 2000 Auto.com: Ford Taurus, Sable get top U.S. safety ratings - Ford Motor Co. said Friday its 2000 model year Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable mid-size sedans received five-star safety ratings for frontal crashes from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. More from Ford.
3 Feb 2000 New Scientist: The wrong trap. A patent lawyer could drive police forces worldwide into a rage. For the past year, the British government has been testing a system ...Called Speed Violation Detection Deterrent (SVDD), it uses digital infrared cameras to photograph all cars passing fixed points such as overhead bridges. It records the time cars pass and identifies them by using optical character recognition software that can read their licence plates...
3 Feb 2000 BBC: Robo-Roo helps crash safety. Holden's kangeroo dummy gets an upgrade.
1 Feb 2000: (US) Automakers, industry groups lobby government on new air bag proposal. Automakers and industry groups lobbied the government Thursday to try to prevent adoption of a federal test they say will bring back car air bags that are too powerful for children and small women.
28 Jan 2000: "Safety" Technical Sessions of SAE 2000 - World Congress. March 6-9, Detroit.
27 Jan 2000 Car Talk: Nominations for the worst car of the Millennium! "...Romanticized as it has been, the Volkswagen bus had no heat, blew over in the wind and used the driver's legs as its first line of defense in an accident."
21 Jan 2000: Call for papers - Saferoads - (Victorian) Local Government Road Safety Conference - 20-21 July 2000. Organised by Monash University. Contact Iren Thavarajah.
18 Jan 2000 Yahoo: All GM Vehicles to Have (curtain) Side Airbags by 2003.
17 Jan 2000: MUARC Biomechanics of crash injury short course - Melbourne, 13-15 mar 2000. Contact Melanie Thiedeman.
17 Jan 2000: University of Cincinnati's College of Engineering are claiming a breakthrough(?) in crash simulation. Explorezone article.
7 Jan 2000: Leeds Uni releases report on speed control. Press gets confused about the suggested use of GPS - assumes satellites will be used to monitor individual cars. The lead researcher has confirmed that the GPS location is simply used to identify speed zones from an onboard digital map - no surveillance is involved.
Dec 1999: Call for papers "Impact Biomechanics Australia Conference", Sydney 16-17 Mar 2000. Institution of Engineers Australia. Contact T. Grice.
Dec 1999: NSW RTA issues draft Load Restraint Guide for public comment
Dec 1999: NSW RTA issues Road Safety 2010 - strategy for the next decade (download the PDF file) and 4th Annual Local Government Road Safety Conference - many papers available online, including the keynote address by Narelle Haworth.
Nov 1999: Scientific American recently posted an "ask the expert" item on airbags.

List of Australian cars without airbags