Rollovers found less likely: SUVs, pickups safer, but some critics question methodology of crash test.(Sport Utility Vehicles)

Byline: Justin Hyde

May 31--New sport-utility vehicles and pickups are less likely to roll over in a crash than ever before, according to federal tests released Tuesday, but safety advocates question how much the tests can do to reduce rollover crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also said automakers are selling more SUVs with electronic stability control, a system that's been shown to sharply reduce accidents. It may become a requirement in future models. While rollovers are relatively rare -- accounting for less than 3% of all crashes -- they cause a third of all traffic-related deaths, killing 10,411 people in the United States in 2004, according …