The Nation - News from April 8, 1986

A consumer organization asked the government to restore tougher standards for automobile bumpers so that bumpers can withstand accidents at speeds up to 5 m.p.h. Consumers Union petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to restore the standard, which was reduced to 2.5 m.p.h. in 1982. It said that the relaxed standard has resulted in “tissue-paper bumpers.” Consumers Union said that the reduced standard also caused car-repair bills ranging from $146 to $1,081.