Legal News

Online Auto Safety Database Made Public

For the first time, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is making vehicle safety data available to the public via a searchable database, as part of a court order and legislation from Congress. The NHTSA's new Early Warning Reporting (EWR) search engine gives consumers access to information and statistics on death, injury and property damage claims (including lawsuits) that have been submitted to vehicle manufacturers.

The Los Angeles Times points out that the "long-awaited" release of manufacturer safety information does not include data on tires (or child restraint devices) and calls this omission "glaring, because it was a series of fatal rollovers involving Firestone tires that led to the passage of the reporting law eight years ago and the creation of the database." According to Reuters, "[t]he newly released documents contain little or no context and their value to individual consumers is unclear," but "consumer and safety groups now have easier access to raw safety figures, which may enable them to sharpen their arguments and spot trends."

• Early Warning Reporting ? Data Search (NHTSA)
• NHTSA Information on Release of EWR Data [PDF file]
• Los Angeles Times: Released Car-Accident Material Lacks Crucial Information
• Reuters: 'Early Warning' Auto Safety Data Made Public
• Detroit News: Vehicles Database Goes Online
• Motor Vehicle Defects and Recalls (FindLaw)
• Vehicle Manufacturer Information (FindLaw)
• Buying a Car: Information and Tools (FindLaw)

Full post as published by FindLaw's Common Law on September 12, 2008 (boomark / email).