Senators Urge Faster Progress on Auto Safety Rules

A group of nine Democratic senators called on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to expedite finalizing overdue vehicle safety regulations. The senators pointed to missed deadlines for rules, including measures to prevent drunk driving and alert drivers to check rear seats after vehicle shutoff.

Traffic deaths in the U.S. peaked at 42,915 in 2021, the highest since 2005. While fatalities have since decreased, they remain higher than any pre-pandemic year since 2008.

NHTSA has made some progress in addressing safety concerns, finalizing a rule requiring automatic emergency braking in all cars and light trucks by 2029 and proposing new standards for seatback safety to protect rear passengers. It also proposed rules to address the risks of pedestrians being hit by vehicle hoods.

Despite these advancements, the senators noted that many statutory deadlines for safety provisions from a 2021 infrastructure law have yet to be met. These include rules for crash avoidance technology, automatic engine shutoff systems, and reminders to check rear seats.

The senators emphasized that NHTSA has yet to issue regulations aimed at preventing impaired driving, a requirement set for November. NHTSA missed a distracted driving study deadline and has not issued rules due by November 2023 requiring new cars to be equipped with systems to alert drivers to check rear seats after vehicle shutoff.

In June, a group representing major automakers—including General Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen, and others—asked NHTSA to reconsider the automatic emergency braking rule.

For more information, read the full article on Reuters.