Like the title? It is sweeps week so I am using a little journalistic license.
CBS News Story
I was going to blame this on Consumer Reports, however; it was done by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Every year they drag out the contention that car makers are making cars that are not designed to withstand simple parking lot accidents. Now, was anything they said a lie? No, just a streching of the truth. For example,
>>The institute tested the bumpers of 17 mid size cars. The tests were done at 6 miles per hour on the front and rear bumpers and 3 miles per hour on the corners — about the speed of a toddler walking. <<
Now 6 miles per hour is like running a 10 minute mile - I doubt many toddlers can generate that speed. Also the test were done with what looked like a fixed bumper simulator. This would have the effect of doubling the speed.
So while they are not lying, they are also not telling the truth, which is a shame. There are problems with bumpers; cars are not designed to be repaired inexpensively after minor accidents. My problem is that the sensationalism over the problem is a 15 minute story; there is no attempt to propose how to change it.
The noise becomes so great that you cannot make a rational judgement. Ironically, on their own web site, there is a more practical analysis:
Q&A Bumpers
So I report - you decide (what to do)
10 minutes
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