NHTSA

Published on: December 23, 2016

More Americans Stay Safe Behind the Wheel with Seatbelt Use Reaching Historic High

The seatbelt still continues to be the most effective life-saving device in modern automobiles, and new research indicates that Americans are now using it at record highs.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently reported that American motorists are buckling up at greater rates than ever before. The Agency reported that as many as 90% of all American motorists now buckle up when they drive. That percentage also includes all front seat passengers.

During 2015, seat belt use helped save as many as 14,000 lives in accidents. Since 1975, NHTSA estimates that more than 345,000 lives have been saved as a result of the use of seatbelts. However, failure to wear seat belts still kills. In spite of high seat belt usage rates in 2015, as many as 40% of traffic accident fatalities that year were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.

Published on: December 31, 2013

NHTSA Survey Finds Speeding Widespread Among Motorists

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently conducted a survey on speeding practices among American drivers.The results indicate a concerning trend.Although many American drivers believe that speeding is a highly dangerous behavior, many of them also admit that they often drive at high speeds to get to their destination on time.

The results of the survey were contained in the National Survey of Speeding Attitudes and Behavior, and found that approximately 4 to 5 drivers believe that driving at safe speeds helps prevent accidents.More than 91% believed that speed limits should be obeyed unconditionally because they are the law. In fact, as many as half of the drivers in the survey admitted that it was very important for transportation agencies to take stronger initiatives to reduce speeding on U.S. roadways.

However, when it comes to actually putting those beliefs into action, many American motorists seem to fall behind.Many of the motorists surveyed admitted to frequently travelling faster than posted speed limits.More than 25% of the motorists surveyed admitted that speeding was something they often did without thinking about it, and others said that they “enjoyed” the feeling that came with driving at excessive speeds.In addition, approximately 60% of the motorists claimed that driving at excessive speeds or above the speed limit, was not “really dangerous” for a skilled motorist.

Published on: October 23, 2011

NHTSA Investing in In-Car Alcohol Detection Devices to Prevent DUI Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The threat of car accidents caused by drunk driving has declined over the past few years, but as Atlanta car accident attorneys, we know that intoxicated driving is still a major factor in auto accidents across the state. These accidents often result in severe personal injuries and wrongful death. Therefore, it is good to see that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is continuing to focus on minimizing the threat from intoxicated drivers.The agency is investing in the development of an in-car device that will help detect alcohol levels on a motorist.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investing $2.2 million in the development of the in-vehicle touch-based alcohol testing device.The agency, through the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety and the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety has invested in a company called TruTouch Technologies.This company says that it has developed the world’s first touch-based alcohol detection device that can be installed in vehicles.

The device can be used to detect alcohol on a motorist through infrared light.All that the motorist has to do is place his finger on the infrared sensor device, and the device detects alcohol levels within seconds.If the device finds that the alcohol content is beyond a specified limit, then it will disable the starter, preventing drivers from driving the car.What’s more, the device will prevent tampering with the system by recording the person’s biometric information, so that another person cannot use the device to cheat the system.

Published on: May 29, 2011

NHTSA Acts to Prevent Injuries from Defective Motorcycle Helmets

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is coming down hard on manufacturers of novelty helmets that do not protect motorcyclists.These novelty motorcycle helmets are not approved by the Department of Transportation, and do not protect motorcyclists from injuries in a motorcycle accident.As an Atlanta motorcycle accident attorney, I am well aware of many serious injuries arising after accidents in which the driver was wearing a novelty helmet.

Helmets are a motorcyclist’s first line of defense against injuries in an accident.It’s important that motorcyclists wear helmets that are approved by the Department of Transportation.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will soon require new motorcycle helmets to come with a label that contains the words “DOT FMVSS 218 Certified.”

Novelty helmets have recently become very popular, because of their designs.However, testing has found that these helmets do not meet safety standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.Those safety standards are contained in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218.These standards cover a number of criteria, including impact absorption and penetration resistance.

Published on: January 6, 2011

NHTSA Proposal to Prevent Speed-Related Truck Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The idea of using speed limiting devices to restrict speed limits on commercial trucks, and therefore, minimize the risk of speed-related truck accidents, has been floating around for a while now. In 2006, the American Trucking Associations and several other interested parties petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to mandate speed limiting devices on all trucks. Last week, the NHTSA announced that it would initiate an NPR aimed at getting these devices installed in all trucks. If the rule does pass, there will be far fewer truck accidents and, therefore, many injuries avoided and many wrongful deaths prevented.

The NHTSA announced on its website a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking related to the mandating of such devices on all trucks. Proposals to have speed limiting devices installed on commercial trucks have been widely supported, not just by Atlanta truck accident lawyers, but also by trucking safety groups and the trucking industry.

It’s not every day that you get the trucking industry and Atlanta truck accident attorneys on the same page as far as trucking safety is concerned. However, on this issue, the American Trucking Associations has been extremely vocal in its support for such devices. However, not all trucking companies are happy about such rules. The Owner- Independent Operators Drivers’ Association, which consists of smaller independent trucking companies and drivers, has strongly opposed any rules to mandate these devices on truckers. The devices would limit the speed of trucks weighing 20,000 pounds and above to a maximum of 68 mph.

Published on: May 4, 2010

Legislation Proposed to Prevent NHTSA Staff from Becoming Auto Company Lobbyists

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

It’s the kind of golden nexus that has had federal regulators and Atlanta personal injury lawyers very concerned. The trend of employees at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration leaving their jobs to take up cushy positions at prominent auto makers like Toyota, has been popular for a while now. After leaving their positions, these former NHTSA employees would then enjoy a cozy relationship with their former coworkers at the agency.

It has not been confirmed if this kind of relationship impacts auto safety. According to the Department of Transportation, there is no evidence to show that there was an unhealthy relationship between Toyota lobbyists who were former NHTSA officials, and the agency that they used to work for. However that hasn’t convinced some legislators. Sen. Barbara Boxer is working on an auto safety bill that would prohibit ex-NHTSA employees from working as lobbyists or in any other position that would require them to be in contact with their former employer. This restriction would be in place for a period of at least three years after the person quit his job at the NHTSA.

The Toyota crisis has also led to other lawmakers putting on their thinking caps and devising new legislation to keep American motorists safe. One such bill would require automakers to install anti-runaway technology in their vehicles. These technologies will include the override systems that are currently in place in several vehicles, and stop-start technologies. The bill is being drafted by Sen. Jay Rockefeller, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, and Rep Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Published on: July 22, 2009

NHTSA Suppressed Data Proving Cell Phone Use While Driving Raises Accident Risks

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/21/technology/21distracted.html?_r=1

Previously undisclosed documents that have now been made public, courtesy the Freedom of Information Act, show that federal auto safety agencies had access to thousands of pages of research that showed a clear risk of increased number of accidents because of cell phone use by motorists.In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had that information back in 2003, but chose not to make it public.

The documents have been obtained by two consumer safety groups, Public Citizen and the Center for Auto Safety who filed a lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act.The documents have been published by the New York Times.