TO THE EDITOR:
Regarding “NHTSA proposes rule requiring seat belt warnings for front and rear passengers,” autonews.com, Aug. 21: The fact that this obvious safety improvement, which was passed in 2012 by Congress to go into effect in 2015 for 2016 model-year vehicles, is just now being processed is just one example of overdue safety requirements that have been overlooked by previous administrative leaders who were in favor of the automotive industry over our public road safety.
Michael Brooks of the Center for Auto Safety is quoted as saying the timeline “raises more questions about whether the agency is equipped to respond to emerging safety issues in a timely manner.” This statement is not fair to the division-leading administrators. This is one of the frustrations that they had to deal with for decades — an inability to do their jobs not by choice but by manners of decree.
This is why Ann Carlson, NHTSA chief counsel, was asked to temporarily step up and lead NHTSA through this transition of getting all these jobs done. This seat belt law and other long-overdue requirements, such as updating the New Car Assessment Program rating system to include collision-avoidance technology, are finally being processed.
The present NHTSA administration is moving our road safety into the 21st century.
DAVID DeVEAU, Owner/lead industrial engineer, DeVco Design & Development, Westfield, Mass.
The writer is an independent transportation safety advocate. DeVco Design & Development is an engineering consultancy.
