Road Tests Urged for Rollover Risk

A U.S. safety agency should conduct driving tests in addition to the mathematical formula it uses to rate vehicle rollover risks, a government study mandated by Congress concluded.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also should use a new statistical model to help distinguish the rollover risk among similar vehicle types and develop a rating system more precise than its one to five stars, the National Research Council said in its report.

Auto makers have criticized NHTSA for basing the rollover risk solely on a mathematical formula.