Congress eyes black boxes for all vehicles

May 7, 2010 by Andrew

Prompted by Toyota recalls, lawmakers considering bills to bolster regulator authority

Congress took the first steps Thursday toward a wide-ranging auto safety bill that would require devices such as black boxes and brake override systems and would strengthen federal regulators’ enforcement powers.

A subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce opened hearings on legislation sponsored by the group’s chair Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif. The chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, John D. Rockefeller IV, D-W.Va., introduced a similar measure this week.

Both bills come after Toyota Motor Corp.’s recalls of more than 9 million vehicles worldwide since last year, which were the subject of congressional hearings this year.

The biggest recalls are for accelerator pedals that could stick or become encumbered by floor mats.

The bills are Congress’ first serious look at auto safety in a decade, since lawmakers passed reforms
after accidents involving Firestone tires on the Ford Explorer. Further hearings are expected in the House and Senate.

Under the House version, automobiles would be required to contain brake override systems that would stop vehicles even if the throttle was open.

The measure would require event data recorders, so-called black boxes that would provide information from the 60 seconds before a crash and the 15 seconds after. Neither device is now required, and many existing data recorders do not provide that much information.

The bill would also allow the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to order immediate recalls if agency officials thought vehicles posed a threat to driver safety.

“If enacted, these measures would significantly increase the agency’s leverage in dealing with manufacturers,” traffic agency administrator David Strickland said in prepared remarks. Strickland said the legislation would bring his agency’s enforcement powers in line with those of other federal regulators.

In prepared testimony, David McCurdy, chief executive of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, said the industry group could support the override and black box standards, which have been sought for years by safety groups.

The House bill also would remove a cap on the civil penalties that can be imposed in recalls, and a Senate bill would raise it from $5,000 per vehicle to $25,000.

Last month, Toyota agreed to pay a $16.4 million fine imposed by the Transportation Department, the largest now allowed by law. The department said Toyota failed to disclose information related to a sticking pedal recall ordered in January.

Toyota did not admit fault in the situation, however, and the department said it was continuing to investigate the recalls.

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