Posted on 01/15/2016 10:07:25 AM PST by Citizen Zed
As the auto industry battles to win public confidence after a series of massive recalls, a group of 18 major carmakers announced on Friday they have agreed to a voluntary program with the U.S. government to improve auto safety.
The program will focus on better vehicle cybersecurity, early warning data to spot trends and use the aviation industry as a potential model for cooperation in the aftermath of a major government crackdown on car safety failures.
Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx met with heads of companies like Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV and General Motors that in the last two years have been hit by mass recalls, civil penalties from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Congressional hearings.
The Obama administration and car makers are eager to show they want to prevent auto safety defects before they occur rather than deal with recalls and fines after the event.
"We have finalized a historic agreement on a set of broad-ranging actions to help make our roads safer and help avoid the sort of safety crisis that generates the wrong kind of record-setting and headlines," Foxx said.
The deal includes a joint government-industry working group to study whether the model of an existing aviation industry voluntary working group could make sense for automakers.
"Automakers and NHTSA are committing to work together to develop a collaborative, data-driven, science-based process, consistent with the law," said the agreement reached by automakers and the NHTSA.
Others taking part include Honda Motor Co, Tesla Motors Inc., BMW AG, Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE) and Daimler AG.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
They aren’t going to overlook a thing are they?
Some recall notices are legitimate, but most are ridiculous CYA moves by the automakers to counter splitting-hair government regulations.
If people actually knew just how much of the cost of a new vehicle is attributed to complying with federal mandates, not to mention how much more consumers have to spend on fuel due to EPA emissions regulations.
Let’s put it this way; a 50mpg midsize car is reduced to a 25mpg car due to EPA and CARB mandates.
A mandate for higher cost cars that can’t be repaired. Automakers love it.
Bahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Boost car safety? I think new cars are ridiculously safe. I cannot believe the wild accidents I see where no one is hurt. Side impacts are problematic but when you leave the road and go sideways into the pole because you think you are racer number 9, all bets are off. Vehicle deaths are way down for number of miles driven. Cars handle better, stop quicker than ever. All of which encourages people to drive crazier.
Personally, I think drivers would be waaaaaay safer, or should I say, more careful, if instead of an airbag they had a spike about six inches from the drivers chest.
No kidding:
“We can’t get Congress to pass this stuff, but we CAN sue you into oblivion and have an even chance of winning. Why take the risk? Just do what we tell you to do, call it a ‘voluntary agreement,’ smile nice for the cameras at the announcement press conference ... and nobody will get hurt. We’ll even throw in some carrots like planned obsolescence ...”
will make cars so expensive that horses and buggies will be cheaper. Buggy whip manufacturers exclaim “Happy days are coming back.”
Yes give us more of those hideous head rests in cars no one can stand
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