NTSB Official emphasizes safety technology at World Congress.
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Press Release Summary:
At the 15th World Congress on Intelligent Transportation Systems, NTSB Acting Chairman Mark V. Rosenker urged government and industry attendees to work together in deploying new intelligent transportation systems technologies to promote safety on American roadways. Rosenker said that it is important to put money into making cars that can avoid accidents and noted that electronic stability control will be required on all automobiles beginning in the 2012 model year.
Original Press Release:
NTSB Acting Chairman Emphasizes Need for Safety Focus in Intelligent Transportation Systems Research and Product Development
Washington, D.C. - National Transportation Safety Board Acting Chairman Mark V. Rosenker today urged both government and industry attendees at the 15th World Congress on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) in New York City to work together to deploy new intelligent transportation systems technologies to the traveling public as fast as possible and at affordable prices as a means to enhance safety on American roadways.
"I believe it is time for us as a nation to stop accepting the costs of traffic accidents and instead put that money into making cars that can avoid potential accidents," said Rosenker in his speech during the World Congress' Safety Plenary Session. "At the National Transportation Safety Board, it is our firm belief that advanced technology is a major ingredient in reducing accidents, saving lives, preventing injuries, and lessening the immense emotional and monetary toll of these accidents."
Rosenker outlined the Board's history of accident investigations that resulted in making safety recommendations to government agencies and transportation associations that called for wider deployment of specific ITS technologies, including adaptive cruise control and collision warning systems in private and commercial vehicles.
Rosenker noted that, as a result of NTSB recommendations made to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding electronic stability control (ESC) on automobiles and light trucks, NHTSA will require ESC on all automobiles beginning in the 2012 model year. "This is a clear indication that safety does sell and of the power of the market to move these technologies," he remarked.
The Acting Chairman commented that "the people sitting here in this room have the power to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on our nation's highways." He called upon the members of the audience to work together to ensure that "the safety benefit afforded by ITS is not a luxury few can purchase", but instead urged them to make such technologies less costly and more widely available to the traveling public.
The complete text of Chairman Rosenker's speech may be obtained on the Board's website at ntsb.gov/speeches/rosenker/mvr081119.html
