Blumenthal Urges Strengthened DOT Auto Safety Action on Hot Cars & Slow Down, Move Over Laws During Commerce Committee Hearing With Secretary Buttigieg

At yesterday's Senate Commerce Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) questioned U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg about actions the Department is taking to bolster auto safety.

Preventing Hot Car Deaths

Discussing the recently-passed provisions of his HOT CARS Act, Blumenthal emphasized the need for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to swiftly issue a final rule on rear seat alerts and urged the Department to go further by requiring detection systems to prevent hot car deaths.

"This kind of technology is easy to implement. It would cost pennies if it is done on a mass scale. It has already been implemented by many manufacturers, at least by some," said Blumenthal. "[C]ould you update us as to the status of the rulemaking requiring backseat alerts and your view about the possibility of requiring backseat detection systems?"

Buttigieg agreed with the need to act on this important issue, stating: "We want to make sure we do everything we can to save lives. So NHTSA is hard at work at the rulemaking. We are aware of the interest in the safety community and other measures that could go further than the alert system and we will make sure to take all input on board during the rulemaking process."

Slow Down, Move Over Laws

Referencing Connecticut tow truck operator Corey Iodice's tragic death in 2020, Blumenthal questioned Buttigieg about NHTSA's authority to bolster "Slow Down, Move Over" laws to ensure maximum safety for motorists and emergency vehicles stopped on the road.

"Corey was just doing his job working for his family's business when he was killed by a driver who did not slow down or move over. His death could have been avoided. Connecticut like other states has a move over law that directs motorists to slow down and move over for stopped emergency and maintenance vehicles," said Blumenthal. "NHTSA partners with law enforcement and authorities to help raise awareness of slow down, move over laws. Can NHTSA play a more assertive or aggressive role in providing incentives or imposing requirements or raising and elevating this issue so that more people are aware of it?"

"I will have to investigate how NHTSA's authorities might overlap with or align with move over laws," replied Buttigieg. "I'm certainly aware of them and in the context of the National Roadway Safety Strategy, we want to make sure that we are contemplating those effects and meeting any responsibilities that we have in that direction."

The full transcript of Blumenthal and Buttigieg's exchange at yesterday's Senate Commerce Committee hearing is copied below and the video is available here for download:

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT): Thank you so much for your service and thank you for the good work you are doing at the Department of Transportation. I apologize that I was not here earlier, so I'm going to try to avoid replicating questions you have already asked. Last Saturday as you may know, May 1 was National Heat Stroke Prevention Day. And I want to commend NHTSA for its Look Before You Lock campaign this year. We know in Connecticut, this kind of tragedy can happen at any time. That's why I have worked hard on provisions in the HOT CARS Act which passed into law in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Very specifically, the law directs your department to issue a rule requiring automakers to implement rear seat alerts in their vehicles. In my view, that language fails to go far enough. What we need is the requirement that there be detection not just alerts, but detections, in the back seats of cars. That's not an abstract or hypothetical issue. Just last week, I heard the heartbreaking story of a family who lost their child in a car that was equipped with rear seat alerts. In other words, the car would be compliant with the Infrastructure Investment and Job Act requirements, but this tragedy still occurred because the child was in the backseat and there was no detection system. This kind of technology is easy to implement. It would cost pennies if it is done on a mass scale. It has already been implemented by many manufacturers, at least by some. So with apologies for the long-winded introduction, could you update us as to the status of the rulemaking requiring backseat alerts and your view about the possibility of requiring backseat detection systems?

Secretary Pete Buttigieg: Thank you. We recognize the importance of this. Since comprehensive data collection began in 1998, I believe 800 children have died of heat injuries after being trapped in a hot car. This provision in the bipartisan infrastructure law we think will help. We want to make sure we do everything we can to save lives. So NHTSA is hard at work at the rulemaking. We are aware of the interest in the safety community and other measures that could go further than the alert system and we will make sure to take all input on board during the rulemaking process.

Blumenthal: Thank you. Another issue close to our hearts in Connecticut and I should just tell you about the family of Corey Iodice. On April 20 of 2020, Corey stopped to assist a driver when his vehicle was disabled and never made it home. Corey was just doing his job working for his family's business when he was killed by a driver who did not slow down or move over. His death could have been avoided. Connecticut like other states has a move over law that directs motorists to slow down and move over for stopped emergency and maintenance vehicles. These laws are critically important to the safety of our travelers and equally important to the people who assist them. I understand that each state has its own laws. NHTSA partners with law enforcement and authorities to help raise awareness of slow down, move over laws. Can NHTSA play a more assertive or aggressive role in providing incentives or imposing requirements or raising and elevating this issue so that more people are aware of it?

Buttigieg: I will have to investigate how NHTSA's authorities might overlap with or align with move over laws. I'm certainly aware of them and in the context of the National Roadway Safety Strategy, we want to make sure that we are contemplating those effects and meeting any responsibilities that we have in that direction.

Blumenthal: Thank you. My time is expired. Madam Chairwoman, Thank you.

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