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  • William Maley
    William Maley

    By William Maley •

    New U.S. Highway Bill Brings Much Needed Money To NHTSA

      Larger Budget on defect investigations and a increased maximum fine are some of the changes in store.

    The U.S. Congress is voting on a new highway bill that if passed, would bring some much needed money and changes for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

     

    Automotive News reports the new bill, called Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act would be the first long-term highway plan in a decade. If passed, the bill would provide roughly $300 billion for roads, bridges, and mass-transit projects. The bill would also increase NHTSA's budget for defect investigations from $10 million a year to $30 million. But for NHTSA to get the increase in the budget, they would need to implement a number of reforms outlined by Transportation Department’s inspector general.

     

    Along with the increase in the defect investigation budget, FAST would some much-needed changes in how recalls and defects are dealt with.

    • The maximum fine for safety violations will increase from $35 million to $105 million
    • Employees who report on potentially dangerous safety violations will be rewarded
    • If there is a financial penalty put on an automaker or supplier, a whistleblower could get up to 30 percent of the penalty
    • Automakers will need to keep safety data for 10 years (up from the current 5) and provide part numbers for defective parts to NHTSA
    • Dealers will be required to notify customers of an open recall
    • Rental car companies will not be allowed to rent out vehicles that have an open recall
    • States would be given funds to notify owners who renew their vehicle registration that a recall is due


    Currently, the bill has bipartisan support and the White House announced that President Obama would sign the bill if passed.

     

    Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

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    G. David Felt

    I am excited by this, but sadly it is also still just a half ass measure as the current highway infrastructure work needed is estimated at $400 Billion. So while this will help, it will not really address replacing the old worn out bridges and roads nor will it really address the need for better mass transit and freeway expansion to deal with congestion.

     

    Cut a third of the 1800 military bases around the world and use that money on rebuilding America.

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    surreal1272

    I am excited by this, but sadly it is also still just a half ass measure as the current highway infrastructure work needed is estimated at $400 Billion. So while this will help, it will not really address replacing the old worn out bridges and roads nor will it really address the need for better mass transit and freeway expansion to deal with congestion.

     

    Cut a third of the 1800 military bases around the world and use that money on rebuilding America.

    Bill Clinton did that in the 90's and we still did not get better roads.

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    G. David Felt

     

    I am excited by this, but sadly it is also still just a half ass measure as the current highway infrastructure work needed is estimated at $400 Billion. So while this will help, it will not really address replacing the old worn out bridges and roads nor will it really address the need for better mass transit and freeway expansion to deal with congestion.

     

    Cut a third of the 1800 military bases around the world and use that money on rebuilding America.

    Bill Clinton did that in the 90's and we still did not get better roads.

     

    Then Shrub spent Trillions on his personal war and we still did not win.

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    surreal1272

     

     

    I am excited by this, but sadly it is also still just a half ass measure as the current highway infrastructure work needed is estimated at $400 Billion. So while this will help, it will not really address replacing the old worn out bridges and roads nor will it really address the need for better mass transit and freeway expansion to deal with congestion.

     

    Cut a third of the 1800 military bases around the world and use that money on rebuilding America.

    Bill Clinton did that in the 90's and we still did not get better roads.

     

    Then Shrub spent Trillions on his personal war and we still did not win.

     

    Wasn't my point dfelt but in my only defense of Bush Jr. he also had to use a military that was cut in half by the Clinton administration during the 90's. There is a direct cause and effect link there but I don't want to talk politics here. It never gets anyone anywhere here.

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    G. David Felt

     

     

     

    I am excited by this, but sadly it is also still just a half ass measure as the current highway infrastructure work needed is estimated at $400 Billion. So while this will help, it will not really address replacing the old worn out bridges and roads nor will it really address the need for better mass transit and freeway expansion to deal with congestion.

     

    Cut a third of the 1800 military bases around the world and use that money on rebuilding America.

    Bill Clinton did that in the 90's and we still did not get better roads.

     

    Then Shrub spent Trillions on his personal war and we still did not win.

     

    Wasn't my point dfelt but in my only defense of Bush Jr. he also had to use a military that was cut in half by the Clinton administration during the 90's. There is a direct cause and effect link there but I don't want to talk politics here. It never gets anyone anywhere here.

     

    True and I will also respect and stay away since this is not the political thread. My point is no matter who is in office, they waste money out of the country rather than taking care of the country first.

     

    Our infrastructure is pathetic and we need to build a modern electrical grid, natural gas, roads, etc. 

     

    I believe we can all agree we need to invest in America first before elsewhere.

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    regfootball

    when gas is 2.00 a gal like it is now, i really would have no prob spending another 50-75 cents a gal in tax to fund new roads (not trains, bike lanes,  or inefficient transit)

     

    but if you add a tax it never goes away.  And in states like here, it goes into the general fund and gets raped and never makes it to new roads.

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    Suaviloquent

    when gas is 2.00 a gal like it is now, i really would have no prob spending another 50-75 cents a gal in tax to fund new roads (not trains, bike lanes,  or inefficient transit)

     

    but if you add a tax it never goes away.  And in states like here, it goes into the general fund and gets raped and never makes it to new roads.

     

    If only the rest of America was so willing to embrace pragmatic taxes and strict, transparent uses for the proceeds!!

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