The House of Energy and Commerce Committee have introduced a safety bill designed to increase penalties for auto, tire, and auto parts makers that fail to recall defective products or notify the government of safety problems. The Vehicle Safety Improvement Act, introduced Feb. 27, 2015, hopes to address a number of shortfalls in the current system by enhancing congress oversight of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and making safety information more readily available to consumers.

“In the last year, millions of U.S. automobiles have been recalled for safety defects, demonstrating that we need to do more to keep our roads safe,” according to Rep. Frank Pallone, ranking Democrat on the committee. “This bill is the first step to getting the NHTSA the information, resources, and authorities needed to protect consumers from safety defects.”

The Main Points Of The Bill Include:

Increased And Improved Public Access To Information

• Increased Public Availability of Vehicle Safety Information.
• Improved Vehicle Safety Databases.
• Improved Used Car Buyers Guide.

Enhance NHTSA Tools And Accountability

• Increase the penalties the NHTSA can seek and eliminate the maximum penalties for violations of the federal motor vehicle safety laws.
• Strengthen the Early Warning Reporting program.
• Give the NHTSA authority to expedite a recall order.
• Extend the time manufacturers must retain vehicle safety records from five years to 20 years.
• Require the manufacturer to have a senior executive in the United States to certify the accuracy and completeness of all responses to NHTSA.
• Allow cooperative agreements, collaborative research, and development agreements with foreign governments.
• Improve administrative accountability.
• Directs the Secretary to prepare reports to Congress regarding the use of Early Warning data. Directs the Inspector General to report to Congress on the operations of the Council for Vehicle Electronics, Vehicle Software, and Emerging Technologies. Directs the Secretary to prepare reports to Congress regarding potential actions by NHTSA to improve auto safety recall completion rates.

Consumer Protection

• Limitation on Sale or L ease o f Used Motor Vehicles Subject to a Recall.
• Elimination of Regional Recalls.
• Requires that a remedy for a defect or noncompliance be provided without charge regardless of when the motor vehicle or replacement equipment was first purchased. (Under the current statute, remedies are not required without charge for vehicles or equipment purchased more than 10 calendar years before the recall.)
• Requires NHTSA to establish standards to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities suffered by pedestrians and other non – occupants struck by vehicles.
• Ensure that manufacturers in bankruptcy must uphold their safety obligations.
• Directs the Secretary to research the development of safety standards or performance requirements, and initiate a rulemaking to improve the crashworthiness and survivability for back seat passengers.

Funding

• Establishes a vehicle safety user fee paid by the vehicle manufacturer for each U.S. vehicle certified to meet federal motor vehicle safety standards. The fee would supplement existing appropriations and support NHTSA’s vehicle safety programs.
• Authorizes appropriations for NHTSA’s vehicle safety programs.

Additional Provisions

• Establishes procedures for NHTSA if it cannot meet the deadlines provided in the bill.
• Overturn preemption provisions in NHTSA regulations and prevent NHTSA from explicitly preempting state tort law without congressional direction.

Besides the bill’s sponsors and other Congressional representatives, numerous consumer-safety groups, including Consumer Reports, support the bill. View the complete bill here.