Keep "Safety" in the SAFETEA Legislation

Don't Let Congress Leave the Senate Auto Safety Provisions In the Parking Lot
While Other Highway Initiatives are in the Passing Lane

URGENT - Need to Act Now with a Phone Call, Email or Fax in Support of Auto Safety Measures to Reduce Projected 18 Million Injuries and 250,000 Fatalities Over 6 Years

House and Senate negotiations on life-saving auto safety provisions - rollover and occupant ejection prevention, roof crush strength, side impact protection and child safety are stalled and may be stopped. These measures included in the Senate version of H.R. 3, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2005 (SAFETEA) may be dropped from the overall multi-year, multi-billion dollar surface transportation bill. The leader of the House Energy and Commerce Committee is proposing to remove all of the auto safety provisions enacted with bi-partisan Senate support and introduce them in a separate bill to be passed at a later date.

This Development Will Add More Delay -- Uncertainty -
And May Even Defeat Long Overdue Vehicle Safety Measures

Talking Points in Support of Encouraging House and Senate Negotiations For Auto Safety Within H.R.3, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2005:

House and Senate conferees need to include the Senate-passed auto safety provisions in the final version of H.R. 3.

Because of other legislation scheduled for consideration, Congress does not have time to take up and pass a separate auto safety bill in the House and Senate this September. Urge these Members of Congress to get the job done now. Indeed, these auto safety provisions already have been delayed for more than 3 years.

Traffic deaths are up in 2004. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates a total of 42,800 motor vehicle deaths last year -- an increase over 2003. Sport utility vehicle (SUV) rollover fatalities increased by nearly 7%.

These commonsense measures direct NHTSA to conduct rulemakings on long overdue safety standards that would reduce motor vehicle deaths and injuries by reducing rollover crashes, preventing occupant ejection, strengthening roof crush resistance, protecting children in and around vehicles, and requiring vehicle window stickers with government safety ratings.

Rollovers occur in only 3% of all crashes, but result in 1/3 of all occupant fatalities - more than 10,000 rollover deaths every year. Annual SUV rollover fatalities have more than tripled in the past decade - they were 216% higher in 2003 than in 1992.

When Congress acts, NHTSA reacts and lives are saved. Consumer, medical, health and safety groups, auto safety technology suppliers and insurers support this legislation because standard equipment technologies - air bags, head injury protection, rear seat lap and shoulder belts, better consumer information and anti-lock brakes in big trucks -- are the result of federal legislation directing NHTSA to move forward on commonsense safety standards.

For more information about the safety provisions in HR 3, go to: http://www.saferoads.org/federal/2005/SUVPoster.pdf

Act now to communicate your support to these key House and Senate Leaders in the Conference negotiations (see list below.) Ask them to include all of the Senate-passed safety provisions in the final version of H.R.3. Please phone or send a fax or, if you are a constituent, you can send an email through the legislator's website.

Alaska - Senate
Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) Ph: (202) 224-3004; Fax: (202) 224-2354 www.stevens.senate.gov/
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Hawaii - Senate
Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI) Ph: (202) 224-3934; Fax: (202) 224-6747 www.inouye.senate.gov/
Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Mississippi - Senate
Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS) Ph: (202) 224-6253; Fax: (202) 224-2262 www.lott.senate.gov/
Chairman of the Senate Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee

Michigan - House
Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI) Ph: (202) 225-4071; Fax: (202) 226-0371 www.house.gov/dingell
Ranking Member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce

Mississippi - House
Rep. Charles Pickering, Jr. (R-MS) Ph: (202) 225-5031; Fax: (202) 225-5797 www.house.gov/pickering
Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce

Texas - House
Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) Ph: (202) 225-2002; Fax: (202) 225-3052 www.joebarton.house.gov/
Chairman of the House Committee on Energy & Commerce

Please send a copy of your letter or email, and address any questions to: jgillan@saferoads.org or jgunderson@saferoads.org

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