Photo credit: arstechnica.com
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not offered explicit details regarding the alterations in its Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) dataset, particularly about the missing data or any necessary “minor corrections.” Further clarification is anticipated as the dataset is expected to reappear online in the coming days.
According to Karl Brauer, an executive analyst at iSeeCars.com—a platform that utilizes FARS data to assist consumers in identifying the most hazardous vehicles on U.S. roads—the current lack of communication from the NHTSA leaves industry stakeholders uncertain about potential changes to the FARS data. He expressed concern about the implications of restricted access to such crucial safety information.
“While we can only guess at the reasons behind NHTSA limiting access to FARS data, it’s disappointing given FARS’ importance as a benchmark for vehicle safety,” Brauer remarked. He emphasized the necessity for transparency, stating that consumers should have access to comprehensive safety evaluations of vehicles, including data on the fatalities associated with them.
Political Influences on Vehicle Safety Reporting
In recent assessments, iSeeCars identified several vehicles as among the most perilous vehicles on the market. The Hyundai Venue, Chevrolet Corvette, Mitsubishi Mirage, Porsche 911, and Honda CR-V Hybrid were highlighted as having fatal accident rates that were nearly five times higher than the average from 2018 to 2022.
Interestingly, despite the perceived safety advancements offered by Tesla’s driver-assistance technologies, both the Model Y and Model S ranked among the most dangerous cars, contributing to Tesla’s designation as the brand with the highest fatal accident rate.
In December, as Donald Trump was about to assume the presidency, reports emerged regarding his transition team’s considerations to eliminate a car-crash reporting requirement that was seen as detrimental by some, including Elon Musk of Tesla. A document reviewed by Reuters indicated that this requirement, which mandates car manufacturers to report crash data, effectively differentiates it from FARS, which is generated from law enforcement reports.
Sources cited by Reuters noted that Musk argued the reporting rules were biased against Tesla, asserting that the company provides more accurate data compared to other manufacturers. Consequently, this perception can lead to an exaggerated representation of Tesla as singularly responsible for a disproportionate number of incidents involving advanced driver-assistance technologies.
Source
arstechnica.com