Reps. Schakowsky, Pallone announce inclusion of auto safety provisions in Moving Forward Act

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Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce Chair Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) announced Tuesday the inclusion of auto safety provisions to the Moving Forward Act, which seeks to stop preventable auto-related deaths.

The additions specifically address drunk driving, children being left in hot cars, carbon monoxide poisoning, and unsafe limousines.

“This bill includes critical provisions to modernize vehicle safety by requiring advance safety systems in new cars, including drunk driving prevention technology, requiring NHTSA to update 5-star ratings for new cars and improving limousine safety.” the legislators said. “All of these provisions would save countless lives and make our roads safer for everyone — pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, and passengers. The Committee has been working on these issues for years, and we look forward to working with Speaker Pelosi to ensure the House passes this bill soon.”

The provisions direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to require vehicles to be equipped with a system detecting the presence of a child or other occupant left unattended in a vehicle and issue warnings to prevent vehicular heatstroke, and establish minimum performance standards requiring all new passenger motor vehicles to be equipped with advanced driver assistance systems and updated safety standards for headlamps.

It also directs the NHTSA to prescribe a motor vehicle safety standard requiring passenger motor vehicles to be equipped with an advanced drunk driving prevention system that detects if the driver is intoxicated, and ensures limousine compliance with federal safety standards by requiring limousines to have safety belts and meet federal standards for seats and seat assemblies while closing a loophole allowing used vehicles to be converted into limousines without meeting federal safety standards.