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CNN Live At Daybreak
Safer Rides: Bumper Height
Aired December 04, 2003 - 06:18 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Granted it won't happen anytime soon, but automakers are pledging to make vehicles safer, especially SUVs and pickups.
CNN's Julie Vallese live in Washington with details on this.
Good morning -- Julie.
JULIE VALLESE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Vehicle incompatibility or the unbalanced match up between light trucks and cars is an issue safety experts have been concerned about for years. But with the rising popularity of SUVs in the United States, those experts realized that something needed to be done sooner rather than later. And it is car manufacturers who are first stepping up to the plate.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JULIE VALLESE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the bumper-to- bumper match up in vehicle crashes, it's usually trucks that win. But now a voluntary commitment from vehicle manufacturers looks to even the playing field.
ROB STRASSBURGER, ALLIANCE OF AUTO MFRS.: Safety of our customers is our utmost priority. And manufacturers have been working hard to enhance the safety.
VALLESE: To help prevent injuries in front-to-side crashes, manufacturers say they will be increasing the number of head protecting airbags. In front-to-front crashes, manufacturers will have an option.
STRASSBURGER: By either lowering the frame of the SUVs so that it better aligns with a passenger car or adding additional framework below the main structure of the vehicle.
VALLESE: The hope is a better match up in the bumper zone. While the changes are meant to improve vehicle safety, they won't rid the road or cars of all problems.
BRIAN O'NEILL, INSURANCE INST. FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY: What these agreements will begin to do is reduce some of the disparities that aggravate the situation in two vehicle crashes.
VALLESE: But critics say voluntary regulation isn't in the consumer's best interest. JOAN CLAYBROOK, PUBLIC CITIZEN: We believe that the public ought to be the regulator of the government. Voluntary means it's free choice. It's free choice of the auto manufacturers to comply or not going to comply, change their mind down the road.
VALLESE: There is legislation pending on Capitol Hill requiring better vehicle compatibility and the Department of Transportation is looking into whether a mandatory standard is necessary.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Now almost all car manufacturers have agreed to these voluntary standards and they have pledged that they will be in 100 percent of cars by model year 2010 -- Carol.
COSTELLO: 2010. Julie Vallese reporting live from D.C. this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 4, 2003 - 06:18 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Granted it won't happen anytime soon, but automakers are pledging to make vehicles safer, especially SUVs and pickups.
CNN's Julie Vallese live in Washington with details on this.
Good morning -- Julie.
JULIE VALLESE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Vehicle incompatibility or the unbalanced match up between light trucks and cars is an issue safety experts have been concerned about for years. But with the rising popularity of SUVs in the United States, those experts realized that something needed to be done sooner rather than later. And it is car manufacturers who are first stepping up to the plate.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JULIE VALLESE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the bumper-to- bumper match up in vehicle crashes, it's usually trucks that win. But now a voluntary commitment from vehicle manufacturers looks to even the playing field.
ROB STRASSBURGER, ALLIANCE OF AUTO MFRS.: Safety of our customers is our utmost priority. And manufacturers have been working hard to enhance the safety.
VALLESE: To help prevent injuries in front-to-side crashes, manufacturers say they will be increasing the number of head protecting airbags. In front-to-front crashes, manufacturers will have an option.
STRASSBURGER: By either lowering the frame of the SUVs so that it better aligns with a passenger car or adding additional framework below the main structure of the vehicle.
VALLESE: The hope is a better match up in the bumper zone. While the changes are meant to improve vehicle safety, they won't rid the road or cars of all problems.
BRIAN O'NEILL, INSURANCE INST. FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY: What these agreements will begin to do is reduce some of the disparities that aggravate the situation in two vehicle crashes.
VALLESE: But critics say voluntary regulation isn't in the consumer's best interest. JOAN CLAYBROOK, PUBLIC CITIZEN: We believe that the public ought to be the regulator of the government. Voluntary means it's free choice. It's free choice of the auto manufacturers to comply or not going to comply, change their mind down the road.
VALLESE: There is legislation pending on Capitol Hill requiring better vehicle compatibility and the Department of Transportation is looking into whether a mandatory standard is necessary.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Now almost all car manufacturers have agreed to these voluntary standards and they have pledged that they will be in 100 percent of cars by model year 2010 -- Carol.
COSTELLO: 2010. Julie Vallese reporting live from D.C. this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
