Obama Nominee Believes Automakers Need To Fear NHTSA

The Obama administration’s nominee to head the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration vows to boost the agency’s personnel and technology.

National Transportation Safety Board member Mark Rosekind, a former NASA fatigue scientist, appears to be headed for a speedy confirmation — possibly before the end of the year — after a Senate Commerce Committee hearing Wednesday.

Rosekind said if automakers don’t act on safety issues, “NHTSA needs to be the enforcer.” He acknowledges that work needs to be done and the challenges are “tremendous.”

The highway safety agency came under harsh criticism. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri, said NHTSA “is neither feared nor respected” by automakers.

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TheSteve - 12/5/2014 11:47:05 AM

+1 Boost

That's a sort of union mentality. It's us vs them. Show 'em who's in charge! Tell 'em who's da boss.

How about passing safety laws with high standards, then working *collaboratively* to meet those objectives? Look to the FAA and general aviation for some ideas on how that might look.

Agent009 - 12/5/2014 12:19:31 PM

+1 Boost

The big problem is the industry wants to self govern, but Toyota, Honda and GM have shown that won't work because profits get in the way.

NTHSA isn't technical enough to understand all of the issues and has only the teeth of a fine, which often is far less than the cost of a recall.

So it pays to hold off and they probably won't catch you.

Vette71 - 12/5/2014 2:00:44 PM

+1 Boost

Be careful what you wish for. Government regulation isn't free, as over time it tends to dictate what the product is to tighter and tighter specifications. And the cars a government regulator would dictate are the antithesis of what the folks who populate this site like. Think a Volvo 240 for everybody. "You don't need a sports car". The FDA relationship with medical device manufacturers is a better example of a cooperative relationship.

TheSteve - 12/5/2014 2:01:46 PM

+1 Boost

See my post above. Append "How about passing safety laws with high standards" with "and painful penalties for transgression".

MDarringer - 12/6/2014 12:57:35 PM

0 Boost

I would not financially penalize the manufacturers, but instead I would imprison every person who orchestrated the cover ups.

MDarringer - 12/5/2014 8:00:27 PM

0 Boost

Typical Democrat/Liberal/Socialist/Gestapo mentality. Time for regime change.