The summer heat in Washington, DC must be getting to us because we have some good news about Congress for once!
In the House of Representatives, the Motor Vehicle Safety Title we told you about last month was included in the infrastructure bill which passed! If these provisions pass the Senate and are signed into law, not only will every new vehicle include features like advanced driver assistance systems, these systems will have to meet stringent performance standards, ensuring that the technology will work as advertised. The Safety Title confronts the scourge of impaired driving by requiring advanced drunk driving prevention technology. It compels proven and affordable technology to help prevent children’s deaths in hot cars, recognizing that even the most conscientious, loving, parents and caregivers can get distracted or suffer from fatigue and unknowingly leave their child in a vehicle. Furthermore, it resolves the problems of carbon monoxide poisoning and roll-aways associated with keyless ignition systems, also known as push-button starts. In other words, this legislation could usher in changes capable of reducing crashes, injuries, and deaths. We are proud to have played a role in educating Members of Congress and their staffs about how important vehicle safety is for everyone on the road.
In the Senate, Senators Edward Markey (D-MA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced a package of four safety bills that taken all together would improve seatback safety, increase recall completion rates, help identify dangerous vehicles more quickly, and reduce the epidemic of distracted driving. To take but one example, the Modernizing Seatback Safety Act, could force automakers to finally address a preventable problem that maims and kills far too many each year.
Finally, over the half century since the performance standard for seatback design was written, thousands of consumers have been killed or catastrophically injured by a standard so weak it could be passed by a lawn chair. After decades of delay by the auto industry which resulted in far too many preventable tragedies, particularly to children, the time has finally come to end the nightmare of seatback failures. The Modernizing Seatback Safety Act does exactly that.” - Jason Levine, Executive Director, Center for Auto Safety
Meanwhile, Tesla has been at it again. CEO Elon Musk says that Tesla is "close" to developing level 5 autonomous vehicles, and it's giving us déjà vu. He said the same thing back in 2019, but Tesla still hasn't managed to master level 2, as evidenced when a Model 3 with "Autopilot" engaged slammed into an overturned truck last month, and a Model S slammed into an Arizona state trooper and ambulance last week. Despite the lack of transparency from automakers, NHTSA still hasn't created a set of AV standards or mandated that automakers share test and crash data.
"To avoid this charade, and consumer and investor deception, NHTSA could have written performance standards for features like automatic emergency braking or forward collision warning, or even could have required driver monitoring systems for vehicles with ADAS features to avoid automation complacency. But of course that hasn’t happened. Instead, expect NHTSA to respond by making a feckless statement about potential after-the-fact safety enforcement that is as separated from reality as Musk’s statement about Tesla’s fully driverless capability arriving next year.” - Jason Levine, Executive Director, Center for Auto Safety
This last month shows vehicle safety progress is possible when the Center for Auto Safety community pulls together. We are so grateful for your help fighting for every driver, passenger, and pedestrian. Please help us get these bills across the finish line by continuing your support.
Wishing you a safe Sunday!
Best,
Jason Levine
Executive Director
Our Contact Information
Center for Auto Safety
1825 Connecticut Ave. NW
Suite 330
Washington, DC 20009
Suite 330
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 328-7700
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