Although lauded for their environmental benefits, The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reported that “mini-cars” do a poor job of protecting their occupants. In fact, research shows that the chance of a fatality in collisions with mid-size vehicles is almost double that of larger vehicles, and that number is tripled in single “mini-car” crashes. Although mini-cars therefore may be more environmentally friendly than other vehicles, tension exists between being safe and being “green”. It’s not easy being green……

Massive Toyota recall- questionable floor plan design
As reported in the New York Times the NHTSA is critical of the Toyota Motor Corp. charging it released misleading information about an investigation into problems with stuck gas pedals that led a huge Toyota recall.