Sticking up for safer driving

Japanese carmaker Honda will soon publish crash-test data on window stickers of its American market models, a safety move expected to eventually be adopted by carmakers worldwide.

The decision is a lift for US lawmakers hoping to bring the information to consumers shopping at dealerships.

It also boosts the hopes of consumer groups and safety campaigners in other countries who have pushed for more visible crash data.

Honda would be the first to provide the crash data on the stickers, which also list price information, fuel economy and other vehicle details.

The crash test data would be required on the stickers under a federal highway bill pending in the US Congress.

"This is a very simple concept, and frankly we would urge all carmakers to do the same thing that Honda is doing," said Ohio Republican Senator Mike DeWine, who has pushed the legislation, dubbed "Stars on Cars."

America's motoring watchdog, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, conducts crash tests on vehicles and rates them on a scale of one to five stars - with five as the highest score - to help consumers evaluate a vehicle's ability to withstand a crash and its likelihood of rolling over.

New Zealand car buyers can get similar information on many of the models imported here from the internet, especially euroncap.com, the site of the European New Car Assesment Programme.

But DeWine wants prospective American buyers to be able to access the safety information on the dealership lot.

"They really want to know how the government rates the car that they are looking at," he said.

"They want to be able to go from dealer to dealer ... from vehicle to vehicle in the same showroom and see how one car, one vehicle, compares to another vehicle," DeWine said. "They can't do that today."

He was optimistic his bill would prevail.

Honda said the information would be on its stickers in the next 60 days. "We're not going to wait until it becomes law. We're going to put it on now," said John Mendel, Honda North America's senior vice-president for automobile operations.

General Motors was considering putting the safety information on its stickers, said spokesman Alan Adler.

DaimlerChrysler said it would work with NHTSA to provide the information to consumers, if the legislation was approved.

Industry officials were working to provide safety information to consumers, but there was concern that the label already contained a lot of information, said Eron Shosteck, a spokesman for the US Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

"If you add more information there is the potential for information overload."

The legislation would also include $US6 million for NHTSA to move up its testing schedule. Many new models hit American showrooms during July-October, but crash test data is often not available until the following year.

Euro NCAP is also calling for carmakers to adopt stability control systems as standard. It asks motorists to ensure their next car is fitted with such a system, which dramatically reduces the chances of an accident by helping drivers maintain control.

If a driver has misjudged a corner or suddenly swerves to avoid an obstacle, stability systems can help avoid a skid and can turn an accident into a near-miss.

Stability control evolved from other technologies such as traction control and anti-lock ABS brakes. The technology, along with some additional sensors, feeds information to a computerised control unit.

The signals are continuously monitored to determine whether or not the vehicle is losing control.

If a deviation from the intended course is detected, the control unit applies a small amount of braking to whichever wheel is needed to stabilise the course of the vehicle.

Some systems also help by adjusting the power output of the engine. This is all done by the control unit, which reacts faster than even the best driver. The driver may not know the system has intervened.

Studies have shown that cars fitted with stability control are less involved in certain types of accidents than those without.

In Sweden, an overall accident reduction of 22 per cent has been detected, rising to 32 per cent in wet conditions.

A study in Japan, suggests a decrease in accident involvement of some 30 to 35 per cent. American and German studies have shown similar positive results.

Professor Claes Tingvall, chairman of Euro NCAP, said: "Euro NCAP's role is to alert the consumer to cars which offer the greatest protection in an accident.

"However, the safest car on the road is the one which does not get involved in accidents.

"Driving carefully and attentively is perhaps the best way to reduce the chances of being in a crash but technology can play an important role, too.

"That is why we are extending our advice to the motorist to cover developments in technology, such as stability control, which will help protect them and their passengers."

- Additional reporting from agencies