Many South Carolina motorists believe that cars today are safer than ever before. With modern technology developments, many safety advancements have been made by vehicle manufacturers. Unfortunately, the safety ratings system developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is outdated and may not truly reflect today’s reality.
The current five-star safety rating system that is used to assess new vehicles was developed in the 1990s. Consumers were encouraged to purchase vehicles who earned four or five stars, as these were believed to be the safest. Unfortunately, this system has not been revamped since that time and does not take into account actual reports from accidents or new technological advancements.
The United States once led the world in vehicle safety tests. The country now lags as countries in Latin America, Europe and Asia have four times the amount of tests for new vehicles than those in the United States. Experts are calling on the government to add new test procedures and grant additional funding for safety measures that could reduce the number of pedestrians and vehicle passengers who die each year in car accidents. Using the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, a database of accidents that resulted in deaths, may help guide the development of these tests.
Thousands of people are killed every year in U.S. car accidents. These incidents often occur due to a distracted or drunk driver or some other type of negligence on the part of a motorist or a car part manufacturer. People who have been harmed in such a crash might want to meet with an experienced attorney in order to see what recourse might be available.