auto safety News

Safety Agency Faulted for Delayed Action on Auto, Airbag Recalls

A government audit released on Wednesday faulted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s oversight of auto safety recalls and said its “delayed action” may have delayed the expansion of a record-setting callback of millions of vehicles for Takata air bag …

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

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

Kobe Steel Admits Falsifying Data on Components Used by 200 Firms

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

12 States Have Advanced Tougher Distracted Driving Bills This Year

As auto accidents and fatalities increase on America’s roads, a dozen states have taken legislative action this year to further combat distracted driving. According to an analysis by the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI), nine states have enacted …

33% of Canadians Admit to ‘Dangerous Habit’ of Texting at Red Lights

One third (33 percent) of Canadians admit they have texted while stopped at a red light in the last month, reveals a poll from the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA). That is despite evidence that your mind could still be distracted …

U.S. Launches Safety Probe of Brakes on 2007-09 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan

U.S. safety regulators are investigating Ford Motor Co.’s Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans from the 2007 to 2009 model years for brakes that may fail in certain conditions, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Tuesday. There have been …

Insurance Institute’s Top Safety Pick List Shrinks Under New Headlight Standards

To help avoid deadly accidents, an insurance industry group raised standards for headlight performance, reducing the number of vehicles that earned its highest safety rating. Only 38 models were awarded the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s designation of Top Safety …

U.S. Rule Requires Sound Alerts on Quiet Electric, Hybrid Cars

The U.S. government on Monday finalized long-delayed rules that will require “quiet cars” like electric vehicles and hybrids to emit alert sounds when they are moving at speeds of up to 18.6 miles per hour (30 km per hour) to …

Pennsylvania Law Requiring Rear-Facing Car Seats Takes Effect

Motorists in Pennsylvania must now make sure car seats face backward for all children until they’re two years old. The requirement is part of a new state law that went into effect Friday. It directs police to issue warnings for …

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

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