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New York Taxi Fire Puts Heat on Ford

Senator Schumer Wants Ford to Provide Gas Tank Shields

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

January 2, 2006

• Crown Vic Disappears from Ford Dealer Lots • Ford Recalls Police Cruiser for Faulty Wheels • New York Taxi Fire Puts Heat on Ford • Ford Offers Retrofit to Prevent Fire in Lincoln Limos • Jury Awards $43 Million in Flaming Lincoln Case • Jury Finds Ford Not Liable in Crown Vic Fire • Ford Recalls Police Cars, Taxis to Fix Different Fire Problem • Chrysler Rolls Out New Dodge Charger Police Car • Arkansas Refuses to Back Down • Illinois Cops Drop Out of Crown Vic Class Action • Dallas to Add Fire Suppressant to Fords • Philadelphia Joins Ford Suits • Police Car Flunks Ford's Own Test, Dallas DA Charges • Ford Will Shield Police Fuel Tanks • Cleveland Files Flaming Ford Suit • Ford Agrees to Police Car Safety Probe • New Jersey City Sues Ford

Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) is calling on Ford Motor Co. to offer gas tank shields for Crown Victoria taxi cabs after a fiery crash in New York City that killed a cab driver. Gurbaj Singh's cab burst into flames after being struck in the side by a suspected drunken driver’s minivan December 26.

The New York Democrat suggested Ford may be partly to blame for the death of the taxi driver. In a December 30 letter to Ford Chairman and CEO Bill Ford Jr., Schumer urged a "major design overhaul" of the sedans, which are the most popular vehicle in the New York City taxi fleet.

The Crown Victoria is a full-sized, rear-wheel drive sedan and is also popular with older drivers and police departments as well as taxi services. Critics contend that the location of the gas tank, behind the rear axle, leaves the Crown Victoria vulnerable to rupture and fire in a rear-end crash.

Ford has offered shields for gas tanks on Crown Victoria police cruisers after several police officers died in post-crash fires. Most of the deaths occurred when the cruisers were struck from behind at extremely high speeds and the gas tank ruptured.

Schumer says Ford should offer the gas tank shields to New York City cabbies.

Ford tests the Crown Victoria at speeds that exceed requirements imposed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, according to a company spokesman and the vehicle holds up well in the tests.

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