Blumenthal Statement on New NHTSA Pedestrian Safety Rule

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released the following statement on a new rule proposed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) aimed at advancing pedestrian safety:

“This new proposed rule by NHTSA makes critical strides towards ensuring that vehicles are safely designed, but more must be done to fully protect all road users. Today’s proposed rule will help reduce injury and death for adult pedestrians and older children, but it fails to account for children of all ages, including our nation’s youngest. Commonsense measures to ensure drivers are aware of all children and others around their vehicles will prevent needless tragedies and deaths, such as those from frontover incidents. While I applaud NHTSA for taking action to combat the crisis of roadway deaths, I also urge the agency to do more to raise the safety standards of vehicles and save lives.”

Blumenthal has long championed legislation to improve the safety of Americans behind the wheel and on the road through the safe design of vehicles. In October 2022, Blumenthal introduced the Standards to Prevent (STOP) Frontovers Act to require all new vehicles to come equipped with cameras, sensors, or other technology to improve drivers’ front visibility and perception of incoming individuals or objects and prevent crashes.

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