Customer Advocacy Groups Accuse the NHTSA of Doing Too Little On Automatic Braking
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been accused by consumer advocacy groups of doing too little to ensure that automatic emergency braking is standard in all light vehicles. The consumer advocacy groups have further accused the NHTSA of entering into a “backroom deal” with automakers to avoid such safety standards. Specifically, the NHTSA entered into an agreement in March with 20 automakers to make automatic braking a standard by no later than 2022—which the NHTSA argued would bring automatic braking to the public three years faster than the regular rulemaking process. But according to Consumer Watchdog, the Center for Auto Safety, and Public Citizen the agreement is “unlawful” because it allows the automakers to avoid safety rules in place. They also assert that the agreement leaves 1 in every 20 cars without such technology, and that it weakens brake tests.
