Schakowsky Praises NHTSA Action to Save Children’s Lives

WASHINGTON, DC — (December 3, 2010) Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) released the following statement today in response to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's proposal to expand the rear visibility standard in vehicles.  The rulemaking was required by the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act, which was sponsored by Rep. Schakowsky and became law in February 2008.

"Today I am celebrating a major step forward in auto safety — one that is as important as earlier mandates for seatbelts and airbags and one that will save hundreds of lives every year.  In 2003, along with Rep. Peter King (R-NY), I introduced the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act in honor of 2-year-old Cameron, who was tragically killed after being accidentally backed over by his father, a pediatrician from Long Island.

My legislation, which became law in 2008, required the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to finally take action to address the lack of rear visibility in vehicles.  For years we have had the technology to end these tragedies but the standards for manufacturers on rear visibility never required them.  Under NHTSA's proposed rule, manufactures will have to ensure that drivers can see directly behind the vehicle when backing up.  This change is a giant leap forward in vehicle safety....