xcel
09-12-2006, 09:12 PM
Agency must complete new standards for roof strength, side crashes. (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060912/AUTO01/609120366/1148)
David Shepardson - The Detroit News - Sept. 12, 2006
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Lexus_-_Side_and_Side_Curtain_Airbags.jpg
Side and Side curtains should be std. on all vehicles.
WASHINGTON - Dr. Jeffrey Runge, the outspoken former head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is calling on the federal government to complete unfinished proposals to improve vehicle safety.
Runge left NHTSA in July 2005 to become chief medical officer at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In February, he also was named acting undersecretary for science and technology at Homeland Security.
In an interview with The Detroit News last week, Runge urged NHTSA to complete a long-delayed rule to improve vehicle roof strength, and finalize side impact standards that could save 1,000 lives annually.
"We're leaving 1,000 lives on the table. I can't defend the fact that this isn't done yet," Runge said, adding that the cost-benefit analysis demonstrates the need. "This is clear when 50 percent of the people who die in a side-impact crash have a brain injury. There's no excuse to not get this done. This is a no-brainer - no pun intended."
NHTSA spokesman Rae Tyson said the side-impact rulemaking is very complex. NHTSA issued its proposed rule in May 2004 and said at the time the new regulation "could become a final rule as early as 2005." NHTSA isn't expected to issued a final rule until next year.
"It's a work in progress. It certainly represents the last major crash-worthiness regulation that's in the works," Tyson said.
The automakers agreed to voluntarily install side air bags in all vehicles by Sept. 1, 2009. But NHTSA is considering a proposal that would require automakers to significantly upgrade their side protection systems.
Vehicle death rate up in 2005
Runge said he was dismayed to see recent NHTSA report showing that vehicle death rate rose for the first time in 20 years in 2005; total fatalities rose 1.4 percent from 42,836 in 2004 to 43,443 in 2005.
Motorcycle deaths rose 13 percent to 4,553 in 2005, while pedestrian fatalities jumped 4.4 percent to 4,881."There really aren't good countermeasures on motorcycles and we're not sure what's driving the pedestrian increase," Runge said.
Runge, 50, said wants to see NHTSA complete its proposed toughening of vehicle roof strength standards. The proposal has come under fire by automakers who have asked NHTSA to change it in several respects.
Runge said his experience with motor vehicles is informing him in his new position. While Americans are relatively well-informed when it comes to auto safety, they "have not really adopted a culture of preparedness" on homeland security issues.
"It's just like buckling your seat belt. People need to take personal responsibility for preparing for an attack," he said. "You look the success we had in getting kids in the back seats and in child safety seats. People really do respond to that sort of preparedness."
Big 3 improved SUV safety
Runge drew the ire of the Big Three during an appearance at the Detroit auto show in January 2003, when he encouraged consumers to avoid rollover-prone vehicles such as the large SUVs that had become a major source of auto profits.
"I wouldn't buy my kid a two-star rollover vehicle if it was the last one on Earth," Runge said then. "That's my family's choice because we are educated about injury risk and risk of death."
The auto industry quickly adopted voluntary efforts to improve the safety of SUVs.
In a 2005 appearance in Dearborn, he softened his criticism, noting more SUVs were earning four-star safety ratings. "The industry should be very proud of what it has accomplished," he said at the time.
Action needed on air bags
Runge left a medical practice in North Carolina in 2001 to take the top job at NHTSA. While on the job for four years, seat belt use dramatically increased and the agency tackled rollover deaths.
Gloria Bergquist, vice president at the Alliance for Automobile Manufacturers, which represents GM, Ford, DaimlerChrysler and Toyota, among other automakers, said her members have been in numerous discussions with NHTSA about the side-impact rule's impact that will require "dramatic changes."
Runge "brought an emergency room background and a passion to the job that you need to tackle auto safety," she said.
Joan Claybrook, who heads the safety group Public Citizen and is also a former NHTSA administrator, urged a quick decision on side impact.
"We've been disappointed that side impact has taken so long," Claybrook said, who supported much of what Runge did. "He's very smart. He got it. He knew what was important"
David Shepardson - The Detroit News - Sept. 12, 2006
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Lexus_-_Side_and_Side_Curtain_Airbags.jpg
Side and Side curtains should be std. on all vehicles.
WASHINGTON - Dr. Jeffrey Runge, the outspoken former head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is calling on the federal government to complete unfinished proposals to improve vehicle safety.
Runge left NHTSA in July 2005 to become chief medical officer at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In February, he also was named acting undersecretary for science and technology at Homeland Security.
In an interview with The Detroit News last week, Runge urged NHTSA to complete a long-delayed rule to improve vehicle roof strength, and finalize side impact standards that could save 1,000 lives annually.
"We're leaving 1,000 lives on the table. I can't defend the fact that this isn't done yet," Runge said, adding that the cost-benefit analysis demonstrates the need. "This is clear when 50 percent of the people who die in a side-impact crash have a brain injury. There's no excuse to not get this done. This is a no-brainer - no pun intended."
NHTSA spokesman Rae Tyson said the side-impact rulemaking is very complex. NHTSA issued its proposed rule in May 2004 and said at the time the new regulation "could become a final rule as early as 2005." NHTSA isn't expected to issued a final rule until next year.
"It's a work in progress. It certainly represents the last major crash-worthiness regulation that's in the works," Tyson said.
The automakers agreed to voluntarily install side air bags in all vehicles by Sept. 1, 2009. But NHTSA is considering a proposal that would require automakers to significantly upgrade their side protection systems.
Vehicle death rate up in 2005
Runge said he was dismayed to see recent NHTSA report showing that vehicle death rate rose for the first time in 20 years in 2005; total fatalities rose 1.4 percent from 42,836 in 2004 to 43,443 in 2005.
Motorcycle deaths rose 13 percent to 4,553 in 2005, while pedestrian fatalities jumped 4.4 percent to 4,881."There really aren't good countermeasures on motorcycles and we're not sure what's driving the pedestrian increase," Runge said.
Runge, 50, said wants to see NHTSA complete its proposed toughening of vehicle roof strength standards. The proposal has come under fire by automakers who have asked NHTSA to change it in several respects.
Runge said his experience with motor vehicles is informing him in his new position. While Americans are relatively well-informed when it comes to auto safety, they "have not really adopted a culture of preparedness" on homeland security issues.
"It's just like buckling your seat belt. People need to take personal responsibility for preparing for an attack," he said. "You look the success we had in getting kids in the back seats and in child safety seats. People really do respond to that sort of preparedness."
Big 3 improved SUV safety
Runge drew the ire of the Big Three during an appearance at the Detroit auto show in January 2003, when he encouraged consumers to avoid rollover-prone vehicles such as the large SUVs that had become a major source of auto profits.
"I wouldn't buy my kid a two-star rollover vehicle if it was the last one on Earth," Runge said then. "That's my family's choice because we are educated about injury risk and risk of death."
The auto industry quickly adopted voluntary efforts to improve the safety of SUVs.
In a 2005 appearance in Dearborn, he softened his criticism, noting more SUVs were earning four-star safety ratings. "The industry should be very proud of what it has accomplished," he said at the time.
Action needed on air bags
Runge left a medical practice in North Carolina in 2001 to take the top job at NHTSA. While on the job for four years, seat belt use dramatically increased and the agency tackled rollover deaths.
Gloria Bergquist, vice president at the Alliance for Automobile Manufacturers, which represents GM, Ford, DaimlerChrysler and Toyota, among other automakers, said her members have been in numerous discussions with NHTSA about the side-impact rule's impact that will require "dramatic changes."
Runge "brought an emergency room background and a passion to the job that you need to tackle auto safety," she said.
Joan Claybrook, who heads the safety group Public Citizen and is also a former NHTSA administrator, urged a quick decision on side impact.
"We've been disappointed that side impact has taken so long," Claybrook said, who supported much of what Runge did. "He's very smart. He got it. He knew what was important"