IIHS slams Transport Canada over proposed bumper standards

You may remember earlier this month we reported that Transport Canada is considering harmonizing Canadian bumper standards with those in the U.S. (click here).

'Harmonizing' is a nice way of saying that Transport Canada wants to weaken Canadian bumper standards from 8km/h to 4km/h. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the United States has written a letter to Transport Canada slamming the decision.

“IIHS is disappointed that Transport Canada proposes to weaken the bumper standard based on unsubstantiated concerns about effective damageability versus pedestrian protection as well as incorrect assumptions about harmonization with the United States and Europe.”

“There is substantial evidence that weakening the Canadian standard will lead to increased insurance claim rates and costs. The cited benefits of a harmonized standard are ill-informed and misleading.”

Clearly the decision to harmonize bumper standards is to help automakers reduces costs. How could weaker bumper standards be a good thing for Canadian drivers? It's not, plain and simple.

Click here to read the entire letter from the IIHS.

Comments

[AdamG]

"
Clearly the decision to harmonize bumper standards is to help automakers reduces costs. How could weaker bumper standards be a good thing for Canadian drivers? It's not, plain and simple.
"

Uh, nice job of using your fact to make the opposite conclusion that it implies. Clearly, reduced car production costs is a good thing for Canadian drivers because it lowers purchase costs.

[Bob]

I think my safety is worth more than a few bucks. And cheaper bumpers means higher insurance costs because of higher repair costs. The IIHS recently tested luxury cars in 6mph collisions and some sustained damage in the thousands of dollars http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr080207.html

A lower purchase is nice but if my ownerships costs are higher than what's the point.

......and who said lower production costs will mean lower prices. Maybe it means increased profitability for automakers!!

[Sepiraph]

I call bullshit on IIHS, if anything why should they be 'disappointed' at Transport Canada, but not at the U.S. instead then for having lower standard.

They probably have much to do with import rules, and ultimately money the automakers made due to having Canadian-version cars. Follow the money.

[John G]

Why did Canada go with the higher standard in the first place? why the sudden reversal? is it so you can import a Mitsubishi that will have it's radiator/intercooler and fascia ruined in a 6mph collision? how about standardized bumper heights instead? Suspicious, but i bet the auto-body shops and dealerships will have both thumbs up for this one.

[Eric]

Re: John G

Yes, I want to import a Mitsubishi
And that would save me close to $10000 vs buying one here in Canada.
If americans won't increase their standard to mach Canada, then we should lower it.
As much as I dislike the "americans" we are partners and any differences in anything only cost the poorer people.

[j.desrochers]

The higher Canadian Standard has not proven to be safer and pedestrian safety can be impoved. I say change the standard to the US one immediatly.

[NKelly]

To Bob:
'I think my safety is worth more than a few bucks'
I don't think 4 or 8 kph crash tests have anything to do with safety. If you are harmed in an 8kph crash, you are doing something very wrong.

'The IIHS recently tested luxury cars in 6mph collisions and some sustained damage in the thousands of dollars'

What does a 6mph test have to do with this at all? That is about 10kmh, which is above both the current and proposed test requirements.

'.....and who said lower production costs will mean lower prices. Maybe it means increased profitability for automakers!!'

I think this is more about taking away the excuses automakers use to justify higher prices in Canada. ie. "Your car costs 30% more than the US model because of it's super-duper Canadian spec bumper". (And if you think 30% is an unrealistic number, check out www.ataleoftwoprices.com)

And to John G:

'Why did Canada go with the higher standard in the first place?'

These regulations were developed in the 70s. I'm sure whatever reasoning was applied, it is in no way relevant to todays' cars.

'why the sudden reversal?'

This harmonization has been talked about for years.

'is it so you can import a Mitsubishi that will have it's radiator/intercooler and fascia ruined in a 6mph collision?'

Like Eric said, yes. If it bothers you that you run the risk of high repair costs in a low-speed collision, buy a different car.

'how about standardized bumper heights instead?'

You tell me how you can get the bumper of say, a Toyota 4-Runner and a Mazda Miata at the same height, then we'll talk?

This whole debate is quite silly in my opinion. Transport Canada itself has done a study that show the higher standard has had no virtually effect on repair costs or safety. (No I don't have the link at the moment, but a little googling should turn it up.)

Even if (when?) the regulation gets changed, there will be something new that automakers (and their buddies at the RIV) can use to exclude these cars from importation into Canada. (The new emissions requirements being discussed should serve very well in this regard).

[MichaelM]

Your article is rubbish. This has nothing to do with safety of the driver; however it does impact the safety of pedestrians who are hit by cars. The standard is a damage standard - i.e. how fast of an impact can a bumper withstand without being damaged. The car is structurally the same and a Canadian spec car would not perform better (as is it relates to passenger safety) in a head on collision than a US/EUR spec car.

Canada is the only country that requires this high of a standard of damage and the only real beneficiary is the insurance industry which pays out less in collision claims to have the bumpers replaced. The standard results in "harder"bumpers which have the potential to cause considerably more damage to pedestrians in a human vs car accident than the US/EURO standard bumpers. The insurance industry wants to wrap this issue in the Canadian flag (i.e. the US must be wrong - we Canadians are so much smarter and concerned about safety) so that they protect their interests - don't be fooled.

[Pete]

I say Hooray! Finally -- this will finally stop the likes of Mercedes and BMW from gouging us for expensive $6K+ bumper modifications as a deterant from importing MUCH cheaper equivalent US cars! The cost of a US e-class Mercedes is $15K cheaper; the cost of a US S-Class is close to $25K cheaper. For a while now Mercedes and BMW have been successful in convincing Transport Canada and the Federal government to make thier cars a 'special case' and charge $6k+ for a Benz dealer (exclusively) to "modify' these vehicles, while other manufacturers vehicles could be imported for a few hundred dollars and inspected by Canadian Tire! It's about time this charade ended! I say, BRING ON THIS CHANGE! It's time for the gouging of Canadian citizens to STOP! Even if we don't want to go through the hassle of importing a US vehicle, it will make the Canadian car dealer network LOWER their prices to better match the US pricing. This is a good thing. Let's end these restrictive trade practises!