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Several sources have reported Honda’s plan to include government crash safety ratings on the window stickers of its 2006 cars and light trucks, including those of Acura, Honda's sidekick. Many believe it is a good move for Honda to tout safety to buyers since its cars already perform well in crash tests. As it stands, eight vehicles in the manufacturer’s product line already boast the governments highest crash rating – 5 stars - as does the luxury Acura model. It is not clear who incited Honda execs to be the forerunner of this initiative. According to a story on the Detroit News Autos Insider, the move to mandate putting crash ratings on window decals of new cars has been pushed by Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, since at least year 2000, and more recently by US Senator Mike DeWine (R-Ohio) as a part of a federal highway bill before Congress. But it may have been the marketing geniuses at Honda who saw the benefit of separating itself from other manufacturers in order to boost sales. Regardless, putting the information in front of buyers without making them hunt for it on the Internet, as they previously had to do if they wanted crash rating information, helps them make more informed buying decisions. Hopefully, Honda’s move will be well-received by the public and other manufacturers will follow suit shortly. Honda says the ratings should be posted on window decals in a couple of months. Legislative counsel for National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), Rob Braziel, along with others in the auto industry, feel the window decal already carries plenty of information. Eron Shosteck, spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers was quoted saying: “If you add more information [to the window stcker] in its current form, you could end up with consumer overload. That could end up with consumers ignoring some or all of it, and nobody wants that situation.” I see the window sticker initiative much the same way as I see product labeling on food in grocery stores. When I go to the market, I’m not one of the people who stand around in the isles with reading glasses strapped to my head trying to decipher the fat and fiber content on packaging. But on the other hand, I’m glad that information has been included for the benefit of the many who do. My opinion is that too much information is better than not enough, and it should always be easily accessible to those who wish to take advantage it. Get crash tests and rollover ratings for cars For more information see the following articles:
Honda Press Release
Honda Empowers Consumers with Safety Information
Honda to Supply Crash Test Data on Window Stickers content & design ©2002-2009 David Williams and SafeCollisionRepairs.com
For more than ten years, David Williams of Wheelersburg, Ohio's Safe Collision Repairs has worked with consumers and attorneys in the tri-states of Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia to expose unsafe auto repairs and maximize recovery on auto insurance claims. Some of the company's services include Post-Repair Inspections, Prepurchase Inspections, Auto Damage Assessments, Lemon Law Investigations, Expert Court Testimony and Diminished Value Calculations using an advanced version of Network Information Communication's WreckCheck program.
The content expressed on this website and in the article above represents the opinions of David A. Williams. Williams is neither an attorney nor public insurance adjuster, but is an expert, consultant, and writer specializing in the field of automotive collision repair and valuations. The information provided herein is not intended to be a substitute for legal or insurance advice. Because collision repair is a continually evolving science, any text, materials or links found herein are provided without claim or guarantee to their accuracy or completeness. |
