 
Consumer Group Disputes NHTSA Findings; Proposes
Mandate of Automatic Reversing Power Sidelites
November 24, 2009
A consumer group has released research that it claims shows that
more than 13 million have been injured by power sidelites, in contrast
to data released in August by the National Traffic Highway Safety
Administration (NHTSA). The NHTSA is working to develop a regulation
for sidelites, but estimates that fewer than 2,000 have been injured
and had concluded that mandating automatic reversing systems for
power sidelites is not necessary. (CLICK
HERE for related story.)
KidsAndCars.org is urging the NHTSA to reexamine its ruling and
require that automatic reversal become standard on all vehicles
sold in the United States. The group also has sought legislators
input on the issue.
As far as the dangerous potential of power windows is concerned,
automakers have existing technology to prevent millions of injuries
and deaths, and we should require them to utilize this preventive
technology to save lives, says Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL).
KidsAndCars.org says it conducted its research via phone and online
surveys, through a research firm, Harris Interactive, this October,
and that the surveys conducted showed several key facts, such as:
- More than 13 million U.S. adults have injured someone they know
by closing a car window.
- More than 22 million U.S. adults have been personally injured
or know someone who has been personally injured by someone else
closing a car window.
- More than 10 million U.S. adults have been personally injured
by someone else closing a car window but did not seek medical
care thus they were not included in any government data collection
efforts.
Weve known for a long time that millions of people
are injured by power windows. When you bring up the topic, everyone
has a story about an incident they are familiar with, says
Janette Fennell, KidsAndCars.org founder and president. And
even though the NHTSA believes mandated pull-up switches
will rectify this issue by eliminating injuries caused by inadvertent
activation of the window, our data proves that it is someone else
in the vehicle that causes the majority of the injuries. Common
sense, life-saving technology exists and can be easily implemented,
as it has been on garage doors and elevators, to prevent senseless
child deaths and injuries.
KidsAndCars.org estimates that mandating the automatic reversal
feature would only cost $6 per window, and that the technology is
standard on most vehicles in Europe.
CLICK
HERE to view a video KidsAndCars.org has created as a public
service announcement. 
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