Released car-accident data lacks crucial information

In July, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that the so-called Early Warning data -- information on specific products, automobiles and equipment linked to accidents involving death, injury or property damage -- must be published. The decision in effect ended five years of industry challenges to the release of such information.

However, the database on the website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, www.safercar.gov "> www.safercar.gov , contains only information from automobile manufacturers. It lacks data from tire makers, child-restraint producers and motorcycle companies, even though they are all compelled by law to report such information to the NHTSA.

The absence of that material is glaring, because it was a series of fatal rollovers involving Firestone tires that led to the passage of the reporting law eight years ago and the creation of the database.

Rae Tyson, spokesman for the NHTSA, said tire makers and other companies have attempted to block publication of their data by claiming it contains trade secrets.

"We have a backlog of over 100 confidentiality claims, the majority of which are from tire makers," Tyson said, adding that child-seat manufacturers have also filed such petitions.

The agency is reviewing the claims on an individual basis, Tyson said, and would immediately post data in cases where claims are denied. The agency has collected such data since 2003 but has not made it public because of industry challenges.

Tire makers, led by the Rubber Manufacturers Assn., an industry group, had opposed creation of the database.

Auto manufacturers unilaterally agreed to waive their right to confidentiality, according to spokesmen for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the Assn. of International Automobile Manufacturers, which represent the major car companies.

"We didn't have any problem with any of the data being published," said Kim Custer, spokesman for the international group that represents Honda Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co. and Hyundai Motor Co., among others.

As it stands, the Early Warning database is categorized by make and accident type and is reported in quarterly batches from the third quarter of 2003 through the first quarter of this year.