Draft Safety Legislation: $3-$9 New Car Sale Fee, Unlimited Defect Fines, Mandatory Pedal Distances,

[The Straight Story]

Draft Safety Legislation: $3-$9 New Car Sale Fee, Unlimited Defect Fines, Mandatory Pedal Distances, More

The Detroit Free Press got its hands on draft auto safety legislation drawn up by Senators Waxman and Rockefeller, and aimed at preventing another Toyota recall-style scandal. In addition to mandating brake override systems on all cars sold in the US, The Freep says the bill would require that

come up with rules for space between the brake and accelerator pedals, gear shift designs and stop-start systems – all problems highlighted by the Toyota probe. Automakers would be required to build vehicles with event data recorders that could be easily read, a step Detroit automakers made several years ago but that Toyota and other foreign brands have resisted.

Despite the Freep’s attempt at making the bill sound like it’s only going to affect Toyota and other non-Detroit automakers, there is plenty in the proposed legislation that could hurt any automaker.

For one thing, the proposal would make delays to recalls a potential firm-killer. NHTSA had told Toyota that its 2.3m unit recall delay would have earned it a fine of $13.8b had there not been a cap at $16.4m, the amount Toyota paid. Not only would this new legislation remove that cap, but it would also raise the per-vehicle fine from $6,000 to $25,000. Plus,

NHTSA also could fine manufacturers for withholding information from the agency, with fines of $50,000 per day up to $250 million

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/draft-safety-legislation-3-9-new-car-sale-fee-unlimited-defect-fines-mandatory-pedal-distances-more/

[cherokeeprogressive]

1. I'd be happy if they mandated a mechanical link between the gas pedal and the throttle body.

I can't see a reason for there not being one.