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This proposal continues the approach of establishing a single, national fuel economy program for fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions, which is the right overall direction. The proposed regulations present aggressive targets, and the Administration must consider that technology break-throughs will be required and consumers will need to buy our most energy-efficient technologies in very large numbers to meet the goals.

Eliminating drunk driving -- the leading cause of highway fatalities -- is an aggressive undertaking, but the first five years of MADD's campaign have demonstrated that it is achievable. The Alliance commends MADD and its partners -- the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, state highway safety officials, law enforcement agencies, federal and state legislative leaders and others -- on the progress to date.

A landmark voluntary 2003 agreement among automakers has led to dramatic drops in traffic fatality rates in crashes between cars and light trucks. According to a new analysis of real-world crash data by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), there is now no difference in the fatality rates between cars that are hit by SUVs and cars that are hit by other cars.

The national research effort to develop publicly-acceptable technology that will prevent the illegal operation of a vehicle by a drunk driver (0.08 or above blood alcohol content) is entering a new phase in which it will move out of the laboratory and onto the road with a drivable test vehicle expected to be ready in two years.

The International Organisation of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers held its General Assembly on 21 October 2011 in Bucharest (Romania), at the kind invitation of the Romanian Automotive Manufacturers and Importers Association (APIA). At that occasion, the Assembly unanimously elected the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA), represented by its President & CEO Dr Young-Soo Kwan, to the position of OICA 1st Vice President. Mr Kwan was also elected as Treasurer of OICA.

Traffic crashes are still the leading cause of teenager fatalities, and National Teen Driver Safety Week (October 16-22) provides all of us with a good opportunity to address the issues having the biggest impact on highway safety.

Ford’s labor agreement – which commits to 12,000 new jobs and a $16 billion investment in the U.S. for design, engineering and production work – is the latest example of how the auto industry continues to be a bright spot in an economy desperately looking for traction.