House Energy and Commerce Committee passes bill to require 'black boxes' in cars
05-27-10, 01:54 PM
#1
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House Energy and Commerce Committee passes bill to require 'black boxes' in cars
Just great
House Energy and Commerce Committee passes bill to require 'black boxes' in cars
By Peter Whoriskey
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 27, 2010
An auto safety bill inspired by the Toyota recalls passed a House committee on Wednesday, mandating "black boxes" on all cars, bulking up the budget for regulators and jacking the fines faced by automakers who flout the rules.
The measure passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee despite complaints from Republicans that the black boxes, or crash recorders, could violate drivers' privacy and that some of the requirements would cost taxpayers and consumers too much.
The bill, however, leaves the black box technical requirements -- and thus the cost -- up to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Lawmakers hope to bring the measure to a House vote later this year.
This "will push the auto industry to make safer cars," said Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.), the committee's chairman.
Waxman and other legislators have argued that Toyota's recalls of millions of vehicles for unintended acceleration have shown that NHTSA was critically underfunded.
The bill calls for increasing the agency's budget and implementing of a $9 "vehicle safety user fee" on each car, paid by the manufacturer, to help fund NHTSA operations.
The bill also seeks to make the agency's regulatory efforts more aggressive. It institutes new fines and raises others, while prohibiting NHTSA employees from lobbying on behalf of automakers within a year of their agency employment. An analysis earlier this year in The Washington Post found that 33 former NHTSA officials had been playing leading roles in helping carmakers handle federal auto defect investigations.
But Republicans said the bill goes too far, costs too much and could hurt the industry.
"This is a terrible bill," said Rep. Joe L. Barton (R-Tex.) "This is a punitive bill."
One of the few points of agreement between the sides involved a measure that has been the subject of intense debate among enthusiasts of hybrid and electric cars.
The bill calls for hybrid and electric cars to be equipped with "alert sounds" that would "allow the pedestrian to reasonably detect a nearby electric or hybrid vehicle." Some safety advocates have warned that the near-silence of electric and hybrid vehicles could make the cars silent killers.
"We're thrilled," said John G. Paré of the National Federation of the Blind. "After 2 1/2 years, this is finally coming to fruition."
By Peter Whoriskey
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 27, 2010
An auto safety bill inspired by the Toyota recalls passed a House committee on Wednesday, mandating "black boxes" on all cars, bulking up the budget for regulators and jacking the fines faced by automakers who flout the rules.
The measure passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee despite complaints from Republicans that the black boxes, or crash recorders, could violate drivers' privacy and that some of the requirements would cost taxpayers and consumers too much.
The bill, however, leaves the black box technical requirements -- and thus the cost -- up to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Lawmakers hope to bring the measure to a House vote later this year.
This "will push the auto industry to make safer cars," said Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.), the committee's chairman.
Waxman and other legislators have argued that Toyota's recalls of millions of vehicles for unintended acceleration have shown that NHTSA was critically underfunded.
The bill calls for increasing the agency's budget and implementing of a $9 "vehicle safety user fee" on each car, paid by the manufacturer, to help fund NHTSA operations.
The bill also seeks to make the agency's regulatory efforts more aggressive. It institutes new fines and raises others, while prohibiting NHTSA employees from lobbying on behalf of automakers within a year of their agency employment. An analysis earlier this year in The Washington Post found that 33 former NHTSA officials had been playing leading roles in helping carmakers handle federal auto defect investigations.
But Republicans said the bill goes too far, costs too much and could hurt the industry.
"This is a terrible bill," said Rep. Joe L. Barton (R-Tex.) "This is a punitive bill."
One of the few points of agreement between the sides involved a measure that has been the subject of intense debate among enthusiasts of hybrid and electric cars.
The bill calls for hybrid and electric cars to be equipped with "alert sounds" that would "allow the pedestrian to reasonably detect a nearby electric or hybrid vehicle." Some safety advocates have warned that the near-silence of electric and hybrid vehicles could make the cars silent killers.
"We're thrilled," said John G. Paré of the National Federation of the Blind. "After 2 1/2 years, this is finally coming to fruition."
05-27-10, 02:40 PM
#2
Lexus Fanatic
The bill, however, leaves the black box technical requirements -- and thus the cost -- up to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Waxman and other legislators have argued that Toyota's recalls of millions of vehicles for unintended acceleration have shown that NHTSA was critically underfunded.
This looks to me like just typical Washington-politician political grandstanding.
gots ta make cars loud or they gona kill ya
05-27-10, 02:46 PM
#5
Lexus Fanatic
Some safety advocates have warned that the near-silence of electric and hybrid vehicles could make the cars silent killers.
The bill calls for hybrid and electric cars to be equipped with "alert sounds"
"We're thrilled," said John G. Paré of the National Federation of the Blind. "After 2 1/2 years, this is finally coming to fruition."
The bill calls for hybrid and electric cars to be equipped with "alert sounds"
"We're thrilled," said John G. Paré of the National Federation of the Blind. "After 2 1/2 years, this is finally coming to fruition."
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05-27-10, 08:26 PM
#8
On a different note,, the govt has been trying to mandate and have finally gotten the approval for black boxes in Commercial vehicles as well. Trust me guys,, everyone is suffering with bills such as this.
05-27-10, 09:24 PM
#9
Lexus Fanatic
The boxes probably have more merit in commercial/buisness vehicles than in privately-owned ones. Managers and supervisors often need to know where their employees are taking company vehicles, especially on company time, or how those vehicles were being driven if they are involved in an accident. Some companies already use GPS trackers.
Last edited by mmarshall; 05-27-10 at 09:28 PM.
