A CONSUMER'S GUIDE TO BETTER BUMPERS ON 1984 CARS: HOW TO SAVE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN CRASH REPAIRS

The results are reported of a survey of car companies and of information from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) files to determine which 1984 models have 5 MPH bumper protection. It is expected that informed customers will select cars with bumpers that can withstand the higher speed 5 MPH crashes without damage. The U.S. DOT estimated that 5 MPH bumpers save consumers over $400 million annually although they add only $30-40 to the price of the new car. The U.S. DOT under the Reagan Administration rolled back the bumper protection required for 1983-84 cars to a 2 1/2 MPH crash, or one fourth the protection required for the 1982 cars. However, the study showed that this move to weaker bumpers slowed in 1984. A table lists makes and models without damage in 5 MPH crashes and those with damage in 5 MPH or less crashes. It was found that 2 1/2 MPH bumpers cost as much as the better bumpers. Also, no fuel consumption improvements were found with 2 1/2 MPH bumpers as had been claimed. Accident costs were found to soar on cars with 2 1/2 MPH bumpers.

• Corporate Authors:

  Center for Auto Safety

  2001 S Street, NW, Suite 410
  Washington, DC  United States  20009
• Publication Date: 1983-12-12

Media Info

• Pagination: 6 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bumpers; Consumers; Costs; Crashes; Crashworthiness; Fuel consumption; Loss and damage; Purchasing; Vehicle design; Vehicle safety
• Uncontrolled Terms: Accident costs
• Old TRIS Terms: Vehicular safety
• Subject Areas: Design; Energy; Finance; Freight Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00391789
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-037 195
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Jan 30 1985 12:00AM