The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has announced its TOP SAFETY PICKS for 2009. 72 motor vehicles earned TOP SAFETY PICK awards, which is more than twice the number of vehicles that received the award for 2008. Garnering a top safety pick award means that a vehicle does the best job it can to protect [...]
1-Year-Old’s Strangulation Death Leads to Recall of 670,000 IKEA Blinds
November 21, 2008
The death of a 1-year-old girl has prompted a voluntary recall by IKEA Home Furnishings of some 670,000 IRIS and ALVINE Roman blinds in the United States. The recall also includes 4.8 million blinds that were sold outside the country. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, the toddler died after her neck became [...]
WATCH Issues 2008 List of 10 Worst Toys
November 18, 2008
As the holiday season approaches, more shoppers will start to arrive at toy and department stores to buy the latest toys for their sons, daughters, nieces, and nephews. To help parents and other purchase toys that are not only fun to play with but are safe for use, the nonprofit organization World Against Toys Causing [...]
Chrysler and NHTSA Announce Recall of 20,283 Dodge Police Vehicles Because of Gearshift Defect
November 12, 2008
Auto manufacturer Chrysler and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are recalling 20,283 Dodge Charger and Magnum police cars. The 2006 to 2009 models come with a police package that includes a column shifter. The recall affects vehicles made before and after the recall package refresh. The concern is that the wrong gearshift position might [...]
NHTSA School Bus Safety Ruling Calls for Higher Seat Backs and Introduces New Seat Belt Requirements
November 7, 2008
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced its “final rule” on improving school bus safety. Only new buses are subject to the rule, which goes into effect in 2011. The new rule requires new school buses to have 24-inch-high seat backs that will hopefully prevent heavier and taller kids from being thrown over their [...]
CPSC, Hewlett-Packard, Dell, and Toshiba Work Announce Recall of 35,000 PC Laptop Batteries Made by Sony Because of Burn and Fire Hazard
November 4, 2008
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission and Hewlett-Packard, Dell, and Toshiba are working together to recall some 35,000 lithium-ion batteries used in the companies’ notebook computers because of concerns that the batteries could overheat and catch fire. The batteries are made by Sony Energy Devices Corporation. An additional 65,000 Sony batteries outside the United States [...]
