Toyota Agrees to Pay Record $17.35 Million
in Civil Penalties
December 18: NHTSA announced that Toyota will pay the maximum allowable fine in response to the agency's assertion that the automaker failed to report a safety defect in a timely manner, involving 2010 Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h models. Federal law requires automakers to notify NHTSA within five business days of determining that a safety defect exists. Read More
NHTSA Kicks Off 'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over' Holiday Crackdown
December 13: NHTSA also released new 2011 state-by-state drunk driving statistics showing that in 2011, 9,878 people were killed in drunk driving crashes, including 395 during the second half of December alone. Read More
DOT Releases Two Major Updates to Enhance Motorcoach Safety
December 12: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has taken steps to enhance motorcoach safety by updating its safety plan and by making it easier for consumers to file complaints about unsafe companies and drivers. Read More
NHTSA Alerting Consumers to Dangers of Counterfeit Air Bags
October 10: Problem involves sale of counterfeit air bags for use as replacement parts in vehicles that have been involved in a crash. While these air bags look nearly identical to certified, original equipment parts — including bearing the insignia and branding of major automakers — NHTSA testing showed consistent malfunctioning ranging from non-deployment of the air bag to the expulsion of metal shrapnel during deployment. Read More
DOT and Safe Kids Kick Off Child Passenger Safety Week
September 17: Event reminds parents and caregivers to make sure that they are properly using and installing their child safety seats. A new NHTSA survey shows that parents are making five significant mistakes when using car seats and booster seats. It also found that one in five parents do not read any instructions when installing seats. Read More
DOT Launches Largest-
Ever Road Test of Connected Vehicle Crash Avoidance Technology
August 21: DOT test of nearly 3,000 vehicles will send Wi-Fi-like signals that warn of safety hazards, could help reduce crashes during year-long research project. Read More
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Key Issues
Recent Research & Data
- NCSA Research Note: Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes as a Leading Cause of Death in the United States, 2008 & 2009, For the first time since 1981 (when data was first available), motor vehicle traffic crashes were not among the top 10 causes of death in the United States. Motor vehicle crashes were the 11th leading cause of death in 2009. In 2008, motor vehicle traffic crashes were the 9th leading cause of death overall. Fatalities in motor vehicle crashes have declined by about 25 percent since 2005, influenced largely by a significant drop in crashes and fatalities involving the younger population.
- NCSA Research Note: Motorcycle Helmet Use in 2011 – Overall Results, The use of DOT-compliant motorcycle helmets increased significantly to 66 percent in 2011, up from 54 percent in 2010. This percentage is based on the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS) the only survey that provides nationwide probability-based observed data on helmet use in the U.S.
- NCSA Crash*Stats: Lives Saved in 2010 by Restraint Use and Minimum Drinking Age Laws, In 2010, the use of seat belts in passenger vehicles saved an estimated 12,546 lives. Lives saved have been produced by NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics & Analysis since 1975. The counts are estimates that are calculated using the effectiveness of each device or law that is mentioned.
NCSA Traffic Safety Fact Sheet 2010 “Alcohol-Impaired Driving”, The fact sheet presents detailed data about 2010 fatal alcohol-impaired driving crashes in which there were 10,228 persons killed. A total of 9,695 drivers (85%) who were involved in fatal crashes had a BAC level at or above .08. The most frequently reported BAC was 0.18. The rate of alcohol impairment among fatally involved drivers was four times higher at night than during the day.
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December 18, 2012Toyota Motor Corp. Will Pay Record $17.35 Million in Civil Penalties for Alleged Violations of Federal Law
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December 13, 2012U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Launches 'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over' Holiday Crackdown
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December 10, 2012New NHTSA Analysis Shows 2011 Traffic Fatalities Declined by Nearly Two Percent
The Student Safety Technology Design Competition gives young scholars an exciting opportunity to design, build, and demonstrate a cost-effective conceptual scale model of a vehicle safety technology.
