Two House of Representatives committees — the Oversight and Government Reform Committee and Energy and Commerce Committee – have hearings scheduled this month to focus on discrepancies in Toyota’s explanation of its sudden-acceleration problem, the role of regulators who oversee the industry, and whether federal safety standards are outdated, given the advanced electronics technology involved in modern car-making. Toyota has pointed to floor mats and sticking gas pedals as the causes of sudden unintended acceleration in its vehicles, but investigators and congressional staffers say that, based on a preliminary review of internal company and government documents, the problem may lie in defects in the engine’s electronic control systems. Also at issue is the role of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which has conducted investigations of sudden acceleration in Toyota cars and trucks since 2003, but the problem has persisted. Read more about the NHTSA’s role in the Toyota recall. Engineers: Do you believe safety standards that set minimum legal requirements for the design and testing of cars and trucks have failed to address the advanced technology used in modern engine control systems?Click here to discuss.
Investigators Study Toyota Discrepancies, NHTSA Role
