Sales of new cars across Europe fell by 9% in March 2009 compared with a year ago, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association.
It is the 11th month in a row that the sector has seen sales fall, but the figures were slightly better than expected, the association said.
It said government handouts encouraging motorists to trade in old cars for new ones had helped, especially in Germany.
Sales in Germany, Europe's largest car market, were up 39.9% in March.
But the increase there was not enough to compensate for big drops in new registrations in the UK and Spain. In the UK sales were down by 30.5% while in Spain sales sank 38.7%.
The increase in German sales has been triggered by a scheme that gives buyers cash if they scrap an old car to buy a new one.
Similar schemes are also running in France and Italy, where sales of new cars were also up in March.
Neither the UK nor Spain offer the incentive, although it has been predicted that the UK will announce a similar plan next week.
Tata Motors said it will launch its ultra-cheap Nano car in Mumbai on Monday — a vehicle meant to herald a revolution by making it possible for the world's poor to purchase their first car.
But few predict the snub-nosed Nano will be able to turn around the company, which has been beset by flagging sales and high debt, anytime soon.
The Nano, which is priced starting at about 100,000 rupees ($2,050), is a stripped-down car for stripped-down times: It is 10.2 feet (3.1 meters) long, has one windshield wiper, a 623cc rear engine, and a diminutive trunk, according to the company's Web site.
It does not have air bags or antilock brakes — neither of which is required in India — and if you want air conditioning, a radio, or power steering, you'll have to pay extra.
Tata Motors has been hard-hit by the global downturn. Commercial vehicle sales, its core business, have been decimated as India's growth slows, and consumers have had trouble getting affordable car loans.
The company declared a loss of 2.63 billion rupees ($54 million) for the October to December quarter, and it has been struggling to refinance the remaining $2 billion of a $3 billion loan it took to buy the Jaguar and Land Rover brands from Ford Motor Co. in June.
Even the launch of the Nano has been scaled back.
The car is arriving six months late because of violent protests by farmers and opposition political party leaders over land, which forced Tata to move its Nano factory from West Bengal to the business-friendly state of Gujarat.
Company officials have said it will take at least a year to complete the new factory, and until then, Tata will only be able to produce a limited number of Nanos from its other car plants in India.
Tata Motors hasn't yet given details on production volumes, but most analysts doubt the company will be able to make more than about 50,000 cars in the next year — a far cry from the 250,000 the company had planned to roll out initially.
Vaishali Jajoo, auto analyst at Mumbai's Angel Broking, said even if Tata Motors manages to sell 250,000 Nanos a year, it will only add 3 percent to the company's total revenues.
"That doesn't make a significant difference to the top line. And for the bottom line, it will take five to six years to break even," Jajoo said.
Still, in this new age of global thrift, the Nano sounds appealing to more than just the struggling farmers and petty businessmen across India that Tata initially had in mind for the car.
"What do you think the chances are that the Nano will come to America? Personally, I'd love one," Steven Smith, whose first car was a Volkswagen Dune Buggy, wrote recently on the Nano Facebook page.
Tata Motors unveiled the Tata Nano Europa, a slightly more robust version of the Indian model, at the Geneva Motor Show this month, with a planned launch of 2011. But the company has no plans to bring the Nano to America anytime soon.
Your chances of needing the services of a collision repair and refinishing facility are greater than you think. Whether it's from storm damage, rust and corrosion, acid rain and harsh sunlight, or an automobile accident outright, the risks are real. It's wise, then, to know how to select a body shop.
People often think "the insurance company will take care of it for me. In fact, it is your responsibility to choose who will do the repairs for you. This is not a choice that should be taken lightly.
I. Preliminaries
Start shopping for a body shop before you need one; you can make better decisions when you are not rushed or in a panic.
Ask friends and associates for their recommendations. Even in this high-tech era, old-fashioned word-of-mouth reputation is still valuable.
Check with your local consumer organization regarding the reputation of the facility in question. Ask about the number of complaints, if any, and determine how the complaints were resolved.
Try to visit the shop before making the decision on who will repair your vehicle.
II. At the Shop
Ask if the shop customarily handles your vehicle make and model. Ask how long the shop has been in business.
Look for a neat, well-organized facility with modern equipment. Many vehicle manufacturers recommend specific repair procecures and equipment for the repair of their vehicles. Ensure that the facility you choose is trained in these procedures and has the proper equipment.
Professionally run establish meets will have a courteous staff willing to answer all of your questions.
Look for signs of professionalism in the customer service area: civic and community service awards, membership in the Better Business Bureau, Blue Seal of Excellence Recognition Program status, customer service awards.
Are you impressed by the type of vehicles the company is repairing and the way the vehicles are being handled?
Look for signs that the staff is technically competent, such as trade school diplomas, certificates of advanced course work training from I-CAR (the Inter-Industry ASE Conference on Auto Collision Repair). Also look for ASE certifications—a national standard of technician competence.
Policies, guarantees, and methods of payment should be posted or explained.
RECARO is recalling these convertible child safety seats because the central front adjuster strap on some seats may slip within the metal adjuster (A-Lock) that controls the tightness of the harness straps, thereby preventing those straps from being tightened enough to properly secure a child in the seat. The affected models include RECARO Signo seats manufactured from February through September 2008.
RECARO will replace any defective seat free of charge. For more information, owners may contact the company's customer service department at 1-888-473-2290 or visit its website at www.recaro.com.
In addition, parents and caregivers are urged to sign up with NHTSA to automatically receive updates about child seat recalls via email. The agency's research shows that fewer than half of all affected consumers respond to child seat recalls.
For the first time, EPA is proposing to set emission limits for formaldehyde, benzene, acrolein and other air toxics from certain stationary diesel and gas-fired engines. In 2008, over 1 million of these engines generated electricity, powered equipment and operated during emergencies at industrial, agricultural and other facilities. The proposed limits would apply to engines located at smaller sources of air toxics.
For major sources of air toxics, this rule would only apply to engines that are:
Smaller than or equal to 500 horsepower that were constructed or reconstructed before June 12, 2006, or
Larger than or equal to 500 horsepower that were constructed or reconstructed before December 19, 2002.
To meet the proposed emissions requirements, owners and operators of these engines would need to install "after treatment" controls, such as filters or catalysts, to engine exhaust systems.
EPA estimates that this rule would reduce air toxics emissions by 13,000 tons per year, particle pollution by 2,600 tons and carbon monoxide emissions by 510,000 tons, when fully implemented in 2013.
The public comment period will be open for 60 days upon publication in the Federal Register.
The companies are Active Spectrum, Inc. of Amherst, N.H., Fuss & O'Neill of Manchester, Conn. and Ion Signature Technology, Inc. of North Smithfield, R.I. The grants were issued under EPA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.
Active Spectrum, Inc. has been awarded $69,807 to develop its proposed sensor for monitoring of particulate emissions in diesel exhaust gases. This would be a new, low-cost soot sensor for on-board measurement of soot emissions in diesel exhaust gases. The proposed technology is differentiated from existing methods because of its exceptional sensitivity, high specificity to carbon particulates, and strength against deterioration by accumulated soot. Potential commercial applications of the real-time sensor include diesel emissions reductions by the control of the engine timing in response to sensor readings. Having active control of the engine timing to reduce soot will create a new or additional technique to meet emissions standards for particulate matter beyond conventional approaches using diesel particulates filters. Industrial applications include real-time monitoring of particulate emissions from boilers, power plants, and marine diesel engines.
Fuss & O'Neill will receive $70,000 for the development of electricity generation from anaerobic wastewater treatment in microbial fuel fells. New research with Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) technology has demonstrated an ability to extract chemical energy contained in wastewater and convert it to electrical power. Chemical energy extracted from wastewater carbohydrates has the potential, in theory, to convert wastewater treatment plants from huge power users to sources of electrical power. This effort is proposed to bring to market MFC technology which could have a radically positive effect on a huge energy-consuming industry in the U.S. It also achieves three of EPA's goals for wastewater facilities: reducing energy requirements, better managing energy use, and the cost-effective production and recover of green power. This technology has the potential to generate sufficient power to operate a host treatment facility without adding or requiring additional energy – in short, it would have the potential to achieve environmental goals in an energy self-sufficient manner.
Ion Signature Technology will receive $69,989for the development of an In Situ thermal extraction detection system (TEDS) for rapid, accurate, quantitative analysis of environmental pollutants in the subsurface.
The goal of this technology is to provide data to better manage pollution site investigations and cleanup. TEDS would create a collection and analysis system that retrieves soil-bound pollutants as well as soluble and non soluble contaminants from groundwater. When the system is commercialized, it will "sniff" for the presence of pollutants; identify the pollutant, its location and quantity. This process will create conceptual models that depict the location and rate of movement of the pollution. The end result of this process also reduces the regular costs of pollution remediation.
Approximately 25 million small businesses in the United States employ more than 50 percent of the American workforce and develop most of the country's new technologies. SBIR was Three New England-based companies will share nearly $210,000 from EPA for the research and development of green technology. established to ensure that new technologies are developed to solve priority environmental problems, and is just one example of EPA's commitment to achieving real world environmental results through the use of innovative technology.
Since its inception in 1982, EPA's SBIR program has helped fund more than 600 small businesses through its two-phased approach. Phase I awards are used to investigate the scientific merit and technical feasibility of a proposed concept. If the results of this phase are successful, businesses can submit proposals for Phase II contracts, which can reach amounts up to $345,000. These three New England companies are receiving grant money for Phase I research.
The 2008 Federal Radionavigation Plan (FRP) has been released by the U.S. Departments of Transportation, Defense, and Homeland Security. Published jointly by the three departments, the plan describes federal policy for operating and regulating common-use radionavigation systems with the goal of improving both national security and the safety and efficiency of the nation's transportation system.
The federal government operates radionavigation systems such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) to enable safe transportation and encourage commerce within the United States. The FRP outlines the policy and plan for operating federal radionavigation systems used in positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) applications and suggests how existing systems may be consolidated and improved. It also aims to strengthen the mix of civil and military systems that will advance the nation's transportation infrastructure by increasing its capacity to move people and products safely and efficiently.
Systems addressed in the plan include: GPS and GPS Augmentations; Long Range Navigation (Loran); Very High Frequency (VHF) Omni-directional Range (VOR); Distance Measuring Equipment (DME); Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN); Instrument Landing System (ILS); Microwave Landing System (MLS); and Aeronautical Nondirectional Radiobeacons (NDB).
The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is advising travelers to prepare for a clipper system that will be moving into the state from the northwest around midday today and continue east/southeast across the state through Friday night.
The diagonal direction of the storm is expected to bring:
5 to 7 inches of snow in portions of the northeast (northeast of a line extending from Mason City southeast to Clinton).
3 to 6 inches of snow around Algona, Iowa Falls, Fort Dodge, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Davenport, and Muscatine.
1 to 3 inches of snow around Spencer, Storm Lake, Ames, Des Moines, Ottumwa, Fairfield, Burlington and Keokuk.
None to 1/2 inch of snow in the southwest and parts of the northwest.
Strong northwesterly winds will develop behind this system with areas of blowing snow possible before winds subside by late afternoon Saturday. Expect limited visibility in areas that receive snow, especially when winds reach up to 40 mph during the overnight hours.
Motorists are reminded to prepare for the unexpected during winter storms.
Buckle up, everyone in all seating positions.
Check road and weather conditions before making your trip.
High-speed rail corridors and intercity passenger rail service will gain significant new funding under a measure of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which President Barack Obama signed on February 17. The act provides $8 billion for the Federal Railroad Administration to provide capital assistance to such rail projects, placing priority on projects that support intercity high-speed rail service. The act also provides $1.3 billion to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, better known as Amtrak, with the majority of funds going toward the repair, rehabilitation, or upgrade of passenger rail assets or infrastructure, and for capital projects that expand passenger rail capacity.
Transit in general gains significantly under the economic stimulus act, which allocates $6.9 billion to the Federal Transit Administration for capital assistance grants. The act directs $100 million of those funds to help public transit agencies reduce their energy consumption and their greenhouse gas emissions, with priority given to those projects that save the most energy. An additional $750 million is provided by the act to support infrastructure investments in "fixed guideway" systems. A fixed guideway refers to any transit service that uses exclusive or controlled rights-of-way or rails, entirely or in part, running the gamut from heavy rail to high-occupancy vehicle lanes. Another $750 million is available for grants to "New Starts" and "Small Starts" projects, which include fixed guideway systems, system extensions, and bus corridor improvements. The act also provides $1.5 billion in supplemental discretionary grants for capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure, which could include transit systems.
Experts in transportation safety, veterans' health and medical care, and public health are identifying gaps in current knowledge and developing a strategic plan for addressing key research questions, in fields ranging from epidemiology to psychology and biomechanics.
Participants in the strategic planning process include scientists and policy officials from VA, DOT, DOD and Department of Health and Human Services, as well as non-governmental experts. The resulting strategic plan will lay out research needs and identify priorities for the initiative.
The safe-driving initiative strives to increase awareness of motor vehicle crashes among veterans and the importance of safe driving, seatbelt and helmet usage, and other measures. To reach out to veterans and their families, VA will create a national educational program using the Department's network of medical centers, community clinics, drop-in counseling centers (Vet Centers), and veterans benefits offices.
The initiative will also include outreach to mobilize national veterans service organizations; the nation's governors and state police, safety officers, and state highway safety officials; and the private sector - including employers; automobile, motorcycle and sports vehicle dealers and manufacturers; the motor vehicle insurance industry; and driving and motorcycle racing enthusiasts' organizations. NASCAR legend and safe driving advocate, Richard Petty, will also be an active partner in the initiative.
According to the Department of Transportation, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for all Americans between the ages of eight through 34. Men constitute about 70 percent of all traffic deaths. In the past decade, both deaths and injuries from motor vehicle crashes have gone down in the United States, due to increases in seat-belt use and decreases in alcohol involvement, among other factors.
The manufacturer of the world's fastest production car, the 1,287-horsepower Ultimate Aero, has developed an all-electric powertrain for the vehicle. Shelby SuperCars (SSC) has no relation to the legendary automotive designer Carroll Shelby, but it earned respect in the automotive world in 2007 when it set a record by driving its Ultimate Aero Twin Turbo at an average top speed of 256.18 miles per hour (it's an "average" top speed because the car must be driven down the same road in opposite directions, and its top speeds from both passes are averaged to remove any advantages of wind speed or road inclination). Despite the company's fascination with large, powerful engines, it's also a true believer in electric technologies, and it is building the Ultimate Aero EV to prove the electric vehicles provide more linear power and overall performance that internal combustion cars.
The Ultimate Aero EV drivetrain will feature twin motors capable of producing 1,000 horsepower and 800 pound-feet of torque, enabling it to rocket to 60 miles per hour in 2.5 seconds, reaching a top speed of 208 miles per hour. The system will have a range of 150-200 miles, but its onboard charging system will allow for full battery recharges in as little as 10 minutes. The car will feature a three-speed automatic transmission, and the entire electric drivetrain will be liquid-cooled, allowing it to be run full-out for extended periods of time without overheating. (You can be sure that the BBC's "Top Gear" boys will be testing that claim soon.) SSC plans to roll out its first full-scale, pre-production Ultimate Aero EV by mid-2009 and deliveries to customers may start before the end of the year. And to follow on the success of its Ultimate Aero, the company also hopes to claim the title of "World's Fastest Production Electric Car."
Average domestic air fares in the third quarter of 2008 reached $362, the highest level of average fares for any quarter in the 13 years measured by available data, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported.
Average domestic air fares in the third quarter of 2008 were up 10.4 percent from the third quarter of 2007 in the largest year-to-year increase since the second quarter of 2006, and average fares increased 7.4 percent above the previous July-to-September high set in 2000. The third-quarter 2008 average fare was up 22.0 percent from the post-9/11 third-quarter low of $297 in 2004.
Average fares increased 25.8 percent from the third quarter of 1995 to the third quarter of 2008 compared to a cumulative 42.8 percent inflation rate. Third quarter 2008 fares increased 10.4 percent from the third quarter of 2007 compared to a 4.9 percent inflation rate.
Of the top 100 airports based on originating passengers, the highest third-quarter average fares were in Cincinnati; followed by Knoxville, TN; Greenville/Spartanburg, SC; Grand Rapids, MI; and Madison, WI. The lowest fares in the top 100 airports were at Dallas Love; followed by Orlando, FL; Burbank, CA; Long Beach, CA; and Islip, NY. See the BTS Air Fare web page for average fares for the top 100 airports.
The largest year-to-year average fare increases for the third quarter among the 100 largest airports, ranked by 2007 originating passengers, was 26.8 percent in Minneapolis/St. Paul; followed by Islip, NY; Chicago Midway; Knoxville, TN; and Columbus, OH.
The biggest year-to-year average decrease was 4.8 percent in Long Beach, CA; followed by Burlington, VT; Salt Lake City, UT; Atlanta; and San Antonio, TX.
The largest average fare increase from the third quarter of 1995 was 212.0 percent at Dallas Love, followed by Lubbock, TX; Colorado Springs, CO; El Paso, TX; and Houston Hobby
The largest average fare decrease from the third quarter of 1995 to the third quarter of 2007 was 39.0 percent in White Plains, NY. The other top five average fare decreases over this period took place at Manchester, NH; Akron/Canton, OH; Providence, RI; and Newburgh, NY.
The nation's largest airlines had a higher rate of on-time flights this past November than in the same month last year, although the rate of delays was higher than in October 2008, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
According to information filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of DOT's Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), the 19 carriers reporting on-time performance recorded an overall on-time arrival rate of 83.3 percent in November, an improvement over November 2007's 80.0 percent but below October 2008's 86.0 percent.
The monthly report also includes data on lengthy tarmac delays, flight cancellations and the causes of flight delays by the reporting carriers, as well as information on reports of mishandled baggage filed with the carriers and consumer service, disability and discrimination complaints received by DOT's Aviation Consumer Protection Division. This report also includes reports of incidents involving pets traveling by air, as required to be filed by U.S. carriers.
The Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) has introduced a new name and logo for its Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) program that better represents the full potential of the initiative. The new name, IntelliDriveSM, still refers to innovations that offer drivers greater situational awareness of events, potential threats, and imminent hazards within their vehicle’s environment, but now encompasses a broader suite of potential technologies and capabilities than the original notion of VII.
Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was 2.1 percent lower in October 2008 than in October 2007, reaching $72.7 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico rose 1.2 percent in October from September. Month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors.
Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline. About 88 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moves on land.
The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in October was up 38.8 percent compared to October 2003, and up 74.9 percent compared to October 1998, a period of 10 years. Imports in October were up 75 percent compared to October 1998, while exports were up 74.8 percent.
U.S. Surface Transportation Trade with Canada U.S.–Canada surface transportation trade totaled $44.8 billion in October, down 6.1 percent compared to October 2007. The value of imports carried by truck was 17.5 percent lower in October 2008 compared to October 2007, while the value of exports carried by truck was 9.5 percent lower.
Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada in October with $5.3 billion.
U.S. Surface Transportation Trade with Mexico U.S.– Mexico surface transportation trade totaled $27.9 billion in October, up 5.1 percent compared to October 2007. The value of imports carried by truck was 5.9 percent lower in October 2008 than October 2007 while the value of exports carried by truck was 18.4 percent higher.
Texas led all states in surface trade with Mexico in October with $9.0 billion.
Most people are aware that vehicle exhaust causes air pollution, commonly referred to as smog. Pollutants such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and particulates (black soot) are released from the exhaust and affect the quality of the air we breathe. Driving a car also contributes to another environmental problem: the greenhouse effect.
About the label The Fuel Consumption Label is an Australian Government initiative to promote consumer demand for vehicles with good fuel efficiency and lower greenhouse impact. All new vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass sold in Australia, regardless of fuel or body type, are required to have a Fuel Consumption Label on the front windscreen. This includes passenger cars, four wheel drives and light commercial vehicles.
The label indicates how many litres of fuel a vehicle will use to travel 100 kilometres and how many grams of carbon dioxide the vehicle would emit for each kilometre. The rating is based on a standard test procedure so you can reliably compare the performance of different models under identical conditions.
The lower the numbers, the better the vehicle.
Encouraging consumer preferences toward vehicles of greater fuel efficiency will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport. In addition, introducing mandatory CO2 labelling will raise consumer awareness of the role fuel efficient vehicles play in helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the relative impacts of different fuel types.
It should be noted that, while the fuel label provides standard fuel consumption and CO2 figures for comparing different vehicles, it should only be regarded as a guide. You may experience different results when actually driving the vehicle because the fuel consumption of a particular vehicle will depend on what traffic conditions it is driven in, how you drive the vehicle and how well the vehicle is maintained.
With motor vehicle crashes being a leading cause of deaths among combat veterans during the first years after their return home, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of Defense (DOD) are working together to reduce these accidents.
The government announced the creation of a new program designed to identify needed research involving recently returned veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan and to increase awareness of the importance of safe driving among newly-demobilized veterans.
Experts in transportation safety, veterans' health and medical care, and public health are identifying gaps in current knowledge and developing a strategic plan for addressing key research questions, in fields ranging from epidemiology to psychology and bio mechanics.
Participants in the strategic planning process include scientists and policy officials from VA, DOT, DOD and Department of Health and Human Services, as well as non-governmental experts. The resulting strategic plan will lay out research needs and identify priorities for the initiative.
The safe-driving initiative strives to increase awareness of motor vehicle crashes among veterans and the importance of safe driving, seatbelt and helmet usage, and other measures. To reach out to veterans and their families, VA will create a national educational program using the Department's network of medical centers, community clinics, drop-in counseling centers (Vet Centers), and veterans benefits offices.
The initiative will also include outreach to mobilize national veterans service organizations; the nation's governors and state police, safety officers, and state highway safety officials; and the private sector - including employers; automobile, motorcycle and sports vehicle dealers and manufacturers; the motor vehicle insurance industry; and driving and motorcycle racing enthusiasts' organizations.
According to the Department of Transportation, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for all Americans between the ages of eight through 34. Men constitute about 70 percent of all traffic deaths. In the past decade, both deaths and injuries from motor vehicle crashes have gone down in the United States, due to increases in seat-belt use and decreases in alcohol involvement, among other factors.
Nonetheless, motor vehicle accidents remain a major concern in the military and among veterans as the greatest cause of accidental fatalities. Several studies have reported an increase in post-deployment deaths among military personnel who served in a combat zone compared to their non-deployed counterparts, who are in the military but not deployed to a war, after both the Vietnam War and the 1991 Gulf War. Preliminary evidence also indicates this is the case with veterans from the Global War on Terror.
Road traffic accidents takes lives of more than one million people a year, injuring another thirty-eight million (5 million of them seriously).The death rate of the world's roadways makes driving the number one cause of injury and death for young people ages 15 to 44 years.
How safe is that a used or a new automobile you are thinking of purchasing? With the inventions of the airbags and crash testing, the numbers of citizens injured and killed by vehicles has decreased in many nations.
A crash test is a form of destructive testing usually performed in order to ensure safe design standards in Crashworthiness and crash compatibility for automobiles or related components.
The Crash tests are done under very careful safety and scientific standards. Every crash test is very costly so the maximum amount of data must be got from each and every test. Typically, this requires the usage of high-speed data-acquisition, atleast one accelerometer and crash test dummies.
Two types of crash tests are been performed on each automobile – one is an offset frontal test and the other is side impact test. These tests suggest two of the most common crashes that occur on our roads.
Dummies are used to calculate the level of injury that would affect the front seat occupants wearing the safety belts in these crashes.
The crash-rating dummy represents an average-sized adult is been placed in the driver seat and rear passenger seats and secured with the vehicle's seat belts.
The mandatory standard for crash tests is to:
Reduce the level of risk to drivers, passengers and publicby preventing supply of dummies that do not meet key safety requirements.
Reduce the incidence of serious injury associated with poor quality products.
Give consumers confidence that dummies available in the market have
a reasonable level of safety.
Provide a framework for industry to determine appropriate levels of safety for dummies.
