NHTSA: We've acted quickly, forcefully
NHTSA's mission is safety, and we've helped reduce roadway fatalities to record lows by fighting drunken and distracted driving, pushing for safer cars, and forcing approximately 100 million recalls of defective vehicles and equipment in the past 10 years.
Just this year, we fined automakers more than $55 million for mishandling recall requirements and forced the largest child seat recall ever.
Our investigation into defective Takata air bags forced automakers to take unprecedented action and recalls. NHTSA's calls for regional recalls (and car makers' ability to disconnect passenger air bags as an interim step) are based on real data and a clear objective to protect those at demonstrated risk.
Because of that risk, we opened our investigation and quickly forced automakers to conduct recalls on early, limited information. The data are clear: Vehicles with certain Takata air bags in regions prone to long-term, high humidity and temperatures pose a risk.
We have not yet found evidence indicating that this defect occurs in other regions or in cases where people travel to these regions during periods of lower humidity, such as snowbirds, but our investigation into Takata is far from over.
At our insistence, Takata is quadrupling testing of returned air bags to assist our effort to determine the full scope of the problem. If we find evidence supporting the need for a national recall, we won't hesitate. And as we find evidence of wrongdoing, perpetrators will be held accountable.
Regional recalls ensure that priority goes to vehicles with defective air bags in and around Florida and the Gulf Coast. At our request, automakers are prioritizing this effort, and Takata agreed to add two production lines as early as January. An unjustified national recall would divert replacement air bags from where they're needed, putting lives at risk.
We've taken quick and strong actions to protect motorists, and we are requiring Takata and Honda to provide documents and answer tough questions under oath.
Our commitment to you, the American people: No stone will be left unturned in our pursuit of truth and safety.
David Friedman is deputy administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.