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GM's New Rollover Crash Testing Facility Opened
December 7, 2006
General motors announced the opening of its new safety lab designed to conduct simulated real-world rollover crashes for testing. GM also announced that they will be offering side curtain airbags. These are positive signs that GM is acknowledging the need for newer vehicles to increase passenger protection in rollover accidents.
More than 10,000 people die each year in rollover accidents, and more than 16,000 are injured.
GM admitted that it has been conducting rollover tests for over 30 years in their announcement. They have been using the dolly rollover test, in which vehicles are pulled sideways on a platform. The new facility will have equipment to perform other types of tests that simulate the kinds of crashes experienced by drivers on highways.
For years, Gm had objected to the possibility of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration mandating dynamic rollover crash tests. But GM announced that these types of tests were required to test the efficacy of the new side-curtain airbags. These airbags are designed to offer protection in crashes where contact is made to only one side of the roof.
A New Roof Crush Standard Possible
The NHTSA has proposed a new standard for roof resistance to crushing.
The new standard would mean that vehicle roofs would have to be able to sustain greater static pressure from above, such as it would sustain if the vehicle were placed upside down on its roof.
New Seatbelts?
GM did not say whether they would offer pretensioned seatbelts, which are locked in place, in all their vehicles. Roof strength and seatbelt performance are the most important factors in determining passenger safety in a rollover accidents.
Once these deficiencies are corrected, automobile drivers and passengers will enjoy much higher levels of safety in rollover accidents.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed as a result of poor vehicle crashworthiness, please contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced crashworthiness attorney who can examine your case thoroughly, determine who is at fault, and help you recover the compensation you may be entitled to.
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