News

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.

National Child Passenger Safety Week (September 18-24) and National Seat Check Saturday (September 24) are both valuable reminders that our children must be properly restrained in the right safety seat, or safety belt, every single time they ride in a vehicle. The fact that every single state, and the District of Columbia, have laws requiring the use of these essential safety systems shows how important they are.

The Attorney General’s decision simply affirms that so-called “Right to Repair” proponents – the big after-market parts industry attempting to gain unrestricted access to automakers’ proprietary information and intellectual investment – have the constitutional right under Massachusetts law to sidestep legislative authority and place their question on the 2012 ballot.

The Alliance commends law enforcement agencies, national and state traffic safety officials and others across the country that are carrying out the intensive high-visibility “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” mobilization from August 19 through September 5. High-visibility enforcement campaigns like this are essential components of effective drunk driving prevention programs.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers announced today that Mitch Bainwol has been named President and CEO, effective September 1, 2011. Since 2003, Mr. Bainwol has served as the President and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the trade group representing the four largest music-recording companies. Bainwol joined the RIAA as CEO in 2003 following a 25-year career in federal policy. Bainwol helped lead the music industry’s campaign to curb piracy and transition its business to the digital world.

A broad range of safety, auto, insurance and alcohol industry groups and companies has called on Congress to pass legislation to provide funding for an advanced drunk driving detection research program which could lead to more than 8,000 fewer highway fatalities each year and a nationwide economic cost saving of approximately $130 billion annually.

With the latest Click It or Ticket (CIOT) mobilization underway, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers joins the National Safety Council in asking Congress to support the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's request for funding to conduct a second national safety belt enforcement mobilization in the upcoming fiscal year.