CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : SACRAMENTO : More Safety Features Urged for Vehicles

Researchers said manufacturers of mini-vans and light trucks should voluntarily implement safety regulations that already are mandatory for passenger cars. If they don’t, the California Public Interest Research Group said in a report, thousands more lives will be lost in the next six years until the federal government orders their use. The report said such safety features as front-seat passive restraints, head rests, shoulder restraints, crush-resistant roofs and reinforced side-door strength are urgently needed for mini-vans and light trucks.