MultiVu Video Feed: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Reveals Crash Test Results From Mismatched Car and SUV Bumpers

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NEWS: Huge cost of mismatched bumpers when bumpers on cars and SUVs don't line up (and many of them don't)

FORMAT:  B-roll and Soundbites

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STORY SUMMARY:

Bumpers are the first line of defense against costly damage in everyday low-speed crashes. Bumpers on cars are designed to match up with each other in collisions, but a long-standing gap in federal regulations exempts SUVs from the same rules. New Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests demonstrate the results: SUV bumpers that don't line up with those on cars can lead to huge repair bills in what should be minor collisions in stop-and-go traffic.

"SUVs and cars share the road," says Joe Nolan, the Institute's chief administrative officer. "The problem is they don't share the same bumper rules, and consumers end up paying the price."

A federal standard requires that all cars have bumpers that protect within a zone of 16 to 20 inches from the ground. This means car bumpers line up reasonably well and are more likely to engage during low-speed collisions to absorb energy and prevent damage. No bumper requirements apply to SUVs, pickups, or minivans, so when these vehicles have bumpers they often are flimsier and higher off the ground than bumpers on cars. Plus, SUVs and pickups may not have bumpers at all.

In fender-benders with SUVs, cars often end up with excessive damage to hoods, engine cooling systems, fenders, bumper covers, and safety equipment like lights. SUVs don't always come out unscathed either, often needing extensive work. The Institute conducted 10 mph front-into-rear crash tests involving 7 pairs of 2010-11 models, each composed of a small car and small SUV from the same automaker.

In the tests, an SUV going 10 mph struck the back of its paired car, which was stopped. Then the configuration was reversed, with the car striking the back of its paired SUV. Results of these low-speed impacts varied widely, from a total of $850 damage to one vehicle to $6,015 damage to another. In some cases, the crash damage included major leaks from broken radiators and cooling fans. If these collisions had happened in the real world, the motorists wouldn't have been able to drive away. If they did, their vehicles could overheat, and the engines could be ruined.

SOUNDBITES:  

Joe Nolan, Chief Administrative Officer

B-ROLL INCLUDES: Crash test footage, related B-roll

VIDEO PROVIDED BY:  Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

FOR TECH INFORMATION OR HARD COPY, CALL: MultiVu Media Relations, 800-653-5313 EXT. 3

FOR STORY INFO, CONTACT:  Russ Rader, (703) 247-1500

/PRNewswire--Dec. 2, 2010/

SOURCE Insurance Institute for Highway Safety