Congress is looking to pass a bill that aims to improve auto safety -- who would be opposed to that? As it turns out, Nissan, Honda, Subaru and a good number of Republican lawmakers.
The foreign manufacturers are opposed to increased fines for cars with safety defects -- specifically any increase to the $16.4 million penalty cap currently in place -- and want more time before brake-override systems and vehicle black boxes are mandatory.
From Automotive News:
"Among the key provisions of the House bill: tougher standards for brake override systems that would halt engine power if the brake and gas pedals were depressed at the same time; tougher standards for black boxes that collect crash data for use in analyzing the causes of accidents; and elimination of the penalty cap that limited the fine against Toyota to $16.4 million."
The bill -- which is only being discussed tomorrow, not voted on -- also calls for a fee of $3 per vehicle (increased to $9 in the next three years) to increase the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's resources. NHTSA was widely criticized for what was seen as a lack of effort during the recent Toyota safety fiasco.