Status Report, Vol. 43: 2008

Volume 43, Number 11 • December 27, 2008

21 drinking age laws in US states are effective, multiple studies indicate

Changes in drinking age laws

New groups question effectiveness of 21, ignoring decades of research

Older drivers' fatal crashes have declined since 1997, reversing an upward trend

Stop ahead markings on roadways are effective in reducing crashes

New small car crash test ratings

Volume 43, Number 10 • November 25, 2008

TOP SAFETY PICK winners represent 11 of the 12 vehicle categories tested in Institute crashworthiness evaluations

72 winners by vehicle class

Fatal crashes with deer jump in November

New school buses must have higher seat backs, and small buses have to have shoulder belts in addition to lap belts under a new federal rule

Motorcyclists died in record numbers in 2007, while deaths in passenger vehicles fell to the lowest toll ever recorded

Volume 43, Number 9 • October 22, 2008

Antilock brakes on motorcycles reduce both crash frequencies and deaths

2008 motorcycles with antilocks

Text messaging bans now cover all drivers in 7 states and the District of Columbia

Child safety seat use in crashes has increased during the past decade

Souped-up golf carts will remain subject to limitations on weight and speed, the federal government decides

New Institute video explores what happens to the human body in a car crash

Volume 43, Number 8 • October 1, 2008

When children outgrow child restraints, they need a booster that fits

Institute booster ratings

Volume 43, Number 7 • September 9, 2008

Licensing teenagers later reduces their crashes

Comparison of licensing ages

Hybrid cars and SUVs have higher costs under insurance collision coverage than their counterparts powered by gasoline only

Pregnant women should buckle up to help protect their fetuses

Distracted driving is widespread among owners of cellphones, insurer's survey finds

Volume 43, Number 6 • July 24, 2008

Small pickups' performance in side tests is disappointing, except for the Toyota Tacoma's good rating

Crashworthiness ratings of small pickups

College town alcohol campaign lowers nighttime drinking and driving among target group of teens and young adults

NHTSA makes many small changes to the New Car Assessment Program

Rolling back Canadian bumper standard is likely to drive up insurance costs and repair bills

Volume 43, Number 5 • July 1, 2008

Bumper rules should extend to light trucks, Institute tells NHTSA

Cellphone Q&A explains why using a hand-held or hands-free phone raises a driver's crash risk

Power windows can seriously injure or kill young children whose heads, arms, or other body parts get trapped, a Q&A reveals

Backover crashes often happen when SUV drivers don't see toddlers behind their vehicles

Traffic school graduates whose violations are dismissed by courts are more prone to be in another crash than other drivers

Volume 43, Number 4 • June 9, 2008

Teenage drivers continue to use cellphones despite a North Carolina ban

Roundabouts can be even safer with some simple changes like better signs, lights

Panel finds that redesigned airbags improve protection for children and adults

Smart Fortwo earns top ratings of good for protection in front and side crashes

Enhanced belt reminders are convincing drivers and front-seat passengers to buckle up, NHTSA says

Volume 43, Number 3 • April 17, 2008

A handful of vehicles have features that aim to avoid crashes altogether

Driver response to crash avoidance features

Which vehicles have what features?

Volume 43, Number 2 • March 15, 2008

Strength of the roofs on SUVs influences the risk of occupant injury in rollover crashes, new Institute study finds

ESC helps keep vehicles from rolling over, and side airbags protect people in the rollover crashes that still occur

Demonstration of strong vs. weak roofs shows why roof strength matters

Rollovers in which drivers died demonstrate need for strong roofs on SUVs

Seat/head restraints that earn good ratings, based on dynamic tests, reduce neck injury risk among drivers of rear-struck vehicles

Volume 43, Number 1 • January 31, 2008

Special issue: speed

Posting higher speed limits generally means more vehicles will go very fast, and faster speeds increase the frequency as well as the severity of crashes and help push up crash death rates

How posted limits affect speeds

Camera help lower speeds on Arizona freeway

Early results are promising in Maryland

Champagne, Notre Dame, et les radars

Insurance losses rise as automakers rev up horsepower