Article: Possible Nhtsa Reforms In Wake Of Toyota Recalls

Prompted in part by what critics consider a plodding response by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA ) in Toyota's worldwide recall of 8.5 million vehicles for sudden unintended acceleration problems, Congress is considering NHTSA reforms and an overhaul of auto safety laws.

Since 2000 until late last year, the NHTSA had eight separate investigations into sudden acceleration. It had closed all but one with little action.

At a  House panel hearing held on March 11, 2010, proposals that were discussed included:

• Toughening fines against automakers for safety breeches
• Providing more authority and resources to government regulators to speed recalls
• Requiring vehicle electronic data recorders (aka. black boxes)
• Requiring brake override systems to help motorists stop runaway vehicles
• Barring former government regulators from taking jobs with automakers for at least two years
• Examining the use of push-button start and stop technologies

David Strickland, the NHTSA chief, defended the agency at the hearing, although he acknowledged that he was taking a "hard look" at what new powers the agency may need. Strickland denied that the Toyota situation was a failure or that the agency was soft on automakers.

One problem may be that although the NHTSA receives more than 30,000 complaints each year, its Office of Defects Investigation only has 57 employees. Since 1980, the number of people assigned to enforcement duties at the agency has been cut in half while the number of cars on the road has doubled.

Senator Jay Rockefeller, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee said "Something has gone terribly wrong. The system meant to safeguard against faulty vehicles has failed, and it needs to be fixed. And it needs to be fixed right away." He is working along with Rep. Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, on legislation that may be introduced by the end of March.

Joan Claybrook, a former NHTSA administrator, however, questioned what new authority the agency needs to do its job better. She argued that the "NHTSA should be using the authority they already have." And while she agreed that the agency's budget should be increased, in fact doubled, Claybrook advised that the majority of the increase should go to vehicle safety.