Latest news with #NationalHighwaySafetyAdministration
Miami Herald
10 hours ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Toyota, VW, And GM Slam The Feds Over Outdated Safety Rules
The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) is a federal agency tasked with maintaining and enforcing vehicle safety standards in the United States. This is a critical function to ensure the safest possible levels of transportation for commuters, so when a group of the industry's largest automakers accuses the NHTSA of outdated regulations that are a barrier to progress, it's worrying. This is exactly what's been communicated by a major trade group representing brands like Toyota, Volkswagen, GM, and Hyundai. A statement from Alliance for Automotive, a trade group representing these major automakers, is a scathing assessment of the NHTSA. "Its fractured relationship with the industry, decades-old safety regulations, and lack of a clear strategic roadmap for emerging technologies are stifling innovation and threatening U.S. global leadership," said the trade group about the NHTSA, as per Reuters. John Bozella, CEO of Innovation, listed dozens of NHTSA regulations that should be updated, repealed, or revised. He specifically pointed to the NHTSA's stance on automatic emergency braking and the red tape around autonomous vehicles. "Unfortunately, federal inaction is holding us back. Despite years of dialogue, there is still no comprehensive federal framework for AVs," Bozzella said, also calling for NHTSA to ease fuel economy requirements starting in 2027, saying they are "misaligned with consumer demand and current technology adoption rates." Almost 40,000 people died on American roads in 2024, which remains much higher than pre-COVID levels. Therefore, anything getting in the way of road safety standards is an issue. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is an industry-funded group that also encourages the building of safer cars. Its tests are considered by many to be more comprehensive than those of the NHTSA, as cars are assessed in more crash scenarios and crash-avoidance technologies are also given a score. "NHTSA is failing to meet the moment. In recent years, it has approached its job with a lack of urgency, using flawed methodologies that underestimate the safety benefits of obviously beneficial interventions," said IIHS President David Harkey, adding that the NHTSA "requires stronger leadership, a sense of urgency, and a greater willingness to act." Related: IIHS and senators urge NHTSA to take action on automated driver assists As an example of the NHTSA's slow rate of modernization, the IIHS has called for motorcycles to require anti-lock brakes since 2013 as crash rates are 22% lower for such motorcycles. Despite this, it's still not a requirement that has been enforced by the NHTSA. A few years back, the latest headlight technology also hadn't been approved for use in the United States, due to outdated local regulations. Considering the rapid advances being made in safety technologies each year, a significant overhaul of the NHTSA's procedures is surely due soon. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Bike riders, beware: Arizona is one of the most dangerous states for cyclists. Here's why
Arizona is the second most dangerous states for cyclists, topped only by Utah, a new study shows. The study, which was conducted by personal injury law firm KaplunMarx, used national data on air quality, crashes, laws and infrastructure to determine where cyclists were safest. The findings paint a clear picture of the serious dangers cyclists face each time they hit the road. KaplunMarx noted that the number of cycling fatalities hit a record high in 2022. More than 1,100 people were killed while cycling in the U.S. in 2022, which is a 13% increase from 2021. This comes in addition to a widening safety gap for cyclists in the country. The safest states continue to get safer for cyclists and the unsafe states make little progress toward improvements, the study showed. "As more and more people turn to cycling for daily commutes, our latest study shows that rider safety still varies wildly across the country," said Ted Kaplun, principal attorney and founding partner of KaplunMarx. "While some states are building safer, more bike-friendly roads, others are falling dangerously short." Here's what to know about cycling in Arizona and what makes it so dangerous. Arizona received a cycling friendliness score of 22.4, placing it just a fraction of a point below Utah, the most unsafe state. The Grand Canyon State fell especially short in several categories, including the amount of cycling routes and cyclist fatalities in the state. In 2022, there were 6.8 cyclist deaths per 1 million residents in Arizona. The only state to surpass that score was Florida, which had 10 deaths per 1 million residents. Arizona has only 0.6 miles of cycling routes per 1,000 square miles, which is well below other states. The top states boasted 16 to 62 miles of routes per 1,000 square miles. Even Utah, the worst state for cyclists, comes in with more than 2 miles per 1,000 square miles. The study noted that most states with low bicyclist friendliness scores lacked infrastructure as this "investment directly correlates with cyclist safety as states with more extensive route networks and higher federal funding consistently show lower fatality rates." Arizona's scores in the air quality, laws protecting cyclists and federal funding per capita were about average. A link over the lake: Tempe gets $25M for bridge for pedestrians, bicyclists These are the top 10 safest states for cyclists and their overall cycling friendliness score, according to the study. Minnesota: 84 Massachusetts: 73.6 Rhode Island: 72.7 Washington: 72.2 Iowa: 67.2 Wisconsin: 66.7 Wyoming: 66.7 Florida: 65 New Hampshire: 62.7 Ohio: 62.2 These are the top 10 most dangerous states for cyclists and their overall cycling friendliness score, according to the study. Utah: 22.2 Arizona: 22.4 Nevada: 28.8 Texas: 31 Georgia: 31.7 Idaho: 34.2 South Dakota: 35.2 North Carolina: 37.3 Kentucky: 37.4 Alabama: 39.1 KaplunMarx used National Highway Safety Administration data and Complete Tri. They considered these factors in the ranking: Air quality Cycling fatalities Route density Infrastructure initiatives Federal funding Bicycle laws This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Bike riders, beware: Arizona is among worst states for cyclists
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Yahoo
Harsh observation from the lips of DUI suspect in wreck that killed Bakersfield couple
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) – 'When people drive drunk, people always die.' That nugget of wisdom is not from a Mothers Against Drunk Driving billboard. It's not from a National Highway Safety Administration bumper sticker. It's a quote straight from the lips of the woman charged in the double-fatal alleged DUI car wreck that took place at about 1:30 a.m., the morning of March 16. Anabell Aleyna Correa made that harsh observation to arresting officers the night she is alleged to have run a red light and smashed her white Hyundai Azera into a Lyft rideshare vehicle. The crash, near the corner of Stockdale Highway and Gosford Road in west Bakersfield, killed a married couple, Max and Desiree Mooney, and grievously injured a third passenger as well as the driver of the Lyft they had hired to take them home. According to a newly released court filing, the accused drunken driver also told police, 'I drank one Twisted Tea, bro,' referring to an alcoholic beverage. Later she said, 'I'm never seeing my kid, huh, just because I drove and drank one, two drinks.' the police report said. She showed signs of intoxication, including red and watery eyes, and smelled of alcohol, an officer wrote. Anabell Correa also told police her cousin was killed by a drunken driver in 2022, and she knew it was dangerous to drink and drive, according to the court filing. Bakersfield man gets 12 years, 4 months for pistol-whipping girlfriend The probable cause declaration filed in the case also says the two survivors in the Lyft suffered injuries including a brain bleed and broken bones, although it does not specify which injury party sustained which injury. Correa is also injured; she wore a medical boot on her right foot and used crutches at her arraignment Tuesday. The 21-year-old defendant is facing two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, four counts related to DUI causing injury, driving without a license and failing to stop at a red light. Police say she had a blood-alcohol content of 0.088% when her car ran a red light and broadsided the rideshare vehicle. Not guilty pleas were entered on her behalf Tuesday afternoon by a representative of the Public Defender's Office. Public defender Peter Kang said he had not yet assigned the case to a defense attorney. He declined further comment. The DA's office did not respond to a request for information Wednesday. Court Commissioner Samantha Allen set a preliminary hearing for April 4 and ordered Correa remain in custody without bail. Correa spent several days recovering in a hospital and was booked into jail on Friday. She's being held on more than $2 million bail. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
