A coalition of nine Democratic senators has intensified pressure on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to swiftly finalise and implement crucial vehicle safety regulations, highlighting the persistent challenge of elevated traffic fatalities in the United States.
The senators, including prominent legislators Ed Markey, Richard Blumenthal, Dick Durbin, Jack Reed, and Ron Wyden, have formally communicated their concerns to the agency, questioning the prolonged delays in establishing critical safety standards that could potentially save numerous lives.
Traffic fatality statistics underscore the urgency of their appeal. In 2021, road deaths surged by 10.5%, reaching 42,915 – the highest number since 2005. Although subsequent years have witnessed a marginal decline, fatality rates remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels, consistently exceeding figures from 2008 onwards.
The NHTSA has made some progress in addressing safety concerns. This year, the agency finalised regulations mandating automatic emergency braking in cars and light trucks by 2029. Additionally, they proposed new seatback safety standards designed to prevent rear-seat passenger fatalities during collisions and introduced measures to mitigate risks to pedestrians from vehicle hood designs.
However, the senators argue that these advancements, while encouraging, represent merely a fraction of the necessary regulatory interventions. The legislators highlighted multiple instances where the agency has failed to meet statutory deadlines for critical safety provisions.
A 2021 infrastructure law encompassed ten new automotive safety provisions, including modernisation of crash avoidance technologies, automatic engine shutoff devices, and headlight standards. Notably, the law directed NHTSA to establish regulations preventing alcohol-impaired driving in new vehicles by November, a deadline that remains unmet.
The agency has also missed crucial milestones, such as a mandated distracted driving study and rules requiring new vehicles to be equipped with systems alerting drivers to check rear seats after vehicle shutdown – regulations that were due by November 2023.
NHTSA’s sluggish regulatory pace has drawn significant criticism, with the agency frequently lagging years behind congressional deadlines for rule implementation. Despite this, recent years have witnessed incremental progress in addressing long-standing regulatory gaps.
The automotive industry’s response has been mixed. In June, a consortium representing major manufacturers including General Motors, Toyota, and Volkswagen requested a reconsideration of the automatic emergency braking rule, potentially complicating regulatory efforts.
The senators’ intervention represents a critical push to prioritise public safety through comprehensive and timely vehicle safety regulations. Their communication emphasises that while initial steps have been taken, substantial work remains to comprehensively address the persistent challenge of road fatalities.