The following is an example of some of the research Longacre and Associates, Inc., has conducted for its clients.

With the upgrade of FMVSS 208-Occupant Crash Protection, vehicle manufacturers began installing automatic safety belts in some of their vehicles. Research is beginning to surface which shows that vehicle occupants who forget to buckle their manual lap belts may be injured more severely in an accident. Some of the vehicle occupants did not know that they had to buckle their lap belt. We assembled the complete promulgation of rulemaking (i.e., "Compendium of Rulemaking") at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), showing the history of the passive safety belt system, comments of vehicle manufacturers and other interested parties, and general references submitted in support of their positions.

 

We conducted research involving the problems of construction equipment rollover and door lock failure of the enclosed cab. We were able to document industry practices of construction equipment, voluntary and federal safety standards, government and industry hearings, and accident statistics. We also conducted a patent search of safety measures such as rollover protection devices and warning systems.

 

We accessed many sources of defect information on ATVs From the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) we obtained reported incidents, statistical trends, Briefing Packages, Hazard Analyses, and research reports. We obtained the pleadings from the U.S. District Court on US v. Honda as well as congressional hearings, investigations, and correspondence. The International Trade Commission (ITC) conducted an investigation on the safety of ATVs imported from Japan. We also conducted manual and computerized database literature searches on the design, operation, misuse and safety of ATVs

 

Child seat component failures, seat belt failures and problems of misuse are common defect areas in child restraint incidents. Research we obtained from NHTSA included proposed government rulemaking (including manufacturers comments), government and industry research reports, other reported incidents, and compliance test reports of child seats which are conducted by independent contractors for NHTSA.

 

We located and obtained information at the Consumer Product Safety Commission which included accident statistics of other reported incidents, in-depth investigations, research studies, Briefing Packages and Hazard Analyses. We also conducted a patent search of alternative heater designs and safety measures, that would have prevented or reduced the likelihood of an accident. Areas of research included problems with tip-over, carbon monoxide poisoning, and contact burns.

 

We conducted extensive research of vehicle fuel system designs including obtaining all of the Federal Register notices issued for promulgation of rulemaking for FMVSS 301-Fuel System Integrity. This compilation included comments by various vehicle manufacturers, government and industry testing, and US and foreign research. We reviewed proposed or alternative designs for vehicles through NHTSA's Experimental Vehicle Safety (ESV) program. We also conducted patent searches for alternative designs of fuel caps, filler necks, fuel tanks, and vehicle frame construction. A manual and computer search of literature pertaining to fuel system safety and integrity was also conducted.

 

Other types of research we recently have provided our clients includes:

Computer Database Searches

• Transportation Research Information Services (TRIS)
• Author Searches
• Vehicle Accident Statistics
• Power Press Accident Statistics
• Vehicle Side Window Glazing
• Injuries to Vehicle Occupants Wearing Only Lap Seat Belts

Patent Searches Conducted

• Vehicle Rollbars
• Ladders
• Seat Belt Retractors
• Grass Cutters
• Vehicle Door Locks
• Trailer Hitches
• Crane Overload Systems
• Infant Car Seats
• Power Press Safety Devices
• Vehicle Gas Caps
• Temporary Highway Bridge Supports
• Fuel System Shut Off Valves

Regulatory History of Safety Standards/Guidelines Compiled

• FMVSS 201-Occupant Protection in Interior Impact
• FMVSS 216-Roof Crush Resistance
• FMVSS 301-Fuel System Integrity
• OSHA Construction Equipment Rollover Protection
• Vehicle Rollover Protection
• European Vehicle Safety Standards

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