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Buying a Safer Car
Buying a Safer Car can help consumers confidently identify the safest vehicles.
Information is provided to help determine which automobiles offer the most protection from
injury and death during a frontal or side collision and to identify those vehicles most
frequently stolen.
This brochure represents no endorsement of any particular vehicle. Information was
obtained from government agencies and vehicle manufacturers.
The guide is current as of Jan. 31, 1995.
USING THE GUIDE
Charts contain safety feature information, results from frontal crash tests and theft
ratings.
Safety feature information covers driver and passenger air bags, anti-lock brakes,
adjustable shoulder belt anchors for more comfortable safety-belt fit and, for passenger
cars, improved side-impact protection.
Features are shown as: S-standard equipment on all vehicles in that car line; N - not
available on any vehicle int hat car line; or A - available on some vehicles in that car
line.
Crash testing is expensive, so all vehicles cannot be tested every year. Cars, light
trucks, sport utility vehicles and vans that are new, popular, redesigned or have improved
safety equipment are selected for testing and bought from dealers.
Additional results for current models will be released at intervals throughout the
year. These vehicles are identified in the Crash Tests column as "to be tested." For
crash-test data on other vehicles tested since 1979, call Auto Safety Hotline: (800)424-
9393.
SAFETY SELLS
Auto-related deaths and injuries place a heacy load on society. In addition to
causing grief and suffering, vehicle crashes add billions of dollars to the cost of health
care and vehicle insurance.
Each year, some 40,000 Americans lose their lives in motor vehicle collisions. one
in 8.5 drivers is involved in an automobile collision and one out of nine hospital beds is
occupied by a victim of an auto-related incident.
Despite these grim statistics, the rate of traffic deaths per million miles driven is
steadily declining. Safer cars get partial credit for the encouraging trend. Each new
model must meet safety standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration.
As the car-buying public becomes increasingly interested in safety, manufacturers,
are offering automotive safety features beyond NHTSA's minimium requirements. Though not
yet required by law, features such as dual air bags increase a vehicle's sales appeal.
SAFETY FIRST
No automobile is 100 percent safe or collision-proof. An experienced and unimpaired
driver is the most important safety features in any car. Never drive when you are:
Influenced by drugs or alcohol.
Ill or emotionally upset.
Fatigued - especially around your normal bedtime.
Keep your car in safe operating condition. Carefully read the owner's manual that
comes with your car and follow the manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule.
Visually inspect tires, lights and fluid levels at each refueling. Make sure your spare
tire is inflated and pack a first-aid kit and flares in your trunk.
Make sure every person in your vehicle buckles up.
Correct and consistent use of safety belts is the best safety measure you can adopt.
BUYING TIPS
In 1994, the average cost of a car in the United States was $18,000. For a financial
decision of this magnitude, consumers need to be prepared when they enter the showroom.
Do some research. Check buying guides to narrow your choice in models and options.
Buying guides also help pinpoint prices.
Make safety a priority. Safety features such as air bags, anti-lock brake systems
and side-impact protection should be tops of your list. Also check for important safety
elements such as a right side mirror or a three-point safety belt system that has
adjustable shoulder belt anchors.
A weighty decision. Crash data show that heavy cars offer more protection than light
cars equipped with the same safety features.
Simple safety checks. During your test drive, make sure that head restraints, roof
structure or windshield designs do not interfere with your visibility. Look for interior
designs that avoid control knobs sticking out of the dash to reduce chance of injury.
Check out clones. Clones are nearly identical models built on the same platform and
marketed under a different nameplate. Prices and options vary. You could come out ahead
buying the high-end model - with standard ABS and dual air bags - instead of the low-end
model with those options added.
Shop around. Negotiate prices or enlist the help of a buying service. Investigate
financing options at the dealer and your bank or credit union. And check the fine print:
Does the contract include credit insurance, which may be available under an existing
policy you have?
Scrutinize service contracts. Does the warranty period overlap the service agreement
period? What repairs are covered and who can perform them? What is the cancellation and
refund policy?
VEHICLE RATINGS
The Importance of Crash Testing
Since 1979, NHTSA has been crash-testing vehicles through its New Car Assessment
Program. Crash-test results determine how well vehicles protect belted drivers and front-
seat passengers during a frontal collision.
During the crash test, dummies are placed in driver and front passenger seats.
Instruments measure the force of impact to each dummy's head, chest and legs. Tests use
all available restraints.
Federal safety standards require all passenger cars meet injury criteria measured in
a 30 mph frontal crash. NCAP tests are conducted at 35 mph to make the difference between
vehicles more apparent. Tests simulate damage equivalent to a head-on collision between
two identical vehicles, each moving at 35 mph. This is the same as a vehicle moving at 70
mph striking an identical parked vehicle.
Interpreting NCAP Crash-Testing Ratings
NHTSA recently revised NCAP crash-testing ratings to make them easier for consumers
to understand. A five-star rating indicates the best protection and one star the least.
Crash-test ratings are meaningful only when comparing vehicles in the same weight
class. Results do not reflect the extent to which an occupant in a light weight vehicle
could be injured in a collision with a heavier vehicle.
1995 NEW CAR SAFETY FEATURES
Manufacturers provide buyers the most complete information about standard or optional
safety equipment on their vehicles. Listed below are features that are especially
important.
Air Bags. Air Bags instantly inflate in frontal crashes at speeds as low as 15 mph.
They are designed to prevent occupants from hitting the dashboard, steering wheel or
windshield. Driver and front passenger air bags will be standard equipment in all model
year 1998 cars and all model year 1999 light trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles.
Many vehicles are already equipped with this important feature.
Front air bags do not eliminate the need for safety belts and they offer no
protection in rollovers, rear or side impacts. Safety belts help keep you in place should
a collision occur.
Caution: Never use a rear-facing child safety seat in a front seat equipped with a
passenger-side air bag. As the air bag opens, it may exert too much force on the safety
seat and injure the child.
Anti-lock Brakes. Anti-lock brake systems prevent a vehicle's wheels from locking up
during "panic" braking by automatically pumping brakes several times per second. This
allows the driver to retain steering control as the vehicle slows - a key factor in
avoiding a collision.
Even with ABS, hydroplaning and skidding can be caused by excessive speed or extreme
steering maneuvers. Be sure to read your owner's manual for more information about ABS.
Safety Belt Systems. Safety belt systems are your best protection in a crash. They
prevent you from colliding with the dash or windshield and hold you inside the vehicle.
Whether manual or automatic, safety belts are most effective if adjusted properly.
All safety belts should be pulled tightly across the pelvis. Some systems also offer
adjustable anchors that change the height of the shoulder strap to improve belt fit.
Check the manufacturer's instructions to properly adjust safety belts in your car.
Side-Impact Protection. Side-impact crashes are the second leading cause of death
and injury to passenger car occupants. At least 25 percent of 1995 passenger cars must be
equipped to protect the front and rear occupants during a simulated 30 mph side-impact
crash. The government requires all 1997 passenger cars have this protection. Many new
models provide this protection ahead of the required schedule.
Manufacturers can choose from a number of features to fulfill this requirement -
including extra structure, energy-absorbing foam, door panel or seat-mounted air bags - as
long as the vehicle passes occupant protection requirements.
THEFT RATINGS
Theft ratings are compiled from information provided by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation and vehicle manufacturers. NHTSA calculates a theft rate for each vehicle
based on the number of vehicles tolen and the number of vehicles manufactured. Based on
1992 data, which is the latest information available, a mid-point theft rate was
calculated. Vehicles with theft rates above or below that value was noted in the chart.
NHTSA requires manufacturers to mark targeted vehicle parts with the vehicle
identification number or provide a NHTSA-approved anti-theft device as standard equipment.
Many insurance companies offer discounts of 5 percent to 20 percent of the
comprehensive portion of insurance premiums for vehicles equipped with an anti-theft
device. Be sure to ask your insurance company if it offers all discounts for an anti-
theft device.
Contact NHTSA at (800) 424-9393 for specific information on vehicle theft ratings.
.