Kansas City Personal Injury Lawyer - Automobile Accidents

Toyota Recall: Unanswered Questions

Brett Emison — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:55:57 GMT

Toyota announced in September that it would recall 3.8 million vehicles in the United States for problem that caused thousands of it vehicles to suddenly accelerate out of control. The recall involved some of Toyota's most popular models, including the Camry, Prius and the Tacoma and Tundra pickup trucks.

Toyota said it was still working with officials with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to find a remedy to fix the problem and said owners could be notified about the recall as early as next week.

Toyota has continually said its sudden acceleration problem was related to floor mat incompatibility only. However, safety regulators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ("NHTSA") sharply criticized Toyota for misleading the public about Toyota's sudden acceleration defect.

Toyota has known about the sudden acceleration issue since at least 2004. More than five years ago, the Center for Auto Safety reported that Toyota's sudden acceleration problem may be caused by an electronic throttle control in Toyota vehicles. However, Toyota has repeatedly refused to even consider the possibility.

Why hasn't Toyota done a full investigation of its electronic throttle control system? If the unintended acceleration problem is cause only by floor mats, why are customers without floor mats in their vehicle experiencing the same problem?

Toyota is on track to place more than 7 million vehicles on the road this year. Toyota has ignored this problem for far too long and needs to fix it before its too late.

You can learn more about the Toyota sudden acceleration defect by reading these previous reports of Toyota's sudden acceleration problem:

Toyota Denied Sudden Acceleration Problem For More Than 5 Years

"Inaccurate and Misleading" Statements On Toyota Sudden Acceleration Problem

Toyota Sudden Acceleration: Case Is Not Closed

Safety Group Responds To Toyota On Sudden Acceleration Defect

Toyota Has More Troubles Than Just Sudden Acceleration

You can learn more about Toyota's dangerous sudden acceleration defect at our auto safety blog or by visiting our web site.

Learn more and become a fan of Langdon & Emison on Facebook.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison

Toyota Posts Profit in 2Q

Brett Emison — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:20:24 GMT

The Wall Street Journal has reported that Toyota made nearly $250 million in profit for the fiscal second quarter ended September 30.

TOKYO— Toyota Motor Corp. posted a surprise quarterly profit on Thursday and became the latest Japanese auto maker to offer an improved outlook for the rest of the year, as cost-cutting and government car-buying incentives look to lift its prospects after nine months of losses.

***

The maker of the Corolla, the Prius hybrid and the upscale Lexus brand reported a net profit of 21.84 billion yen ($241.1 million) in the fiscal second quarter ended Sept. 30. . . .

***

The auto maker also released an improved forecast for the fiscal year ending in March, citing such factors as better-than-expected progress in cost-cutting measures and stronger sales on the back of government steps to spur demand for fuel-efficient cars.

Toyota's profitable quarter comes despite increased scrutiny from federal regulators, the media and Toyota's own customers over concerns that Toyota and Lexus vehicles suffer a dangerous safety defect that allows Toyota vehicles to suddenly or unexpectedly accelerate out of control. Toyota was publicly criticized by federal regulators this week over Toyota's misleading statements about the sudden acceleration issue.

Toyota has consistently blamed the sudden acceleration issue on incompatible floor mats, and has issued a recall of 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles because of the problem. However, federal regulators with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ("NHTSA") have not yet closed their investigation and Toyota has not been cleared of a safety defect. In 2004, NHTSA questioned whether Toyota's electronic throttle controls may be to blame for the sudden acceleration problem.

You can learn more about the Toyota sudden acceleration defect by reading these previous reports of Toyota's sudden acceleration problem:

Toyota Denied Sudden Acceleration Problem For More Than 5 Years

"Inaccurate and Misleading" Statements On Toyota Sudden Acceleration Problem

Toyota Sudden Acceleration: Case Is Not Closed

Safety Group Responds To Toyota On Sudden Acceleration Defect

Toyota Has More Troubles Than Just Sudden Acceleration

You can learn more about Toyota's dangerous sudden acceleration defect at our auto safety blog or by visiting our web site.

Learn more and become a fan of Langdon & Emison on Facebook.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison

Toyota Denied Sudden Acceleration Problem For More Than 5 Years

Brett Emison — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:00:01 GMT

It appears that Toyota has denied its sudden acceleration problem for more than 5 years. Toyota's recall for floor mat problems is not the end of the story and the company needs to do more to protect its customers and the motoring public.

In March 2004, the Center For Auto Safety reported about sudden acceleration problems in 2002-03 Toyota Camrys and Solaras and the 2002-03 Lexus ES 300.

WASHINGTON -- A relatively new technology, the electronic throttle, is a leading suspect in a wave of claims that some vehicles unexpectedly accelerate out of control. Government investigators are looking at 2002-03 Toyota Camrys and Solaras and Lexus ES 300s to determine if they are defective. More than a million cars are in service. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has begun a preliminary investigation of the latest claims. It is gathering about 37 complaints of sudden acceleration by owners of the Toyota and Lexus cars. The complaints include 30 reports of crashes. They involved injuries to five people; one of them was seriously hurt.

According to AutoSafety.org, by the year 2000, there had been more than 22,600 reported complaints of sudden acceleration.

More than five years ago, Toyota and NHTSA identified the electronic throttle as the most likely source of the sudden acceleration defect. However, Toyota continued -- and continues today -- to dismiss concerns about its throttle control system and has looked only at the floor mat issue.

Four years later -- in June 2008 -- the Detroit Free Press and the Motor Authority reported that Toyota had dismissed additional customer complaints that the popular Toyota Tacoma pickup truck had been experiencing the same sudden acceleration issue as other Toyota and Lexus vehicles.

Now, Toyota's Tacoma pickup is receiving complaints in the U.S. because of the same unintended acceleration defect.

A total of 432 customers have reported unintended or sudden acceleration [problems] in their vehicles, resulting in 51 crashes and 12 injuries. Toyota has responded by stating that its Tacoma is not defective and that many reports were "inspired by publicity," reports the Detroit Free Press.

In 2008 -- like in 2004 -- Toyota refused to take the sudden acceleration issue seriously. Instead of fixing the known problem in its vehicles, Toyota publicly accused its own customers of trying to cash in on Toyota's negative publicity.

By October 2009, Toyota was forced to finally acknowledge sudden acceleration problems in the following vehicles:

2007-2010 Toyota Camry
2005-2010 Toyota Avalon
2004-2009 Toyota Prius
2005-2010 Toyota Tacoma
2007-2010 Toyota Tundra
2007-2010 Lexus ES350
2006-2010 Lexus IS250
2006-2010 Lexus IS 350

In October 2009, Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda, was forced to publicly apologize for the tragic death of an American family who were killed when their Toyota vehicle suddenly accelerated out of control. This tragedy was recorded by 911 as the passengers desperately tried to slow or stop their out of control Toyota vehicle.

As the Detroit Free Press reported:

TOKYO — Toyota’s president said it was “extremely regrettable” an American family died in a crash in which a floor mat in one of the Japanese automaker’s vehicles is suspected as the cause.

"Four precious lives have been lost," Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda said Friday. "I offer my deepest condolences."

***

That crash killed California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Saylor, 45 — who was driving a Lexus, a Toyota luxury model — and three family members on State Route 125 outside San Diego.

The vehicle was traveling at more than 120 mph when it launched off an embankment, rolled several times and burst into flames.

Despite more than 5 years of documented sudden acceleration problems in Toyota and Lexus vehicles and the tragic death of a family of four caught on tape, Toyota still has refused to accept any responsibility or acknowledge any defect:

Toyoda said the company was still deciding what action it would take and did not acknowledge any vehicle problem during his appearance at the Japan National Press Club.

He apologized for any worries customers may have.

“I feel sorry that people who are driving Toyota and Lexus cars believing in their safety are now feeling uncertainties,” he said.

Toyota has ignored customer reports of the sudden acceleration problem for more than 5 years. Despite this growing safety concern, Toyota announced today, November 6, 2009, a third-quarter profit of nearly $250 million. In the last 90 days -- while its cars were running out of control -- Toyota made a profit of nearly $3 miller per day. Toyota also increased its sales projection to more than 7 million vehicles for this year.

Langdon & Emison is aware of more than 2100 reported instances of Toyota sudden acceleration. Instead of listening to its customers and fixing the extremely dangerous sudden acceleration problem -- a problem Toyota has known about for more than 5 years -- Toyota is raking in money and placing even more dangerous cars and trucks on American roads. Toyota needs to take these complaints seriously and fix the millions of dangerous vehicles on our streets and highways.

You can learn more by reading these previous reports on Toyota's sudden acceleration problem:

"Inaccurate and Misleading" Statements On Toyota Sudden Acceleration Problem

Toyota Sudden Acceleration: Case Is Not Closed

Safety Group Responds To Toyota On Sudden Acceleration Defect

Toyota Has More Troubles Than Just Sudden Acceleration

You can learn more about Toyota's dangerous sudden acceleration defect at our auto safety blog or by visiting our web site.

Learn more and become a fan of Langdon & Emison on Facebook.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison

"Inaccurate and Misleading" Statements on Toyota Sudden Acceleration Problem

Brett Emison — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:39:12 GMT

The Los Angeles Times has reported that federal safety regulators have sharply criticized Toyota for claiming safety officials had found "no defect" regarding Toyota's sudden acceleration problem.

Toyota and Lexus vehicles have come under scrutiny as hundreds of customers have complained to the company and to federal safety regulators that Toyota and Lexus vehicles will suddenly accelerate out of control. In many instances, the drivers are left with little or no control and are unable to slow or stop the vehicle.

Federal safety regulators have sharply rebuked Toyota Motor Corp. for issuing "inaccurate and misleading" statements asserting that no defect exists in the 3.8 million vehicles it recalled after a Lexus sedan accelerated out of control in San Diego County, killing four people.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a statement Wednesday that the recalled Toyota and Lexus vehicles do have an "underlying defect" that involves the design of the accelerator pedal and the driver's foot well.

Toyota has attempted to persuade owners of its vehicles that the sudden acceleration defect was limited to the gas pedal's interaction with the floor mat and was unrelated to other factors, such as Toyotoa's electronic throttle control system. Toyota also posted a video statement to dispute news reports that unintended acceleration may be related to these other factors.

Toyota's "inaccurate and misleading" comments prompted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ("NHTSA") to issue a sharp rebuke.

"Safety is the No. 1 priority for NHTSA and this is why officials are working with Toyota to find the right way to fix this very dangerous problem," the statement said. "This matter is not closed until Toyota has effectively addressed the defect by providing a suitable vehicle-based solution."

The statement is an unusual public upbraiding of an automaker by the regulatory agency, according to auto safety experts, and threatens to dent Toyota's credibility just as it seeks to assure customers that its vehicles are safe.

NHTSA's public rebuke of Toyota and Lexus did not surprise John Claybrook, a former head of NHTSA. "The agency never says there is no defect . . . . New information can come to light that there is a defect," Claybrook said.

Safety expert, Sean Kane, head of Safety Research and Strategies confirmed that "Toyota was trying to say it has a clean bill of health from NHTSA, when it does not."

In NHTSA's investigations, the safety regulators found that Toyota's brakes would lose most of their power and effectiveness when the throttle is fully opened -- an event called "brake fade". Additionally, NHTSA found that the Toyota and Lexus push button ignition systems could add risk in sudden acceleration events.

Toyota has continued to focus solely on the floor mats alone and has refused to make a full system evaluation -- including an examination of the electronic throttle control system. Toyota's refusal to look at all possible causes of its unintended acceleration problem is troubling. Toyota and Lexus owe it to their customers -- and other members of the driving public -- to ensure that this deadly safety problem is fixed -- and fixed quickly. Toyota's refusal to look at all possible causes has unreasonably delayed finding a solution. Too many have died already.

You can learn more about the Toyota and Lexus sudden acceleration problem at our auto safety blog or by visiting our web site.

Learn more and become a fan of Langdon & Emison on Facebook.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison

Auto and Vehicle Recall Update: New Recalls from NHTSA

Brett Emison — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:40:03 GMT

The Office of Defects Investigation recently sent notices of the following safety defect recalls:

Chrysler and Dodge Recall: 2009-10 Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger recalled for a front wheel spindle nut defect. These vehicles may have been built without a front wheel spindle nut.

GM, Chevrolet, Pontiac and Saturn Recall: 2006-07 Chevy Cobalt, Pontiac G5 and Saturn Ion recalled for a fuel pump module defect. The plastic supply or return port on the modular reservoir assembly may crack. If either of these ports develops a crack, fuel will leak from the area. If the crack becomes large enough, fuel may be observed dripping onto the ground and vehicle performance may be affected.

Mazda Recall: 1995-97, 2001-03 Mazda B-series pickup trucks recalled because a speed control deactivation switch overheats. A component of the cruise control deactivation switch may deteriorate over time and develop a leak. This occurrence could cause the switch to overheat, smoke or burn which could result in an underhood fire.

If you own any of these vehicles, you should contact your dealer to schedule the required repair immediately.

Learn more about vehilce safet defects at our auto defect blog or by visiting our web site.

Learn more and become a fan of Langdon & Emison on Facebook.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison

Toyota Sudden Acceleration: Case Is Not Closed

Brett Emison — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:04:38 GMT

The New York Times and ABC News are reporting that the matter of the Toyota sudden acceleration problem is not yet resolved. In fact, according to the New York Times, Toyota's recent press release was not intended to suggest that Toyota had been cleared of a safety defect.

Toyota said on Tuesday that a press release it issued on Monday was not intended to give the impression that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had cleared 3.8 million of its vehicles of having an unintended acceleration defect.

Indeed, the federal agency said it was still investigating the exact cause of the acceleration problem.

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[Toyota's] wording is subtle, but it could give the impression that the safety agency had found no safety defect beyond errant floor mats. Some news articles certainly interpreted the release that way and reported that the mats were the only problem. But Karen Aldana, a spokeswoman for N.H.T.S.A., said the agency was still exploring other issues, including the design of the gas pedal and the vehicle’s floor pan.

“It goes beyond the floor mats,” Ms. Aldana said.

Toyota’s release comes as ABC’s “World News with Charles Gibson” and “Nightline” were preparing to air an investigation tonight into the acceleration problem, including owners who insist that floor mats were not the problem. (Here’s an ABC/Consumer Reports video on what to do if your car experiences unintended acceleration.)

According to the Times -- the bottom line is this: unsecured floor mats can jam the accelerator, but there may be further problems unrelated to the floor mats. NHTSA is still investigating.

ABC News performed its own investigation:

In a statement this afternoon, the Department of Transportation and the National Highway Safety Administration said, "This matter is not closed until Toyota has effectively addressed the vehicle defect by providing a suitable remedy."

ABC reported statistics from safety expert, Sean Kane, that in the last 10 years, more than 2,000 Toyota owners have reported their cars surged out of control at high speeds.

The Detroit Free Press has also reported on Toyota's auto defect. The Free Press reported that federal safety regulators received more than 300 complaints from Toyota owners about the sudden acceleration problem. Not all of the owners believe the floor mats were the problem. Grover and Barbara Walton experienced sudden acceleration in their Toyota Prius without any interference from the floor mat.

It all started when, after slowing down through a small coastal town, Walton said he hit the resume-acceleration button on his cruise control.

"All of a sudden, we were flying and I hadn't touched the pedal," said Grover, a retired property manager.

He said he hit the brakes, which slowed the car. But when Walton released the brake pedal, he said his Prius surged again.

"Before my husband could safely get the car off the road, he had ridden the brakes so hard to avoid an accident that flames were coming from behind both front wheels where the brakes had caught fire," Barbara Walton said.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ("NHTSA") has continued to emphasize that its decisions do not consitute a finding that a safety defect does not exist.

"Removal of the mats is simply an interim measure," said NHTSA spokeswoman Karen Aldana. "NHTSA will be discussing with Toyota what the appropriate vehicle remedy or remedies will be."

All auto defects are troubling, but Toyota's sudden acceleration problem is a particulary frightening safety defect. According to reports, this defect can strike without warning -- catching even the most careful driver off guard. With the engine racing out of control, it can be very difficult -- or even impossible -- to stop the vehicle. The excessive braking required to slow the vehicle in this dangerous situation can lead to "brake fade", which results in decreased brake effectiveness and can quickly lead to complete brake failure. Drivers could easily be caught in a situation where the engine is racing at full speed and their brakes are complete useless.

You can learn more about the Toyota and Lexus sudden acceleration problem at two recent blog posts:

Safety Group Responds to Toyota On Sudden Acceleration Defect

Toyota Has More Troubles Than Just Sudden Acceleration

You can also visit our auto product defect blog or visit our web site to learn more.

Learn more and become a fan of Langdon & Emison on Facebook.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison

Safety Group Responds to Toyota on Sudden Acceleration Defect

Brett Emison — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:49:09 GMT

Safety Research and Strategies has responded to Toyota's letter to its customers regarding its documented sudden acceleration problem:

Showing admirable restraint, Toyota waited a whole five days before trumpeting the closing of Defect Petition 09-001 as proof positive “that no defect exists in vehicles in which the driver’s floor mat is compatible with the vehicle and properly secured.”

In a letter to its customers, Toyota referred to NHTSA’s “extensive technical review of the issue, including interviews with consumers who had complained of unwanted acceleration, NHTSA concluded that …the only defect trend related to vehicle speed control in the subject vehicles involved the potential for accelerator pedals to become trapped near the floor by out-of-position or inappropriate floor mat installations.”

***

Some of this is actually true. The agency has not found a vehicle-based defect that is causing unwanted acceleration. It doesn’t mean there isn’t one – it just means that the agency hasn’t found it. By any standard, the agency investigations are far from the thorough and can be accurately described as cursory by anyone with a passing understanding of defect investigation.

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In other words NHTSA:

Talked to owners who complained;

Drove the petitioners vehicle and didn’t experience SUA;

Asked Toyota what, if any, problems existed (none of course);

Found that the throttle control system may have had a problem but couldn’t find a cause;

Had limited information to work with;

Faced with limited resources and other more easily solvable safety issues, dropped any further investigation.

The most thorough of the government investigations appears to be the agency’s Vehicle Research & Test Center analysis of a 2007 Lexus ES350. This investigation, cited by Toyota above as evidence of the lack of a defect, suggests otherwise. Here’s what else the report stated:

“To comprehend the statistical significance of the probability for this event to occur, a survey was sent to a sample size of 1986 registered owners of a 2007 Lexus ES-350 requesting information regarding episodes of unintended acceleration. NHTSA received 600 responses for an overall response rate of 30.2%. Fifty-nine owners stated they experienced unintended acceleration. Thirty-five of those responding also reported that their vehicles were equipped with rubber Lexus all-weather floor mats and several commented that the incident occurred when the accelerator had become trapped in a groove in the floor mat. Interviews with owners revealed that many had unsecured rubber floor mats in place at the time of the unintended acceleration event, which included in some cases unsecured rubber floor mats placed over existing Lexus carpeted mats.”

The report is silent on several key issues, including owners who did not comment that the accelerator pedal was trapped in the groove of an all weather floor mat. And what of the remaining 24 who didn’t have all weather floor mats?

***

If this is all due to errant floor mats, we have some questions:

Why do Toyota/Lexus models experience SUA absent all weather floor mats?

What changed in the floor mat design in 2002, when the complaint rates significantly increase?

How can a floor mat entrap a pedal during highway driving, when the operator has been driving steadily and does not depress the accelerator?

If Toyota/Lexus vehicle have floor mats so badly designed that they have killed at least 16 individuals and injured at least 243 injuries in SUA events, why is Toyota just getting around to fixing it now?

Why is Toyota claiming that floor mats are the cause of SUA incidents in vehicles not part of the floor mat recall? If they are causing SUA, shouldn’t they be recalled too?

ABC News has documented Toyota's and Lexus's sudden acceleration defect claims. You can learn more about Toyota's auto defect problems at this recent post.

Learn more about Langdon & Emison and become a fan on Facebook.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison

Ford Motor Company Reports Billion Dollar Profit

Brett Emison — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:40:09 GMT

Ford Motor Company announced $1 Billion dollars in profit for the 2008 third quater, meaning Ford earned $1 billion in profit in only three months (just under $350 million per month or about $11 million per day)!

The company said cost cutting during the past year and an improved outlook for sales leads it to believe Ford will be "solidly profitable" in 2011, excluding special items. That's the most bullish outlook Ford has offered investors since it started losing money in 2005.

"Our third quarter results clearly show that Ford is making tremendous progress despite the prolonged slump in the global economy," said Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally in a statement.

***

The company reprted overall revenue of $30.9 billion in the [third] quarter. . . .

Ford's overall revenue shows that Ford brought in $333 million in revenue each day during the 2008 third-quarter. Ford's remarkable turnaround comes on the heals of some negative product liability news. Ford recently recalled more than 16 million vehicles because of the risk of fire from a faulty switch. In addition, other Ford products -- such as 15 passenger vans and Ford Explorer vehicles -- continue to face scrutiny from the safety community. Ford needs to take some of the quarter-billion dollars it brough in each day and make sure it provides safe vehicles to the public.

You can learn more about auto defect dangers at our blog or at our web site.

Learn more about Langdon & Emison and become a fan on Facebook.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison

Ford Recalls 16 Million Vehicles

Brett Emison — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:27:04 GMT

Ford Motor Company has recalled 16 million vehicles because of the risk of car fires from a faulty switch.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said this was the eighth recall, involving a total of 16 million Ford Motor (F, Fortune 500) vehicles, concerning the cruise control deactivation switch manufactured by Texas Instruments (TXN, Fortune 500).

The faulty switch can leak hydraulic fluid, overheat, smoke and then burn, and risks causing a fire even when the ignition is turned off, parked and unattended, the NHTSA said.

You can determine if your Ford vehicle is subject to this recall by contacting your local dealer or by searching for recalls at the NHTSA web site.

NHTSA said Ford drivers should look for warnings of possible imminent fires, including malfunctioning cruise control systems and brake lights and antilock braking system and brake light warnings on the dashboard. The safety agency also said difficulty in getting the vehicle out of park mode should be treated as a warning.

Vehicle recalls, such as this Ford recall, are especially important because auto recalls involve safety-related defects. A safety-related defect includes “any defect in performance, construction, a component, or material of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment.” (49 U.S.C. 301) Generally, a safety defect is defined as a problem that exists in a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment that:

poses an risk to motor vehicle safety, and
may exist in a group of vehicles of the same design or manufacture, or items of equipment of the same type and manufacture.

You can find out more about recalls at NHTSA's web site for Defects and Recalls.

Manufacturers voluntarily initiate many of these recalls, while others are either influenced by NHTSA investigations or ordered by NHTSA via the courts. If a safety defect is discovered, the manufacturer must notify NHTSA, as well as vehicle or equipment owners, dealers, and distributors. The manufacturer is then required to remedy the problem at no charge to the owner. NHTSA is responsible for monitoring the manufacturer’s corrective action to ensure successful completion of the recall campaign.

NHTSA specifically addresses the potential for legal claims arising from injuries from a safety-related defect, even if there has been a recall:

Once a recall is initiated, can I take independent legal action for injuries I may have suffered?
Yes. The law specifically states that the recall remedies are in addition to other available legal remedies. To determine specific State law remedies, you should consult a lawyer, your State attorney general, or your local district attorney’s office.

Make sure to protect yourself and your family from these safety-related defects. If your vehicle is subject to the recall, take it to your dealer for service immediately. Learn more about safety-related defects at our web site.

Learn more and become a fan of Langdon & Emison on Facebook.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison

Buckle Up for Winter Safety

Brett Emison — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:40:11 GMT

We have settled into autumn and winter will be here before we know it. While there are a lucky few in the south who will enjoy mild conditions over the winter months, most of us should be preparing for winter weather. Snow, sleet and ice make cars and trucks slide around and greatly increase the distance required to stop your vehicle. Make sure to add seat belts to your winter driving check list.

Wear Your Seat Belt Properly

Seat belts will save lives, but only if they are worn -- and only then if they are worn properly. Most drivers and passengers never think about proper seat belt fit (or seat belt geometry). Most simply assume if the seat belt is buckled, it will automatically protect you. Seat belts must fit properly in order to be effective.

The lap belt portion must fit snugly across the body structures of your hips. For three-point (or lap/shoulder) blets, the shoulder portion must be snug against your chest and cross at your shoulder. A few vehicles on the road today are equipped with seat belts mounted inside the seat back itself -- known as "integrated seat belts" or "all belts to seat". These belts provide the safest fit and geometry. Most other vehicles at least provide adjustable shoulder belts (although the range of adjustability may vary). Make sure to adjust your shoulder belt so that it fits properly. Never let the seat belt cross over your neck and never tuck the shoulder belt behind you.

Proper Seat Belt Design Is Critical

Some seat belts are not designed properly and simply cannot be worn safely. For example, many vehicles on the road still have two-point (or lap belt only) seat belts. This type of restraint system leaves your torso and head -- the heaviest and most vital portion of your body -- completely unrestrained in an accident or collision.

Car makers have known of the dangers of lap belt only restraints for decades, but only recently began providing three-poing (lap/shoulder belt) restraints in every seat. Avoid sitting in a location that provides a lap belt only restraint if at all possible.

Bad Belts Make Things Worse

Defective seat belts -- those with bad geometry, poor fit or other bad designs -- will make injuries worse in an accident. Most drivers simply assume putting a seat belt on automatically makes you safer. However, car companies have known for decades that poorly designed seat belts -- like lap belt only designs or seat belts that do not fit correctly -- will make injuries worse. Lap belt only designs cause the upper portion of your body to jack-knife forward in a frontal collision. Jack-knifing in this way will cause severe internal damage (likely to your liver, stomach or bowel) and may even break your back and sever your spinal cord, causing paralysis. Poor belt geometry will permit your torso to slam into the shoulder belt, causing severe damage to your heart and lungs. Geometry that permits the shoulder belt to cross at your neck may also lead to paralysis or death in even a minor frontal collision.

Safety experts pressed for lap/shoulder belts in all seating position for decades before this critical safety feature was finally implemented by car makers. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) makes safety recommendations to government regulators and auto companies. In an August 8, 1986 letter to every auto maker, the NTSB said:

The relative inadequacy of lap belts to provide crash protection, and their ability to induce serious injury, have been known for many years to researchers, some parts of the medical profession, and to others concerned with occupant crash protection.

***

Lap/shoulder belts provide superior crash protection to that of lap belts alone, and present a significantly lesser risk of induced injury; such systems appear to work effectively even for children, and they can be used with child safety seats and booster seats.

Despite this warning, car companies strongly objected to requirements for dynamic testing or comfort/convenience features for three-point, lap/shoulder seat belts in every seating position.

Add seat belts to your winter driving check list. Make sure that your belt fits properly and is worn correctly.

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Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison