N.H.T.S.A. Reports Increased Traffic Deaths

More people died on United States roads in 2012 than in 2011, according to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Motorcyclist and pedestrian deaths each increased for the third year in a row, and deaths of bicyclists reached the highest level in six years. Over all, however, traffic deaths continue to be at historic lows.

Fatalities in 2011 were at their lowest level since 1949. The 2012 increase could not be attributed to Americans driving more, because motorists drove nearly the same number of miles in 2012 as they did in 2011, according to the report. Highway deaths increased to 33,561 in 2012, according to the safety agency’s 2012 Fatality Analysis Reporting System, known as FARS. That is 1,082 – or 3.3 percent – more than the 2011 figure. The majority of the increase occurred in the first quarter of 2012, which the report notes was the warmest in history.

The estimated number of people injured rose as well, by 6.5 percent, in what N.H.T.S.A. described in its report as a “statistically significant change” from 2011. There did not seem to be one single issue that explained the increases – according to the federal agency, which released the data – and some crashes associated with traditional risk factors even fell. For example, the number of young drivers involved in fatal crashes continued to decline.

Here are some of the conclusions the agency reached:

¦?Of those killed in passenger vehicles in 2012, 52 percent were not wearing seatbelts.

¦?Pedestrian deaths were 6.4 percent higher than in 2011, and they increased for the third consecutive year. Most occurred in urban areas, away from intersections, at night, and many involved alcohol.

¦?Fatalities among motorcycle riders increased for the third year as well and were 7.1 percent higher than in 2011. The data showed that in states with no universal helmet law, 10 times as many riders who died were not wearing a helmet than in states that had such a law.

¦?Among bicyclists, deaths increased 6.5 percent over 2011, reaching their highest level in six years. Most of these deaths occurred in urban areas and were away from intersections.

¦?In crashes involving drunken drivers, deaths increased 4.6 percent from 9,865 to 10,322. In the majority of those crashes, drivers had a blood alcohol concentration nearly double that of the legal limit.

¦?Although the number of people killed in crashes related to distracted driving decreased very slightly – from 3,360 in 2011 to 3,328 in 2012 – the number who were injured increased. Those were up 9 percent from 387,000 in 2011 to 421,000 in 2012.

¦?There is good news in more recent government data. According to early estimates, the FARS data shows a slight decrease in fatalities for the first half of 2013.

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Wheels: N.H.T.S.A. Investigates Hyundai Santa Fe and the Adequacy of a G.M. Recall

Hyundai The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating possible axle failures on 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe models, as well as whether a recent General Motors recall for a potential fire hazard in its eAssist fuel-economy system was adequate.

In a report posted on the agency’s Web site, investigators said they received two reports of front axle-shaft failures on the 2013 Santa Fe “resulting in a loss of motive power” within the first 5,000 miles. The investigation covers about 50,000 vehicles.

The General Motors investigation is called a recall query and shows that the safety agency is concerned about the adequacy of a recall. The recall this year covered about 43,000 vehicles with the eAssist system from the 2012-13 model years because the generator control module could cause engine stalling and a fire inside the trunk. The models affected are the 2012-13 Buick LaCrosse and Regal and the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco.

In a new report posted on the agency Web site, N.H.T.S.A. investigators said they learned that General Motors had dealers conduct a test on unsold vehicles to see if the control module was working correctly. Vehicles that passed the test were not recalled, which would have involved replacing the generator control module.

But the investigators say they have learned that before the recall was announced G.M. knew of one fire on a vehicle that had passed the dealer test and was thought not to have a problem. The agency says that the fire draws “into question whether or not the procedure can effectively identify a defective Generator Control Module.”

Alan Adler, a G.M. spokesman, said in a statement that the automaker was cooperating with the agency. He said that the company was unaware of any injuries related to the problem. This is the fourth time this year that the agency has questioned the adequacy of a General Motors recall.

Wheels Blog: N.H.T.S.A. Investigates Dodge Viper, Ford Crown Victoria and Porsche 911

EPA/Harry Melchert Approximately 2,500 2005-2006 Dodge Vipers (2005 pictured) are being investigated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for a potentially serious problem with the rear suspension.

A pit of vipers sounds like trouble, which may be what the Chrysler Group is in concerning its 2005-6 Dodge Vipers. Citing a concern about rear suspension failures, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation covering about 2,500 of the sports cars, according to a report posted on the agency’s Web site.

N.H.T.S.A. said it decided to begin the investigation of the third-generation Vipers after receiving two complaints from owners who said they lost control, crashed and were later told by mechanics that the failure involved a rear suspension knuckle failure. There was one report of an injury, described by the driver as a back injury.

The investigation is called a preliminary evaluation. If investigators find reason for concern it would be upgraded to a more serious engineering analysis. Or, if the complaints are unfounded, the investigation would be closed without further action.

The agency also opened investigations into about 195,000 2005-8 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor models for a potential steering issue and approximately 10,000 2001-7 Porsche 911s for a possible problem with the cooling system.

The Crown Vics, many of them serving in police fleets, may have a problem with a coupling on the steering column shaft that could cause the steering wheel to disconnect from the rack-and-pinion power steering unit. According to N.H.T.S.A.’s report, five complaints have been filed, but no crashes have been reported.

N.H.T.S.A.’s Office of Defects Investigation received 10 reports that said a coolant hose attached to the engine with a glued press fitting failed on some Porsche 911s equipped with the GT1 engine, leading to sudden coolant loss beneath the car. Neither crashes nor injuries were reported, but the agency said that the coolant’s slippery properties could affect traction as well as the safety of motorists following the affected cars in traffic.