May9

Presidential hopefuls Sens. John McCain and Hillary Clinton may be focusing on a 'gas-tax holiday', but another presidential candidate — Ralph Nader — is eying a reform of the National Highway

Traffic Safety Administration. Nader feels the NHTSA has gotten too close with the automakers and calls it nothing more than a "consulting firm" for car makers.

Nader's latest gripe with the NHTSA involves roof strength standards. The NHTSA is considering a new standard that would replace the one that has been in place for the last 37 years. However, Nader feels that even the new standard won't be enough to protect occupants involved in a rollover crash.

Automakers have largely sided with the NHTSA, stating rollover crashes are difficult to accurately replicate and that roof collapse is rarely the cause of death, according to Automotive News. Adding stronger roof supports would also increase a vehicle's weight, which automakers argue could cause an increase in the number of rollover accidents.

Rollovers are responsible for more than 30 percent of all deaths on U.S. roads despite accounting for only 3 percent of all accidents.

Nader played a crucial role in establishing the NHTSA in 1966, but feels the organization has lost its way over the past several years. "It would be better to shut it down and start over," he said.

Nader expects to be on the ballot in 45 states.

Posted on May 9th, 2008 by livgon
Filed under: Car News For Enthusiasts