New Safety Study Finds Relationship Between Roof Strength And Injuries

Frank Bailey

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30,000 people die or are seriously injured in rollover crashes each year according to Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety in Washington, D. C.  A new study shows a direct relationship between roof strength of the vehicle and the likelihood that a person will be killed or seriously injured in a rollover crash.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee had the worst results, only supporting 1.64 times the weight of its four door model.  The Nissan Xterra had the best results supporting 2.93 times its weight.

NHTSA Standard 216 only requires a vehicle support 1.5 times the weight of the vehicle, but that standard has been in effect since 1971.  There is a new proposal to increase the standard to 2.5 times the weight of the vehicle, but is that enough?

The new standard also contains language that if a vehicle meets the 2.5 ratio, state laws would not apply.  That is a license to harm consumers without accountability.  We all need to email our senators and demand that the language overpowering state laws called, “preemption” be removed.