Background Two basic standards (FMVSS 214 - Side Door Strength and FMVSS 216 - Roof Crush Resistance) that protect occupants in side impacts and rollover crashes took effect for passenger cars during 1973 and were extended to pickup trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles, with an effective date of September 1, 1993. FMVSS 216 is not included in this evaluation, because most trucks met the standard without additional modification. FMVSS 214, on the other hand, necessitated changes in the side structures of light trucks. Both standards were found to be effective for passenger cars in earlier NHTSA evaluations; that was one basis for extending them to light trucks.

Approach Detailed information has been obtained about the model years in which trucks were first equipped with side door beams or other side-structure modifications. FARS data have been analyzed by the methods developed in the 1982 and 1999 evaluations of FMVSS 214 for passenger cars.

Status A draft evaluation report is circulating within the agency.