WASHINGTON, July 12 (UPI) -- Legislation before Congress that would overhaul auto safety in the United States is being scaled back in the face of industry opposition, advocates say.
As originally written, the bill would have given federal officials the power to impose unlimited fines against automakers for safety violations -- but the House version now would cap fines at $200 million, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.
The bills in the House and Senate arose from congressional hearings last winter that investigated sudden acceleration and other safety problems involving Toyota and Lexus vehicles since 2001.
Also, a provision what would have set first-ever safety standards for vehicle electronics was changed so the Transportation secretary only would have to "consider" them and could abandon them later. Deleted was a provision that would have established a timetable for automakers to meet any future safety standard.
Key revisions to the bill have disappointed auto safety advocates, but doesn't surprise them, several told the Times.
"The auto industry has had undue influence on this legislation," said Joan Claybrook, a former head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, who testified at several congressional hearings. "The industry wanted to change a lot of little words that had a major impact."
Vehicle safety advocates said the auto industry has a record of watering down federal legislation targeted at vehicle safety, the Times said. Also, more than a dozen members of the House committee where the bill originated represent auto-producing states.
While praising the legislation, Robert Strassburger, a vice president at the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, said some of the original deadlines were too difficult to meet.
