Auto Alliance Praises House Safety Proposal

June 18, 2009 -- Washington, DC - Automakers today applauded the release of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s reauthorization proposal, "The Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009." According to the blueprint released today, the bill will provide Highway Trust Fund money to states conditional upon whether they enact primary safety belt enforcement laws and mandate the use of ignition interlock devices for first-time drunk driving offenders.

"This proposal shows bold leadership by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Oberstar, Ranking Member Mica, Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman DeFazio and Ranking Member Duncan," said Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers President and CEO Dave McCurdy. "While last year’s record-low figure for highway fatalities is due in part to automaker-led advancements in vehicle safety, we’re committed to working with others to do even more."

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On February 26, the Alliance and the National Safety Council sent a letter to Committee leadership advocating withholding Highway Trust Fund monies from states that fail to adopt a primary safety belt law.

"The most fundamental vehicle safety technology is the safety belt, and no other industry has invested more than automakers over the last 25 years to increase safety belt usage," said McCurdy. "That’s because we understand that as a nation, we’ll never fully realize the potential benefits of advanced vehicle safety technologies until we get occupants buckled up. Primary enforcement of safety belt use laws results in higher usage rates and that saves lives."

Additionally, the Committee’s proposal would also penalize states for not implementing programs to install ignition interlocks in vehicles driven by anyone convicted of drunk driving, including first-time offenders. Impaired driving remains another leading traffic safety issue, and research has shown that requiring all convicted drunk drivers to use an ignition interlock device also save lives. In New Mexico, drunk driving fatalities have been reduced by 35 percent since enactment of a law requiring interlock use by all convicted drunk drivers.

"These proposals demonstrate that Committee leaders agree that the safety of all motoring Americans is our top priority," added McCurdy. "The Alliance looks forward to supporting the Committee as it works to reauthorize these important surface transportation programs."

Source: Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers