NHTSA Proposes Mandatory Brake-Override Systems

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed a new regulation that would mandate the installation of a brake-override system in all new cars in order to allow drivers to stop their vehicles in the event of a brake failure.

The proposal comes in the wake of tragic car accident. In August 2009, an accident in San Diego involving an off-duty highway patrolman driving a borrowed car with an accelerator pedal caught under a floor mat caused the deaths of four people. This accident caused the Toyota to recall over ten million vehicles for faulty accelerator pedals.

The NHTSA’s proposal would go into effect in September 2014, and its goal is to prevent issues that cause brake failure, such as the sticking or floor entrapment of accelerator pedals and the malfunction of the control system for the accelerator. The regulation would require that all vehicles currently on the road be installed with an override system that would stop the vehicle when the brakes and accelerator pedals are pressed at the same time.

Motorists can avoid the sticking of accelerator pedals by simply performing routine maintenance on their vehicles and checking to see that their accelerator pedals are not stuck down by mats or other objects. Brake-override systems are gradually becoming more common in vehicles, with manufacturers such as Ford and Chrysler installing them in almost all of their new vehicles, so these systems are a useful tool for keeping motorists out of danger.

Contact a Personal Injury Attorney

If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident due to the negligence of another driver, contact an experienced personal injury attorney. A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer can assess your case and help you get the compensation you deserve for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. For more information, contact a personal injury attorney today.

Source: Detroit News, “NHTSA proposes making brake-override standard,” David Shepardson.