U.S. Legislative News

Following acknowledgement by Takata that airbag inflators it produced for certain vehicles were defective, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced the largest safety recall in U.S. history, with 19 car and truck makers having to recall up to 69 million inflators in 42 million vehicles. It also brought a criminal conviction and fine against Takata and forced the Japanese company into bankruptcy protection.

A new report issued November 17, 2017, shows that as of September 15, automakers have recalled 43.1 million Takata inflators. Of those, only 18.5 million have been replaced, even though Takata recalls have been under way for many years. The slow completion rate comes even though the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began coordinating the recalls and phasing them in two years ago. Before that, automakers were obtaining parts and distributing them on their own. Typically, automakers fix 75 percent of vehicles within 18 months after a recall is announced.

The report, conducted by the Independent Monitor for Takata and the Coordinated Remedy Program, John Buretta, who was appointed by NHTSA to keep tabs on the recalls, also shows that auto companies are only about halfway toward a December 31 goal of 100 percent replacement of older and more dangerous inflators. The report brought criticism from Democratic Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, whose state has seen three deaths caused by the problem and where automakers have fixed 41.7 percent of the 3 million affected inflators. Nelson blamed the slow pace on a lack of leadership at NHTSA, which has been without its top administrator since the end of the Obama administration in January. "We still don't have any leadership at NHTSA to ensure this stuff actually gets done by the automakers," he said in a statement. "Until the agency gets a permanent administrator this recall is going to continue to drag on while the injury and death toll mounts."

NHTSA said in a statement that the Takata recalls are unprecedented in size and complexity and have resulted in groundbreaking lessons that will help automakers reach their repair goals. The agency said it is monitoring the automakers' progress and working to expand best practices to boost completion rates. The agency also has the authority to fine automakers that don't make recall repairs in a timely manner.

Buretta concluded his report by saying that there is "much room for improvement" in the Takata recalls. He also said that manufacturers are starting to make meaningful progress toward "developing sound strategic approaches."



The GOP House and Senate tax bills unveiled earlier this month did not mention President Trump’s infrastructure plan, much to the disappointment of several transportation advocates. Many of these advocates had hoped the bills would set aside some money for the White House’s infrastructure proposal, which has yet to be released, or contain a fix for the ailing Highway Trust Fund (HTF), which is financed by federal fuel taxes that haven’t been raised in over 20 years. Unfortunately, those items didn’t make the cut.

In a November 14, 2017, letter to Senate leaders, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) expressed its disappointment that neither the House nor Senate tax reform bills address ways in which to shore up the HTF. AASHTO represents the state transportation departments in all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.

"As the most significant tax reform effort in 31 years, this is the prime opportunity to address the looming solvency crisis facing the federal Highway Trust Fund, which provides much needed transportation investments across the country. Just as with the House tax reform bill - H.R. 1 - we are extremely disappointed that it appears, once again, that Congress will not address this funding crisis," AASHTO wrote.

The House passed its tax reform package on November 16, on a 227-205 vote. The Senate Finance Committee cleared its bill shortly after the House vote, but it still needs the approval of the full Senate before it can be sent to the President for his signature.



On November 13, 2017, the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced new survey findings that show safety belt usage by commercial truck and bus drivers rose to a new record level of 86 percent in 2016, compared to just 65 percent usage in 2007. Since 2007, FMCSA, in collaboration with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has conducted the Safety Belt Usage by Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers Survey six times. In each survey, safety belt usage by commercial drivers has been shown to be steadily increasing.

The 2016 survey observed nearly 40,000 commercial drivers operating medium- to heavy-duty trucks and buses at more than 1,000 roadside sites nationwide. Regionally, the survey found that commercial vehicle drivers and their occupants in the West, the Midwest and the South all wore safety belts at an 87 percent rate. Only in the Northeast region was safety belt usage by truck and bus drivers different and significantly lower at just 71 percent.

"Buckling up your safety belt, regardless of the type of vehicle you drive or ride in, remains the simplest, easiest and most effective step you can take toward helping to protect your life," said FMCSA Deputy Administrator Cathy F. Gautreaux. "While it is good news that we are making strong progress, we need to continue to emphasize that everyone, everywhere securely fasten their safety belt 100 percent of the time."