Issues
The sobering reality: We must get off this road of destruction
By Beverly BeckhamAugust 17, 2022 It’s easy to dismiss statistics. Statistics are numbers. Not people. But the numbers are jaw dropping. An estimated 42,915 people around the country died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2021, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That’s nearly 43,000 ordinary people driving to work or home, to school, to…
The car crash crisis
By Catherine GarciaAugust 11, 2022 In 2021, an estimated 42,915 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in the United States — a 10.5 percent increase from 2020. Already this year, there have been thousands of traffic accident fatalities, including a nearly 1-year-old boy who was killed last week in Los Angeles when a speeding car slammed into…
Moon roof shatters in car wash in San Tan Valley
“They couldn’t find a specific design defect, and they really weren’t able to point their finger at a particularly bad manufacturer, so it appears it is something that’s just going to happen,” said Michael Brooks, the acting executive director of the Center for Auto Safety. According to Brooks, crashes and other major safety issues haven’t…
US agency probes Tesla crashes that killed 2 motorcyclists
Michael Brooks, acting executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, called on NHTSA to recall Tesla’s Autopilot because it is not recognizing motorcyclists, emergency vehicles or pedestrians. “It’s pretty clear to me, and it should be to a lot of Tesla owners by now, that this stuff isn’t working properly and it’s not…
Driveway Danger: Kids Being Injured and Killed in ‘Frontover’ SUV Blind Zone Incidents
“There’s a large zone in front of vehicles where you can’t see something that’s the height of a child – even the height of two or three children lined up,” said Michael Brooks, Acting Executive Director of the Center for Auto Safety. By Susan Hogan, Rick Yarborough, Steve Jones, Lance Ing and Carlos Olazagasti July…
Hyundai exec vows to improve company’s safety track record
One critic, Michael Brooks, acting executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, noted that Hyundai’s upgraded safety programs are focused on future vehicles, which Brooks said won’t help owners of the company’s existing autos. “There’s still a consumer issue that’s ongoing that needs to be resolved,” Brooks said. By Tom Krisher July 22, 2022…
Jury: Tesla just 1% to blame for teen driver’s fiery crash
Michael Brooks, at the Center for Auto Safety, said other lawsuits are pending against Tesla involving the vehicle’s autopilot and full self-driving systems. By Freida Frisaro, Associated Press July 20, 2022 A jury in Florida has found Tesla just 1% negligent in a fiery crash that killed two teens, for disabling a speed limiter on…
Kia models left off recall list also prone to dangerous engine fires
“And it really comes down to the fact that these engines are not good engines across a wide swath of Hyundai and Kia models,” Michael Brooks with the Center for Auto Safety said. By WSBTV.com News Staff July 7, 2022 WSB is investigating another recall of Kia and Hyundai vehicles over fire dangers. That pushes…
FOX13 Investigates fire problems with some Kia and Hyundai car models
“It really comes down to the fact that these engines are not good engines,” said Michael Brooks with the Center for Auto Safety. By Carolyn Cerda, FOX13Memphis.com and FOX13Memphis.com News Staff July 6, 2022 Imagine driving down the road when your car’s engine suddenly bursts into flames. It’s happening in some of the most common…
SUV owners warned to park outside over fire risk
“We’ve seen a new focus on fire recalls from [the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]. They’ve been getting the word out to owners in a way they’ve never done before to make sure that owners know not to park these things inside or not to charge them indoors,” Michael Brooks, Acting Executive Director of the…