On Wednesday, Sec. Duffy received a letter from Consumer Reports with similar concerns. “[DOT] agencies—staffed by expert public servants who are well equipped to carry out the Department’s education, research, standards, and enforcement activities—must be sufficiently resourced if they are to help drive the progress that American consumers rightly expect to see in the future,” Consumer Reports wrote.
The consumer advocacy organization has been doing its own testing of emerging automotive technologies for some years now and shared with Duffy the importance of standing firm against industry attempts to “weaken or delay” a rule that would mandate automatic emergency braking. Consumer Reports also highlighted the importance of ensuring pedestrian safety; testing ADAS, partially automated driving systems, and autonomous vehicles for safety; and implementing strict fuel economy standards as all critical in protecting consumers.
“DOT has the chance to close safety gaps and ensure that technological advances translate into real-world benefits for consumers–and it must not pass up this opportunity,” Consumer Reports wrote.
“Secretary Duffy’s heart goes out to the victims’ families, and he takes their concerns seriously,” a NHTSA spokesperson said in a statement sent to Ars. “As the Secretary made clear during his confirmation hearing, he is committed to allowing NHTSA’s investigators to follow the evidence and operate objectively. Our priority is safety, and the agency will continue to enforce the law on all manufacturers of motor vehicles and equipment in accordance with the Vehicle Safety Act and the agency’s data-driven, risk-based investigative process.”
