Ex-chief calls for NHTSA action.

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."