Industry Groups Say the NHTSA Needs A New Leader and a New Game Plan

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issues recalls and regulations for the auto industry, but the government agency is under fire from major automakers and other safety testing organizations. Industry trade groups say the NHTSA’s lack of action is stifling innovation, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says the agency “requires stronger leadership.”

Alliance for Automotive Innovation CEO John Bozzella said, “Unfortunately, federal inaction is holding us back. Despite years of dialogue, there is still no comprehensive federal framework for AVs (autonomous vehicles).” He also said the NHTSA’s fuel economy requirements are “misaligned with consumer demand and current technology adoption rates.”

The IIHS’ president, David Harkey, had similarly strong words for the NHTSA, saying, “NHTSA is failing to meet the moment. In recent years, it has approached its job with a lack of urgency, using flawed methodologies that underestimate the safety benefits of obviously beneficial interventions.”

The NHTSA is routinely slow or fails to enact safety regulations as directed by Congress, and it has gone long periods without a Senate-approved executive in the past. One example is the IIHS’ calls for it to require antilock braking systems for motorcycles, which it has ignored since 2013. Data shows that bikes with ABS have 22 percent fewer fatal crashes, and most countries require the technology.

[Images: IIHS]

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