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March 17, 2007

VAN DOOR SAFETY STANDARD UPGRADED BY NHTSA

Effective Sept. 1, 2009, van sliding doors will be required by NHTSAto have two latches instead of one, as at present, the Detroit News reported. “NHTSA has been concerned about doors opening during crashes as it focuses on preventing the ejection of unbelted motorists. More than 54,000 people are ejected each year from vehicles, and 15 percent are ejected through doors. Between 1995 and 2003, 20 people died and 30 were injured annually after sliding doors opened during accidents,” the paper said.

“The new requirement will save seven lives annually and four injuries will be reduced in severity as a result of remaining inside the vehicle, NHTSA estimates. Most at risk are children, it said. “Children sit in the back of vehicles in disproportionately high numbers," NHTSA's rule said. The final rule, NHTSA said, "essentially requires sliding doors to have two latches."

Posted by MVHAP at March 17, 2007 02:15 PM