National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Taller vehicles are more dangerous to pedestrians, even at low speeds, research finds

12:01am December 10, 2024

A study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows higher speeds are worse for pedestrians regardless of vehicle height — but those risks are amplified for vehicles with taller front ends.

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With Trump's win, Elon Musk stands to benefit

3:56pm November 07, 2024

The billionaire businessman has spent weeks campaigning relentlessly for Donald Trump. That dedication could lead to major benefits for him and his companies.

Queue Listen Now

National

U.S. presses the ‘reset button' on technology that lets cars talk to each other

3:49pm August 16, 2024

Safety advocates have long touted the potential of technology that lets vehicles communicate wirelessly. Now the Transportation Department is releasing a new plan that aims to speed up the rollout.

Emergency workers work the scene of a fatal car accident in August 2021 in Tulsa, Okla. Nearly 43,000 people died in U.S. traffic crashes in 2021, with deaths due to speeding and impaired or distracted driving on the rise.

Distraction, speeding and alcohol contribute to a 16-year high in traffic deaths

2:11pm April 03, 2023

by The Associated Press

The 2021 numbers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirmed earlier estimates showing a 10.5% increase in deaths over 2020. The 43,000 deaths were the highest total since 2005.

Ford is recalling about 1.5 million vehicles due to problems with their brake hoses or windshield wipers. It says owners can get those parts replaced for free.

National

Ford recalls 1.5 million vehicles over problems with brake hoses and windshield wipers

1:41pm March 17, 2023

by Rachel Treisman

The automaker is recalling nearly 1.3 million 2013-2018 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ sedans, as well as 220,000 F-150 pickups from 2021. Here's what to do if your vehicle might be affected.

A Tesla owner charges his vehicle in April 2021 at a charging station in Topeka, Kan.. Tesla reported 273 crashes involving partially automated driving systems, according to statistics released by U.S. safety regulators on Wednesday.

National

Nearly 400 car crashes in 11 months involved automated tech, companies tell regulators

1:57pm June 15, 2022

by The Associated Press

There were five deaths and six serious injuries in the 392 crashes reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration from July 2021 to May 2022. Two-thirds of the crashes involved Teslas.

A man crosses a nearly empty street in San Francisco, on March 17, 2020. Despite a reduction in driving last year, road fatalities increased, according to the National Safety Council.

Health & Safety

'Tragic': Driving Was Down In 2020, But Traffic Fatality Rates Surged

3:30pm March 05, 2021

by Camila Domonoske

A report estimates that traffic deaths rose 8% last year compared to 2019. When measured by number of miles driven, fatalities surged by 24%, the highest in nearly a century.

California argues it should be allowed to set its own fuel efficiency standards.

White House Proposal Rolls Back Fuel Economy Standards, No Exception For California

1:18pm August 02, 2018

Government agencies have released a proposal to freeze fuel economy and emissions requirements for six years. The proposed rules would also block California from setting its own, higher standards.

Public safety experts and advocates disagree about what conclusions can be drawn from data on the presence of alcohol or other drugs in the bodies of people involved in deadly crashes.

Measuring Drug Impairment In Drivers Is Easier Said Than Done

2:56pm May 05, 2017

by Katherine Hobson

A report on the potential influence of alcohol or drug impairment on traffic fatalities points to the difficulty of comparing alcohol impairment standards to other drugs.

National

Traffic Deaths Climb By Largest Increase In Decades

8:54pm August 29, 2016

by Richard Gonzales

Federal transportation officials have issued a "call to action" to researchers, experts and the public to analyze fatality data and suggest solutions.