The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade released several draft proposals recently as part of the committee’s goal of creating legislation to improve road and highway safety.
To review and discuss these drafts, the subcommittee will hold a hearing on Wednesday, titled “Examining Ways to Improve Vehicle and Roadway Safety.”
Stakeholders who attend can identify ideas and projects for improving motor-vehicle safety, including measures aimed at potentially altering the role of vehicle manufacturers and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
“Drivers and their loved ones can never be too safe on the roads, and our work to boost vehicle safety continues,” Fred Upton (R-MI), the full committee’s chairman, and Michael Burgess (R-TX), the subcommittee’s chairman, said in a joint statment. “Jobs and safety have been hallmarks for generations of American automakers, and imagination and ingenuity have sparked some of the most remarkable advancements in safety and performance, all the while putting millions of Americans to work. However, there is an urgency for improvement with both automakers and NHTSA as the next generation of vehicles and innovation are set to emerge. It is an ever-changing landscape, and we look forward to working with our colleagues and stakeholders as this important process continues.”
The committee’s overall agenda includes proposals that would:
• Create incentives to adopt crash-avoidance and other vehicle technology to improve roadway safety and fuel efficiency
• Boost recall awareness
• Increase privacy and security protection for motorists
• Modernize NHTSA for the digital age