WASHINGTON, JULY 18, 2006 - "Traffic crashes kill over 43,000 Americans and injure over 2.6 million a year," said Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Chairman of the Commerce, Trade & Consumer Protection Subcommittee. "The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) is the federal agency charged with promoting automobile safety, and it sets corporate average fuel efficiency (CAFÉ) standards. I appreciate hearing the progress NHTSA has made in making the driving public safer and in promoting greater fuel efficiency."
The lone witness was NHTSA Administrator Nicole Nason, who stated, "I believe that we are on the cusp of a new era in highway safety." Nason thanked the Subcommittee for its role in writing the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act, which is "tripling the amount of funding going to states to combat impaired driving, a scourge which claims nearly 17,000 people a year."
She also pointed to crash avoidance technologies as one of the most promising gains in highway safety. "Imagine a car with a forward-collision warning system that can detect when the vehicle in front of it has slowed or stopped. This device can help prevent the most common type of crash, the rear-end collision. But the crash avoidance technology that I believe holds the greatest promise is electronic stability control. This proven technology senses when a driver may lose control and automatically stabilizes the vehicle."
During the hearing, Stearns called for passage of H.R. 5359, giving NHTSA authority to reform passenger car CAFÉ standards. He also recognized that these standards have been increased for light trucks under this Administration without compromising safety. Nason pointed out that the new CAFÉ standards "will result in a savings of approximately 14.3 billion gallons of fuel." She also stated that with passage of H.R. 5359, NHTSA "will raise the fuel economy standards for passenger cars." The bill also requires NHTSA to study and assess the effect of the "two-fleet" rule on employment in the U.S. auto industry, its effects on fuel economy, and other economic factors. This rule requires that manufacturers meet CAFE standards for both their domestic and foreign fleet of vehicles, rather than one combined calculation. "I believe that this two-fleet rule only serves to promote bad business decisions for the American economy and further restricts the ability of the market and consumer to embrace progress," added Stearns.
Concluded Stearns, "I commend NHTSA on its progress in enhancing automobile safety and in improving fuel economy standards. I look forward to working with you on these issues, and I urge NHTSA to expand its efforts to educate consumers to promote vehicle safety and fuel efficiency in the marketplace."
For Further Information Please Contact Paul Flusche at 202-225-5744 or Email.
