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American Coalition for Traffic Safety Statement Regarding Sport Utility Vehicle Crash Tests

2 March 1998

Statement by Phil Haseltine, President American Coalition for Traffic Safety Regarding Sport Utility Vehicle Crash Tests

    ARLINGTON, Va., March 2 -- While some media reports are
giving the impression that thousands of motorists are being killed after being
run into by large sport utility vehicles (SUVs), government statistics show
just the opposite, involvement of SUVs is quite low.
    The American Coalition for Traffic Safety (ACTS) reviewed data from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Fatal Analysis
Reporting System (FARS) for 1996.  The review showed that of 33,811 vehicles
involved in multiple vehicle fatal crashes, only 1.3 percent were large sport
utility vehicles and 4.4 percent were compact SUVs.
    NHTSA is currently conducting preliminary crash tests with light trucks
and small cars and has invited media to observe a test today of an SUV
crashing into a smaller passenger vehicle.  While it may be useful for the
media to see examples of vehicle research, it is important to remember that
test results won't be known for several days.
    It is equally important for the media to convey to the American public
that today's test is but one small part of the research being conducted by the
auto industry and the government and that no conclusions can be drawn about
the relative safety of either of the vehicles involved.  On any given day, a
dozen or more crash tests are conducted in industry and government test labs.
    While there is much to be learned about the interactions of light trucks
and other vehicles in crashes, there is irrefutable evidence, that (all other
things being equal) occupants in larger, heavier vehicles suffer less severe
injuries in crashes than occupants in smaller vehicles.
    A 1997 NHTSA study found that one way to reduce fatalities in crashes
involving light trucks and passenger cars is to add weight to the passenger
car. The study showed that 302 lives could be saved annually by a 100 pound
increase in passenger car weight.

SOURCE  American Coalition for Traffic Safety