After a six-year battle, federal safety regulators opened to the public a database that details thousands of deaths, injuries and property claims made to auto and tire manufacturers.
The database, which also includes data on lawsuits, recalls and other reported defects, is designed to help prevent auto defects from causing widespread harm.
Joan Claybrook, president of Public Citizen, called the release of some data "a victory for consumers." Still she argued that NHTSA was keeping much of the information "confidential under pressure from the manufacturers."
In July, a federal appeals court upheld NHTSA's right to keep some information out of public view. "NHTSA must provide the public a fuller and more comprehensive picture of the early warning information," Claybrook said. "Doing so will greatly benefit consumers and give automakers strong incentives to improve the safety of their vehicles."
Maybe not the whole enchilada, but any news is better than none.
ateixeira says:
11:12 AM, 09/16/08
safecar.gov is a useful site. There's a link to the ODI (Office of Defects Investigation) to report a problem with your car. I refer people to that site all the time.