Issues

E.P.A. Develops Grading System for New Car Stickers

September 22, 2010

New York Times

By Jim Motavalli

August 30, 2010

…In an e-mail to reporters, Gloria Bergquist, an Alliance vice president, wrote, “Your spokesperson tried to give the proposal a D, but was told not to do so by her boss.” Rating it somewhat higher was Dan Becker, director of the Safe Climate Campaign at the Center for Auto Safety. “Overall it’s a B,” he said in an e-mail.

U.S. proposes new labels for fuel economy, emissions

September 22, 2010

Automotive News

By Neil Roland

August 30, 2010

…“It misleads consumers about how polluting the vehicle is,” said Daniel Becker, director of the safe-climate campaign at the Center for Auto Safety….

Read the entire story…

 

U.S. Wants Report Card for Cars

September 22, 2010

The Wall Street Journal

By Josh Mitchell

August 30, 2010

…The EPA’s McCarthy said the agency was constrained by federal statutes that specify only tailpipe emissions, not upstream emissions, be included on the label. But Dan Becker, director of the Safe Climate Campaign, said the agency wouldn’t have been blocked from providing more information on emissions from power plants…

Safety Recalls May Be ‘Voluntary,’ but Are Required by Law

September 21, 2010

Christopher Jensen
9/21/10

“A voluntary safety recall.”

I have been covering automotive safety for about 30 years, including now writing a weekly roundup of safety recalls for Wheels, and whenever a carmaker recalls a vehicle for a safety problem, it often describes it as voluntary.

CAS Rulemaking Comment 11/27/2009

September 16, 2010

Click here to view the comment in PDF format

The Safe Road to Fuel Economy

September 16, 2010

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Voluntary Brake Shift Interlock Voluntary Agreement 2006

September 15, 2010

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Traffic Deaths Drop to Lowest in 60 Years

September 14, 2010

Traffic deaths last year in the United States fell to the lowest level in 60 years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The 33,808 deaths in 2009 represented a 9.7 percent decline from the previous year, the safety agency said on Thursday.

The number of injuries also dropped to 2.22 million last year from 2.35 million in 2008.

The agency said preliminary estimates showed Americans drove 0.2 percent more miles in 2009 than the previous year.

Florida Trooper Killed in Fiery Crash

September 10, 2010

Posted: May 17th, 2010 05:13 AM EDT
HIALEAH GARDENS, Fla. —
A Florida Highway Patrol officer was killed in a fiery crash on the turnpike Saturday night.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Trooper Patrick Ambroise was parked in his 2006 Ford Crown Victoria on the right shoulder near the Okeechobee interchange, when his cruiser was hit in the back by a black Lexus.
Both vehicles caught fire and Ambroise was unable to get out. He died at the scene.
The driver of the Lexus was identified as 19-year-old Jonathan Robert Garcia from Miramar.

Letter to NTSB re: Unreported School Bus Accident Data

September 9, 2010

Click here to view the letter in .PDF