Side Impact Crash Safety a New Priority?

Side impact crash safety is a new priority for the United States government. Models that are involved in side impact or other accidents can be repaired at Sarasota Body Shop businesses. However, there are many other types of accidents that can be more severe and result in the totaling of a vehicle . Side impact accidents are dangerous, even if you are driving a safe Volkswagen vehicle model. The NHTSA has issued regulations for new models that are sold at Boise Ford Dealers and other dealers to have new safety standards for side impact crashes in their new models.

A standard was enacted in 2007 by the NHTSA that required all automakers to have additional side impact protection phased into their manufacturing processes for their cars, trucks, and SUVs. The requirement went into effect on September 1, 2009. Every automaker is required to comply with the new requirements within four years. There is a movable deforming barrier that is used to simulate side impact accidents, however a new test will be performed that simulates a vehicle crashing sideways into a pole. The new test is said to be more difficult and challenging for automakers.

Head and torso protecting airbags will likely become standard on new vehicles as these are shown to help automakers pass the new tougher exam. There are several other features that automakers may or may not include, and the safety requirements can be met by automakers any way they choose. Side impact crashes killed over 8,000 Americans in 2007 and are a major source of auto injuries and fatalities. It is shown that head airbag side airbags reduce fatality risk by 30 to 50 percent and it depends on the vehicle as well.

Fatal head-on collisions have decreased in number since front airbags became government mandated additions to vehicles in 1991. Fatalities from these accidents were reduced, and it is likely that if the government mandates side impact airbags that fatalities will reduce from these accidents as well.