The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "NHTSA" ...
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Fatal RV Flaws
"Poorly secured cabinets, braking issues, along with a lack of safety inspections or RV's, has led to the death and serious injury of hundreds of drivers and passengers."
Tags: RV; recreational vehicles; safety inspection; fatalities; NHTSA; FARS; Washington State Patrol accident reports
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Fuel Economy: Why You're Not Getting the MPG You Expect
U.S. government fuel economy ratings data significantly mislead consumers about the miles-per-gallon they can realistically expect to get from specific new cars and trucks. This is due to flawed and outdated testing methodology, procedures and loopholes used by the EPA, the NHTSA, and automakers.
Tags: cars; automobiles; environment; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Environmental Protection Agency; mileage; gas; fuel economy; mpg
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Durango Dangers
This investigation exposed a dangerous flaw in the design of the Dodge Durango, a popular SUV. It found that the upper ball joints, part of the wheel structure, may wear out and cause drivers to lose control of the vehicle. The investigation resulted in many complaints to NHTSA from Durango drivers, and an eventual recall of the vehicle.
Tags: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; vehicle design; highway driving; Dodge; DaimlerChrysler
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Moving Targets
Reporters at the Las Vegas Sun look into the high number of pedestrian and cyclist fatalities on Las Vegas roadways. Using data and statistics from the NHTSA and the National Center for Statistics and Analysis, the reporters discovered that the problem lies in roadway design, motorist carelessness, and lenient laws.
Tags: traffic accidents; pedestrian fatalities; National Highway Transportation Safety Administration; UNLV Transportation Research Center; manslaughter; jaywalking
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Danger overhead: Crushed roofs
This investigation found that Detroit's Big Three automakers have fought costly upgrades to a 33-year-old roof strength standard despite the estimated 7,000 people killed each year in rollovers in which the roof was crushed. Automotive engineers are aware that strong roofs save lives, and the company's own European operations build and test stronger roofs, yet the Big Three continue to fight attempts to require stronger minimum standards in the United States.
Tags: autos; cars; automobile safety; rollovers; Big Three; automakers; SUVs; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; NHTSA
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Dodge Durango Investigation
Despite its popularity on the road the Dodge Durango is jammed with problems in one of its wheel structure's critical components - the upper ball joints. CBS investigates this issue to discover that these joints may prematurely wear out- 'as early as 15,000 miles', thanks to a design defect. This wearing out can have deadly consequences due to sudden wheel collapses and seperation. Following several complaints about this received by national traffic authorities, the investigation finds that the ball joint problem is actually seen more in Durango's sister model, Dakota.
Tags: SUV; National Highway Traffic And Safety Administration; road safety; mileage; NHTSA
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Hospitals caught in the middle
USA Today's review of 10 studies found that injured drunken drivers taken to hospitals are prosecuted less than half the time.
Tags: drunk driving; drunk drivers; blood alcohol reporting; impaired motorists; hospitals; trauma centers; confidentiality; NHTSA; blood alcohol levels
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Deadly Driving: Safety Agency Puts Motorists at Risk
In an eight-month investigation, 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." The agency also fails to find defects in cars and trucks and fails to force recalls for repairs.
Tags: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; federal agencies; NHTSA; auto safety; automobile recalls; vehicle defects; auto-safety issues
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Windows of Worry
A local boy's death by power window strangulation was called a "freak" accident by police, but The Press-Enterprise discovered that dozens of children have been strangled to death by power windows across the U.S.
Tags: power windows strangulation; childhood deaths; NHTSA; CPSC; Kids N Cars; Congress; automakers; product liability; power window switches
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Wrecks in Disguise
When a car or truck has been so badly damaged in a wreck that an insurance company declares it a total loss, you might think that would guarantee it a trip to the junkyard. Instead, a Consumer Reports investigation found that hundreds of thousands of these vehicles are rebuilt and sold to unwitting consumers. The report examines this murky enterprise, the safety threat to consumers and the nationwide system of flawed state title disclosure laws that allow consumers to be misled and cheated.
Tags: automobiles; wrecks; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; NHTSA; Carfax; Inc.; vehicle titles; Fatality Analysis Reporting System; FARS; auto auctions; state vehicle-titling laws; rebuilt wrecks; vehicle identification number