20 / 24
Page 20
Recyclers News Press
ARA Updates
Industry news from the national association
New National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) Administra-
tor Weighs in on Recall Issues
The New NHTSA Administrator, Mark Rosekind, was sworn
in on December 22 and has since publicly discussed the
issue of auto recalls and his agency's operations oversee-
ing vehicle defects. Rosekind predicts that greater publicity
about auto safety issues, including Congressional hearings
on the faulty GM ignition switch and Takata airbags, will
increase the number of recalls in 2015. During 2014 ap-
proximately 60 million vehicles were under a safety recall
and NHTSA heard from over 75,000 vehicle owners about
potential defects, up from approximately 40,000 the previ-
ous year.
Rosekind has also stated that improving the vehicle defect
analysis and recall system currently in place at NHTSA is a
top priority and that the entire process is being reviewed.
Rosekind stated that "...it's all about safety. I am open to
working with the manufacturers or whoever it is that is go-
ing to help move safety forward".
In a further effort to improve the safety
culture at NHTSA, Rosekind said that
he will push for additional authority, re-
sources, staff and technology. He found the agency to be
severely underfunded particularly since its budget, which is
approved by Congress, has remained flat for the past dec-
ade. In addition, he noted that fewer than 50 employees
currently review all safety defect issues. ARA is requesting
a meeting with Administrator Rosekind to continue the dia-
log we have had with his predecessors on these issues.