Feds Push Back Roof Strength Regulation

Topics:  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Anthony Fontanelle
May 31, 2007

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) intends to issue a rule on roof requirements by late September. The final version is expected in July 2008. The NHTSA plans to give the public two months to comment.

In yet another postponement involving one of America's most urgent vehicle safety issues, federal regulators are going back to the drawing board to draft a regulation to require auto manufacturers to improve the strength of roofs to protect passengers in rollovers.

In a notice posted on the Department of Transportation Web site, the NHTSA said that it would not be able to issue a final rule by August 31 on toughening roof crush resistance standards as it initially promised. In its place, the NHTSA hopes to issue a revised preliminary proposal by late September and finalize it by July 2008, as required by Congress.

NHTSA spokesman Rae Tyson said last week that the agency was conducting additional research to make sure it came up with a workable regulation. "We want to get it right," Tyson said. The federal agency has not altered the federal roof standard for more than three decades now, despite updating most other major auto regulations.

Rollovers account for three percent of the vehicle crashes in the United States and about one-third of fatalities. In 2005, rollover deaths rose by 2.8 percent amounting to 10,816. "This crash mode constitutes a disproportionate and growing segment of the nation's highway safety problem," the NHTSA explained.

In August of that same year, the NHTSA issued its proposed upgrade, requiring that a vehicle roof withstand a force equal to 2.5 times the vehicle weight, up from the current 1.5 times standard, while maintaining adequate head room for an average adult male. The agency estimates the new standard would save up to 44 lives a year and prevent up to 793 injuries.

Some applaud the decision. Charles Territo, a spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, commended the agency's decision to take more time to issue a final roof standard. The auto industry has generally questioned the wisdom of making roofs heavier and stronger, noting tradeoffs in fuel economy and vehicle stability. "We applaud the NHTSA for taking the time to research the issue," he said.

But safety advocates see it as woefully inadequate. It is a "do-nothing" mandate that "will not address the pressing need to save thousands of lives from rollover crashes," said Gerald Donaldson, the research director at the Washington-based Highway and Auto Safety.

The auto alliance told the NHTSA that at least 64 percent of vehicles on the roads would not meet the standard, which means the costs of complying will be much higher than the government estimated. It also said that the new rule would add between 38 to 68 pounds to pickups and 60 to 67 pounds to larger SUVs.

Going to a higher standard could add up to 270 pounds for light trucks. The new regulation may not affect Geo brake pads but would surely involve other parts. Thus, vehicle costs are expected to creep up.

Source:  Amazines.com