U.S. Legislative Issues
NHTSA Moves Closer to Regulating Vehicle-To-Vehicle Technology
On August 18, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) moved closer to producing rules for regulating the use of vehicle-to-vehicle technology. The Administration’s Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeks public comment on the technology and its ability to prevent crashes.
The ANPRM comes after an announcement this February that the Department of Transportation intended to expand the use of the technology. In their February statement, the Department of Transportation said the technology would reduce four out of five crashes that do not involve an impaired driver. A vehicle with this technology could keep track of its surroundings and would warn drivers to slow down, to break, and not to change lanes. Auto makers are largely on board, and have said that the technology would only add between $100 and $300 to the cost of a new vehicle. The Department plans to enact a final rule before the current administration leaves office in January 2017.
NHTSA Launches Recall Database
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a searchable database of all recalls. Because of large recalls, the first half of 2014 set a record for the most recalled vehicles. All major light vehicle and motorcycle brands can be searched in the database. According to the National Automobile Dealers Association, less than 70 percent of all recalled vehicles usually are brought in to get fixed.
You can search here using the VIN or the make and model of a vehicle. For more information, read the article "NHTSA Launches Online Recall Info Tool" in the Industry News section of this issue of NAFAConnection.
Natural Gas Parity Provision Not Approved in the Final Highway Bill
When Congress passed a short term funding and authorization bill in July to patch the Highway Trust Fund, a provision that would have changed the way natural gas is taxed was not included. Instead of taxing liquefied natural gas by the gallon, the provision would have made natural gas taxable by its energy content.
Proponents of the amendment, including its sponsors, Senators Michael Bennet and Mark Udall, both Democrats from Colorado, say it would have eliminated the tax disparity between diesel fuel and natural gas. The provision, however, was stripped out by the House of Representatives before they passed the final Highway Trust Fund bill and sent it back to the Senate for final passage.
