Safety Issue Reviews and Chronologies

History of Electronic Stability Control

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is now being recognized as one of the most important safety features since the introduction of seat belts. ESC, known by a host of names like Stabilitrak, Vehicle Stability Program, Electronic Stability Program, etc., work by using ABS brakes as a foundation and with the addition of sensors measure steering wheel angle, yaw rate, acceleration and turning force. Software algorithms interpret the sensor data and determine whether the vehicle is traveling the way it should given the driver input. If not, the system automatically activates the brakes on one or more wheels or activates the throttle slightly to bring the car back in line.

Because rollovers are frequently preceded by evasive maneuvers--particularly steering and braking--ESC provides the ability to avoid the loss of control and prevent subsequent rollover. By preventing loss of control, manufacturers not only can prevent on-road rolls, they can significantly reduce the number of off-road rolls by making their vehicles more controllable.

SRS traces the history and development, implementation, and effects of this technology from the 1980s through current based on technical literature, supplier and OE marketing, testing, government reports and statistical studies. This historical overview answers the who, what, when, where, and why of this technology which was introduced into production vehicles as early as 1991.

Tire Aging Chronology

The dangers associated with “aged” tires are hidden beneath the tread surface and in many instances tires show no visible signs of degradation meanwhile internal adhesion levels have dropped to dangerous levels increasing the chances of tread-belt separation. Safety Research & Strategies researched technical, marketing, and government materials worldwide related to the effects of aging on tire tread-belt separations.

Roof Strength Chronology

Safety Research & Strategies Roof Strength Chronology includes a complete history of NHTSA rulemaking and manufacturer input, important technical/medical literature, and core manufacturer's documents and deposition testimony. Chronologies can be specified to include specific manufacturer’s materials, which provide additional insight into their position, testing, and involvement in the roof strength debate.

The Chronology begins with the early tenants of crash safety--the safety cage concept and survival space; how the federal roof strength standard developed; why it is not a good predictor of roof crush in rollover crashes; restraint system contributions; various testing methods used in the industry; manufacturer's internal, public, and litigation positions, as well as the opinions of their sponsored experts.

The Hazards of Lap-Only Belts

Studies regarding the hazards posed by lap-only belts date back more than 30 years. Safety Research & Strategies reviews and summarizes these studies and the technical literature that addresses dangers of lap-only belts and the various injury mechanisms caused by these systems.

The Development of Center Position Lap-Shoulder Belts

 Safety Research & Strategies traces the developments that led to the implementation of middle position lap-shoulder belts, including which vehicles were equipped with the feature and when worldwide, government rulemaking activities, and Congressional intervention. This chronology can be combined with The Hazards of Lap-Only Belts.

Child Restraint Misuse

Child restraint "misuse" encompasses improper child seat-to-vehicle and child-to-child seat, has been widely recognized for 20 years as the most significant problem associated with child restraints and proper child occupant protection. High misuse rates are caused by a wide range of vehicle and child restraint manufacturer failures, including poor instructions and poor designs. The rate of misuse consistently average more than 70 percent and are a frequent cause of injuries to children in motor vehicle collisions. Safety Research & Strategies reviewed and summarized more than 20 years of published literature that documents the various types of child restraint misuse, manufacturer knowledge, and potential solutions—including programs offered to overseas consumers.

Chronology of Adjustable Pedal Controls

Adjustable pedal controls help to keep short-statured drivers away from deploying airbags and allow vehicle manufacturers the ability to limit forward seat track travel. The development of these low-tech, cost-effective devices is chronicled through our review of technical literature, patents, manufacturers' marketing materials, owner's manuals, trade publications, and NHTSA dockets. The chronology includes documents showing that manufacturers have acknowledged the safety benefits of adjustable pedal designs to the drivers of air bag-equipped vehicles.

The focus of the chronology is on vehicle manufacturers, suppliers, and designs for automotive and light truck application. The technical literature includes articles related to both prototype and production designs; while the manufacturers' marketing materials, owner's manuals, and articles from trade publications discuss adjustable pedal designs in production vehicles dating back more than 20 years. Also included are manufacturers' comments to NHTSA concerning adjustable pedals.