A member of the Senate Commerce Committee said Monday that recent revelations about Toyota Motor Corp.’s handling of safety issues should spark new legislation to reform auto safety regulations.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said the disclosure that Toyota told dealers in 31 European nations about sticky pedal problems in September — four months before it took action in the United States — was unacceptable.
Toyota has until Monday to decide whether to challenge a $16.4 million fine imposed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration over its recall of 2.3 million vehicles for sticky pedal concerns.
“The safety of the American people should never be left to negotiation, and Toyota’s responsibility to its customers should be the same in Belgium as it would be in Bemidji,” Klobuchar said. “Toyota’s reported withholding of vital safety information is a glaring sign that NHTSA must be given more authority to ensure driver safety. I will continue to work with the Commerce Committee to develop legislation that will address gaps in highway safety oversight, including strengthening the penalty structure, and provide government regulators with the tools they need.”
Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, and Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, are working on legislation to reform the nation’s auto safety legislation.
NHTSA briefed the House Energy and Commerce Committee on its investigation into Toyota on Monday.
