The U.S. is facing a “road safety emergency,” according to David Harkey, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). During a June 26 congressional hearing, Harkey criticized the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for slow regulatory action and a lack of urgency in addressing rising vehicle crash fatalities. Between 2014 and 2022, U.S. road deaths surged nearly 30%, with over 42,000 fatalities recorded in 2022 alone, making the U.S. an outlier among developed nations. Harkey urged Congress to empower vehicle safety regulations in its upcoming transportation legislation and called for faster implementation of life-saving interventions.
Why it matters:
Dealers operate on the front lines of consumer safety. As crash fatalities rise and public scrutiny of vehicle safety intensifies, buyers are increasingly seeking cars with top-tier safety ratings and advanced crash avoidance tech. Automakers may face stricter safety mandates in the near future, influencing product development timelines and inventory availability. Dealers should be aware of how IIHS and NHTSA actions impact vehicle features, consumer expectations, and compliance demands, especially as Congress considers new regulations that may shift the industry’s approach to autonomous systems, impaired driving prevention, and motorcycle safety.
Key Takeaways:
- Road deaths in the U.S. are rising significantly
U.S. vehicle crash fatalities rose nearly 30% from 2014 to 2022, with over 42,000 deaths in 2022—far outpacing global trends. - IIHS calls out NHTSA for regulatory inaction
IIHS President David Harkey criticized NHTSA for moving too slowly on essential safety policies, including anti-lock brakes for motorcycles and impaired driving tech. - IIHS safety ratings are driving industry progress
Though IIHS lacks regulatory authority, its safety evaluations have led automakers to improve vehicle structures, seat belts, airbags and crash avoidance features. - Congress may overhaul vehicle safety rules
The House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade is gathering input for a new motor vehicle safety title as part of annual transportation legislation. - Dealers should monitor automation and safety mandates
Proposed reforms include oversight of partially automated driving systems, which could impact vehicle design, marketing, and dealer training in the near term.
