First act was to start process to reset fuel economy standards. Sean Duffy was officially sworn in as the 20th Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) January 28. Secretary Duffy was administered the oath of office by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas at the U.S. Supreme Court and was joined by […]
Automatic Emergency Braking Study Finds Systems Improving Over Time
Front-to-rear crashes reduced up to 52% in newer models. Automatic emergency braking (AEB) continues to improve as it cuts rear-end crashes in half, according to the latest study by the Partnership for Analytics Research in Traffic Safety (PARTS). The study, pairing auto manufacturer equipment with police crash report data covering 98 million vehicles and 21.2 […]
Market Penetration of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Continue to Grow
Several safety features topped 90% market penetration in 2023 model year. The Partnership for Analytics Research in Traffic Safety (PARTS) has released an updated report detailing the expanded deployment of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in passenger vehicles. PARTS, a partnership between automobile manufacturers and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) National Highway Traffic Safety […]
U.S. Department of Transportation Urges Protection for Truckers Against Predatory Towing Fees
The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) expressed strong support for trucker protections against predatory towing fees in a comment filed on the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) proposed rule banning junk fees. FMCSA’s comment outlines concerns with predatory towing junk fee practices that significantly increase costs for commercial motor vehicle owners […]
Honda Safety Engineer Wins U.S. Government Award for Groundbreaking Airbag Technology
Unique three-chamber front passenger airbag is designed to decrease the risk of serious brain injury. Honda safety engineer Eric Heitkamp on April 3 received the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. Department of Transportation for his work in leading the creation of a groundbreaking front passenger airbag design. Heitkamp accepted the U.S. Government Award for […]
NAMIC Joins U.S. DOT’s Call to Action on Auto Safety
The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies announced that it is answering the Department of Transportation’s Call to Action to make the nation’s roadways safer and reduce roadway fatalities. “Mutual insurance companies have been at the forefront of the fight for auto safety for decades, from requiring seat belts to pressing for greater safety in […]
Infrastructure Law Provides $800 Million for More than 500 Road Safety Projects
Funding targets high-crash sites in cities and counties and supports the U.S. Department of Transportation’s comprehensive strategy to reduce roadway deaths. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced $800 million in grant awards for 510 projects through the new Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program, a record amount of funding to improve roads […]
USDOT and USDOE Announce $5 Billion over Five Years for National EV Charging Network
The U.S. Departments of Transportation and Energy announced nearly $5 billion that will be made available under the new National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to build out a national electric vehicle charging network, an important step towards making electric vehicle (EV) charging accessible to all Americans. The […]
U.S. Department of Transportation Includes Automatic Emergency Braking Requirement in Spring Regulatory Agenda
Regulation would replace 2015 voluntary agreement. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) on June 11 announced the Department’s portions of the Unified Agenda (also known as the Spring Regulatory Agenda) identifying the actions the Department plans to take over the next year and beyond. The portion of the regulatory agenda addressing roadway safety proposes to […]
U.S. DOT and EPA Announce Final Rule on 2021-2026 Fuel Economy Standards
Auto industry supports gradual increases in fuel economy, opponents promise lawsuits. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the final Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule setting corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) and CO2 emissions standards for model years 2021-2026 passenger cars and […]