BUYING A SAFER CAR

BUYING A SAFER CAR

Buying a Safer Car can help consumers confidently identify the

safest vehicles. Information is provided to help determine which

automobiles offer the most protection from injury and death during

a frontal or side collision and to identify those vehicles most

frequently stolen. This brochure represents no endorsement of any

particular vehicle. Information was obtained from government

agencies and vehicle manufacturers.

The guide is current as of Jan. 31, 1995.

USING THE GUIDE

Charts contain safety feature information, results from frontal

crash tests and theft ratings. Safety feature information covers

driver and passenger air bags, anti- lock brakes, adjustable

shoulder belt anchors for more comfortable safety-belt fit and, for

passenger cars, improved side-impact protection.

Features are shown as: S-standard equipment on all vehicles in

that car line; N - not available on any vehicle int hat car line; or A -

available on some vehicles in that car line.

Crash testing is expensive, so all vehicles cannot be tested every

year. Cars, light trucks, sport utility vehicles and vans that are new,

popular, redesigned or have improved safety equipment are

selected for testing and bought from dealers.

Additional results for current models will be released at intervals

throughout the year. These vehicles are identified in the Crash

Tests column as "to be tested." For crash-test data on other

vehicles tested since 1979, call Auto Safety Hotline: (800)424- 9393.

SAFETY SELLS

Auto-related deaths and injuries place a heacy load on society. In

addition to causing grief and suffering, vehicle crashes add

billions of dollars to the cost of health care and vehicle insurance.

Each year, some 40,000 Americans lose their lives in motor

vehicle collisions. one in 8.5 drivers is involved in an automobile

collision and one out of nine hospital beds is occupied by a victim

of an auto-related incident.

Despite these grim statistics, the rate of traffic deaths per million

miles driven is steadily declining. Safer cars get partial credit for

the encouraging trend. Each new model must meet safety

standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration. As the car-buying public becomes increasingly

interested in safety, manufacturers, are offering automotive safety

features beyond NHTSA's minimium requirements. Though not

yet required by law, features such as dual air bags increase a

vehicle's sales appeal.

SAFETY FIRST

No automobile is 100 percent safe or collision-proof. An

experienced and unimpaired driver is the most important safety

features in any car. Never drive when you are:

Influenced by drugs or alcohol.

emotionally upset.

Fatigued - especially around your normal bedtime.

Keep your car in safe operating condition. Carefully read the

owner's manual that comes with your car and follow the

manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule.

Visually inspect tires, lights and fluid levels at each refueling.

Make sure your spare tire is inflated and pack a first-aid kit and

flares in your trunk.

Make sure every person in your vehicle buckles up. Correct and

consistent use of safety belts is the best safety measure you can

adopt.

BUYING TIPS

In 1994, the average cost of a car in the United States was

$18,000. For a financial decision of this magnitude, consumers

need to be prepared when they enter the showroom.

Do some research. Check buying guides to narrow your choice in

models and options.

Buying guides also help pinpoint prices.

Make safety a priority. Safety features such as air bags, anti-lock

brake systems and side-impact protection should be tops of your

list. Also check for important safety elements such as a right side

mirror or a three-point safety belt system that has adjustable

shoulder belt anchors.

A weighty decision. Crash data show that heavy cars offer more

protection than light cars equipped with the same safety features.

Simple safety checks. During your test drive, make sure that head

restraints, roof structure or windshield designs do not interfere

with your visibility. Look for interior designs that avoid control

knobs sticking out of the dash to reduce chance of injury.

Check out clones. Clones are nearly identical models built on the

same platform and marketed under a different nameplate. Prices

and options vary. You could come out ahead buying the high-end

model - with standard ABS and dual air bags - instead of the low-

end model with those options added.

Shop around. Negotiate prices or enlist the help of a buying

service. Investigate financing options at the dealer and your bank

or credit union. And check the fine print: Does the contract include

credit insurance, which may be available under an existing policy

you have?

Scrutinize service contracts. Does the warranty period overlap the

service agreement period? What repairs are covered and who

can perform them? What is the cancellation and refund policy?

VEHICLE RATINGS

The Importance of Crash Testing

Since 1979, NHTSA has been crash-testing vehicles through its

New Car Assessment Program. Crash-test results determine how

wellvehicles protect belted drivers and front-seat passengers

during a frontal collision.

During the crash test, dummies are placed in driver and front

passenger seats. Instruments measure the force of impact to

each dummy's head, chest and legs. Tests use all available

restraints.Federal safety standards require all passenger cars

meet injury criteria measured in a 30 mph frontal crash. NCAP

tests are conducted at 35 mph to make the difference between

vehicles more apparent. Tests simulate damage equivalent to a

head-on collision between two identical vehicles, each moving at

35 mph. This is the same as a vehicle moving at 70 mph striking

an identical parked vehicle.

Interpreting NCAP Crash-Testing Ratings

NHTSA recently revised NCAP crash-testing ratings to make

them easier for consumers to understand. A five-star rating

indicates the best protection and one star the least.

Crash-test ratings are meaningful only when comparing vehicles

in the same weight class. Results do not reflect the extent to which

an occupant in a light weight vehicle could be injured in a collision

with a heavier vehicle.

1995 NEW CAR SAFETY FEATURES

Manufacturers provide buyers the most complete information

about standard or optional safety equipment on their vehicles.

Listed below are features that are especially important.

Air Bags. Air Bags instantly inflate in frontal crashes at speeds as

low as 15 mph. They are designed to prevent occupants from

hitting the dashboard, steering wheel or windshield. Driver and

front passenger air bags will be standard equipment in all model

year 1998 cars and all model year 1999 light trucks, vans and

sport utility vehicles. Many vehicles are already equipped with this

important feature. Front air bags do not eliminate the need for

safety belts and they offer no protection in rollovers, rear or side

impacts. Safety belts help keep you in place should a collision

occur. Caution: Never use a rear-facing child safety seat in a front

seat equipped with a passenger-side air bag. As the air bag opens,

it may exert too much force on the safety seat and injure the child.

Anti-lock Brakes. Anti-lock brake systems prevent a vehicle's

wheels from locking up during "panic" braking by automatically

pumping brakes several times per second. This allows the driver

to retain steering control as the vehicle slows - a key factor in

avoiding a collision.

Even with ABS, hydroplaning and skidding can be caused by

excessive speed or extreme steering maneuvers. Be sure to read

your owner's manual for more information about ABS.

Safety Belt Systems. Safety belt systems are your best protection

in a crash. They prevent you from colliding with the dash or

windshield and hold you inside the vehicle.

Whether manual or automatic, safety belts are most effective if

adjusted properly. All safety belts should be pulled tightly across

the pelvis. Some systems also offer adjustable anchors that

change the height of the shoulder strap to improve belt fit. Check

the manufacturer's instructions to properly adjust safety belts in

your car.

Side-Impact Protection. Side-impact crashes are the second

leading cause of death and injury to passenger car occupants. At

least 25 percent of 1995 passenger cars must be equipped to

protect the front and rear occupants during a simulated 30 mph

side-impact crash. The government requires all 1997 passenger

cars have this protection. Many new models provide this

protection ahead of the required schedule.

Manufacturers can choose from a number of features to fulfill this

requirement - including extra structure, energy-absorbing foam,

door panel or seat-mounted air bags - as long as the vehicle

passes occupant protection requirements.

THEFT RATINGS

Theft ratings are compiled from information provided by the

Federal Bureau of Investigation and vehicle manufacturers.

NHTSA calculates a theft rate for each vehicle based on the

number of vehicles tolen and the number of vehicles

manufactured. Based on 1992 data, which is the latest

information available, a mid-point theft rate was calculated.

Vehicles with theft rates above or below that value was noted in

the chart.

NHTSA requires manufacturers to mark targeted vehicle parts

with the vehicle identification number or provide a NHTSA-

approved anti-theft device as standard equipment.

Many insurance companies offer discounts of 5 percent to 20

percent of the comprehensive portion of insurance premiums for

vehicles equipped with an anti-theft device. Be sure to ask your

insurance company if it offers all discounts for an anti-theft device.

Contact NHTSA at (800) 424-9393 for specific information on vehicle

theft ratings.