Washington, DC - Today, Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) held a hearing of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Competition, Foreign Commerce and Infrastructure to examine the status and effectiveness of the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation (TREAD) Act.
"The TREAD Act was an important step in making America's highways safer," said Smith. "We need to ensure that our laws succeed in keeping Americans safe and sound when they go to work, go on vacation, or take their kids to school."
The Subcommittee heard testimony regarding the status of the TREAD Act's mandated rulemakings and will examine its effectiveness, including any safety shortcomings that may require the attention of Congress. In addition, the Subcommittee discussed actions taken by the automobile and tire industries, as well as any technological advancements that have occurred since the signing of the TREAD Act in November 2000.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the Honorable Jeffrey W. Runge, M.D., Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation; the Honorable Bruce Starr, Oregon State Senator; Mr. Robert Strassburger, Vice President of Safety and Harmonization, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers; Mr. Donald Shea, President and CEO, Rubber Manufacturers Association; and Ms. Joan Claybrook, President, Public Citizen.
"Since completion of the TREAD Act requirements, we have been able to devote our efforts toward activities that offer the greatest potential for saving lives and preventing injuries," said Runge.
"Advancing motor vehicle safety remains a significant public health challenge - one that automakers are addressing daily," said Strassburger.
"NHTSA has met many of the challenges it faced with the passage of the TREAD Act," said Shea. "Now is the time for Congress to provide clear guidance to the agency and the industry for completion of the tasks and for the next steps."
"While consumer groups, including Public Citizen, have raised objections to the implementation of rules under the TREAD Act, we still believe that this agency could, if given sufficient direction and focus by Congress, marshal its expertise to accomplish "Phase Two" of the safety goals highlighted by the Ford/Firestone tragedy," said Claybrook.
In 2000, Bridgestone Firestone announced a voluntary recall of 14.4 million tires following an investigation by NHTSA spurred by reports and complaints of tread separation of certain tire models. Approximately 271 fatalities and more than 800 injuries were linked to tread separation and rollover incidents involving Firestone tires and Ford vehicles. The Firestone tire recall highlighted serious deficiencies in NHTSA's ability to adequately detect and investigate safety-related defects in motor vehicles and related equipment. The TREAD Act was enacted in the wake of the 2000 Firestone recall.
