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Available Data A couple of databases, maintained by the IRE and NICAR Data Library, could help a journalist dig into the coverage of vehicle safety: The Car Recall and Complaints database compiled by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, and the Fatality Analysis Reporting System database, which records every fatal accident in the United States since 1975. The recall and complaints database includes more than 50,000 reported complaints about SUVs. This data includes brief descriptions of the consumer's problem (for example, poor steering control), the reported result of the problem (for example, a rollover), and a description of maintenance histories or drivers' problems, fields noting crashes,deaths, fires or injuries. In 254 cases, the complaint involved a death. One report about a 1994 Chevrolet Suburban in Monterey, Calif., says that intermittent brake failure caused a rear-end collision. The driver's seatbelt failed, and she suffered a miscarriage. Do drivers of these popular and pricey vehicles know that NHTSA has issued over 175 recalls for various components in SUVs manufactured in 2000-02? How well were recalls executed for older SUVs in garages and used car lots across the country? The recall notices cover everything from steering and brake malfunctions to sticking turn signals. More than 50 models have had a recall issued. The agency also reports nearly 3,000 service bulletins for newer SUVs. From the fatal accidents database, between 1994 through 2001, more than 10,000 SUVs were involved in rollover accidents resulting in fatalities, and a rollover was often cited. By using this database, reporters can identify how many fatal accidents SUVs have been involved in, as well as telling details for each accident. Some details this database offers: where each accident occurred, the weather conditions at the time of the accident, and the number of vehicles involved. Also, the make, model and year can be identified. It is also possible to determine the seating position of each person in a vehicle involved in a fatal accident as well as whether that person was unharmed, injured or suffered a fatal injury. For more information on these databases go to http://www.ire.org/datalibrary/databases/viewdatabase.php?dbaseindex=10 (recalls and complaints) and http://www.ire.org/datalibrary/databases/viewdatabase.php?dbaseindex=9 (fatal accidents). To order the data, call the Data Library at (573) 884-7711 or download an order form at http://www.ire.org/datalibrary/orderform/orderform.pdf. Stories The IRE Resource Center offers stories already published or broadcast, and tipsheets designed to assist journalists. You can search the story database to find these examples and more: Story #17623 A 2001 Discover investigation reveals that SUVs are less safe than passenger cars, according to road safety statistics. The story examines rollovers as a leading cause of auto-related deaths, and finds that "SUVs are three times as likely to roll over as other cars." The analysis focuses on the connection between the center of gravity and stability of cars. The report finds that "simple physics works against SUV owners." Story #17897 The New York Times reported in 2000: "Ford designed its Explorer on a shoestring budget in the late 1980s, bolting a roomy car-like passenger cabin on top of the underbody of a Ranger pickup truck. The high-riding design made the vehicle more prone to rolling over... Sport utility vehicles, which many American busy partly because they seem safer than cars in collisions between the two, roll over so often that their occupants are just as likely to die in an accident as car occupants..." Story #17551 In 2000, NBC Dateline investigated "one of this year's most controversial auto safety issues, revealing vital new information about the risk of deadly rollover accidents in sport utility vehicles. By researching historical records and personal accounts of auto industry insiders, Dateline documented that auto experts had serious concerns decades ago about the high risk of SUV rollovers." Story #19831 In an eight-month investigation last year, The Detroit News examined the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and found "the federal agency created 35 years ago to make vehicles safer is failing consumers, leading to at least 3,100 deaths and 18,000 injuries each year." Tipsheets Tipsheets can be found by searching the tipsheet database. Tipsheet#1290 Dawn Fallik, a panelist for the computer-assisted reporting conference in 2000, lists Web sites for researching transportation including crash and accident data, trucking, hazardous materials, airlines, railroads, school bus safety and FAA. Uplink and The IRE Journal Another resource is the searchable Index of The IRE Journal and Uplink. Back issues of The IRE Journal and Uplink may be purchased for $10 each. There is an additional $10 user fee for nonmembers. Check with the Resource Center at 573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org for availability.
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