Category: Blog

Volkswagen Diesel Emissions Deception – Scientists Estimate Effects on People

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

Scientists have estimated the effects of diesel emissions from Volkswagen’s deliberate vehicle cheating on U.S. emission tests.

“Abstract “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued a notice of violation against Volkswagen (VW) for installing a defective device in certain models of diesel cars to circumvent emission tests for nitrogen oxides (NOx). We quantified the health and economic impacts of extra NOx emissions attributable to non-compliant vehicles in the U.S. using the EPA’s Co-Benefits Risk Assessment model. We estimated that the total extra NOx emitted over one year of operation would result in 5 to 50 premature deaths, 687 to 17,526 work days with restricted activity, and economic costs of $43,479,189 to $423,268,502, based on various assumptions regarding emission scenarios and risks. This study highlights the potential impacts of VW vehicles’ lack of compliance on the health and well-being of the U.S. population.”
Note:  This is based on one year of operation.  The deception took place over a decade.
For more on VW criminal deception see  http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2016/09/09/business/09reuters-volkswagen-emissions.html“VW has so far set aside about $18 billion to cover the cost of vehicle refits and a settlement with U.S. authorities, but analysts think the bill could rise much further as a result of lawsuits and regulatory penalties.”  See  http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2016/09/21/business/21reuters-volkswagen-emissions-lawsuit.html
Short History of Air Pollution
This is part of a 50 year war on automotive emissions that have harmed people’s health in the U.S., damaged people worldwide, and the planet.  See
1.  As a whistle blower in 1971, I was fired from EPA trying to warn that emission testing by the Nixon EPA was being rigged to benefit auto companies under Administrator William Ruckelshaus.
2.  A recent MIT study found that all automotive emissions, not just diesel emissions, were estimated to be resulting in 53,000 early deaths each year in the U.S.A. today.
3.  Last year, President Obama awarded the Medal of Freedom to William Ruckelshaus.  See https://www.careforcrashvictims.com/blog/blog-medal/
Last week, on September 15, 2016, I commented on a NY Times article “Pardon Snowden” on whistle blowing.   I received the NY Times link athttp://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/15/opinion/pardon-edward-snowden.html?comments#permid=19799984:19805678
I had made the three points above about my experience as a whistle blower.  Within a couple of hours my comments were recommended by more than 150 readers.   One reader replied saying that my comments were “the scariest post” he had ever read.
Then the NY Times removed my comments and those of the people who had replied to my comments.
Lou Lombardo

50 Years of Air Pollution by Vehicles 53 000 Early Deaths Per Year in U S A Today

Dear Care For Crash Victims Community Members:

Vehicle Violence – Deaths By Air Pollution

A recent MIT study found that about 200,000 early deaths result each year from air pollution in the U.S.A. today.  53,000 early deaths per year due to vehicle emissions.

“Researchers from MIT’s Laboratory for Aviation and the Environment have come out with some sobering new data on air pollution’s impact on Americans’ health.

“The group tracked ground-level emissions from sources such as industrial smokestacks, vehicle tailpipes, marine and rail operations, and commercial and residential heating throughout the United States, and found that such air pollution causes about 200,000 early deaths each year. Emissions from road transportation are the most significant contributor, causing 53,000 premature deaths, followed closely by power generation, with 52,000….”

“Barrett says that a person who dies from an air pollution-related cause typically dies about a decade earlier than he or she otherwise might have….

“The greatest number of emissions-related premature deaths came from road transportation, with 53,000 early deaths per year attributed to exhaust from the tailpipes of cars and trucks.”   See  http://news.mit.edu/2013/study-air-pollution-causes-200000-early-deaths-each-year-in-the-us-0829

The 50 Year War for Healthy Clean Air

50 years ago I came to Washington to work on air pollution control in the Public Health Service (PHS).  In 1967, in the PHS, as a Management Intern, I had a 3 month assignment to help with the Third National Conference on Air Pollution.I was new to Washington ways and called my former Connecticut Congressman’s Office and asked if I could escort him through the exhibits.He said yes and when I arrived at his office he introduced me to a lobbyist from Hartford Electric Light and Power, and asked if it was OK to bring him along.  I said yes and we went to the Hotel.As we walked in the first exhibit was a map of the U.S. filled with little yellow lights all blinking at different rates.  He said what are these 3 blinking lights around Hartford?  I said each time a light blinked it represented hundreds of pounds of sulfur dioxide emitted.  He said what was the source?  I said power plants.Then we went into see an exhibit showing a brief film the agency had created.  Watch it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd6I36UQWccWhen we came out the lobbyist was nearly apoplectic.   He was pounding his fists on an imaginary desk saying:“Congressman!  Congressman!  This is downright communistic!  My tax dollars going to produce such propaganda! “The Congressman put his arm around the lobbyist and said: “Now, now, easy.  You don’t want to have a heart attack.”  Together, they left the exhibit hall.The Emission Testing ScandalIn late 1970, President Nixon reorganized the air pollution control program and other PHS programs into the EPA.  Nixon’s political move was to appear progressive while downgrading the mission of pollution control from protecting human health to protecting the environment.  The symbol of EPA, to this day, is a flower.  See https://www3.epa.gov/  And https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-history

Unbeknownst to me at the time, in April 1971, Henry Ford II and Lee Iacocca met with Nixon in the White House and discussed changing test procedures for the measurement of tail pipe emissions.  Later in 1971, I blew the whistle on changes in test procedures and was fired from EPA under Ruckelshaus.  I was then stonewalled by EPA for documents on the test changes.  I subsequently sued the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) for access to deliberations of the NAS Committee on Motor Vehicle Emissions that the Clean Air Act authorized to review EPA actions.  In 1975, Judge Sirica ruled that the NAS was not subject to the FOIA and FACA and the documents continue to be withheld from the public – to this day.  See https://www.careforcrashvictims.com/1970-PolutionControlEfforts.php

Note:  Last year President Obama awarded Ruckelshaus the Medal of Freedom.  See https://www.careforcrashvictims.com/blog/blog-medal/

Emissions Test Cheating Today
Today, Volkswagen has admitted to cheating for years on diesel emissions testing.  See  http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/10/business/international/vw-criminal-charge-diesel.html?ref=international&_r=0
A Release by the Center for Auto Safety on seeking legal remedies is at https://www.careforcrashvictims.com/blog/blog-cassues/

As of today, on road emission tests of all vehicle engines – not just diesels – need to be investigated.  The collusion of the auto industry and government has gone on far too long to the detriment of Americans – past, present, and future.

The public has been breathing harmful pollution for decades with millions of Americans suffering and losing years of their lives.  We who are still living are also losing our planet.
Hope for Our Future Is Up To Us
In 1970, MIT students took the initiative to demonstrate how we could meet stringent air pollution emission standards.  And today California officials are setting goals.See https://www.careforcrashvictims.com/blog/blog-climatechangeleadershipfromcaliforniaofficials/
Today citizens are organizing and need everyone’s support.
“John Olivieri, National Campaign Director for 21st Century Transportation at the United States Public Interest Research Group said, “Today, more than 80,000 Americans made their voice heard and demanded cleaner and healthier transportation options. This is an historic moment. We sincerely hope that the Department of Transportation will now take action to clean up our nation’s transportation system. The health of our citizens and the health of our planet are at stake.””  See http://uspirg.org/news/usp/80000-americans-mayors-clean-tech-groups-state-and-city-leaders-call-cleaner-transportation
If we don’t act, it won’t be just government by, and for the people that shall perish.
Lou Lombardo

Decades Of Deaths By Truck Underride

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:
Marianne Karth has written an excellent article for Trucks.com.

“When Will We Tackle Underride? – The Hidden Dangers in Trucks”

See https://www.trucks.com/2016/08/10/trucks-underride-hidden-danger/

Almost every other day in the U.S.A. today someone is killed in a truck underride crash as counted by NHTSA.

Worry when you see a heavy truck on the road because NHTSA has failed to fix the problem for decades.  If you can see the truck, you are in danger – danger that NHTSA has not seen for too long for too many Americans.Inline image 1

Lou Lombardo

Decades of Deaths and Injuries By Design of Weak Seats

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

Deaths and Injuries By Corporate Designs
The problem has been carefully and powerfully described in an excellent CBS video at http://www.cbsnews.com/news/seat-back-failures-injuries-deaths-auto-safety-experts-demand-nhtsa-action/

The video relied in part on the noble and diligent work of the Center for Auto Safety for decades to end these needless tragedies.  See https://www.careforcrashvictims.com/blog/blog-seatbackfailuresresponsibility/

Some progressive political pressure grew but not enough to move the Obama Administration yet.  See

Yesterday, the Center for Auto Safety released additional information that continues to build the case for humane and moral action to end this vehicle violence.  The CAS found evidence of 327 deaths and 3,278 injuries since 2003 that NHTSA should have acted on.  The data shows Ford had the most deaths while GM had the most injuries.  See http://www.autosafety.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Supplemental-EWR-Letter.pdf
Decades of NHTSA Failures to Protect Americans Here
Where is the Obama Administration?  Defending shipment of $400 million in cash to Iran – apparently in part for 4 American hostages.  Compare $400 million to the 327 deaths valued at $9 million each using DOT policy value of a statistical life = $3 billion.  See https://www.careforcrashvictims.com/crash-costs.php

Note the Obama Administration spends more than $100 million each year on vehicle safety research – but it is managed by former GM employees.  See https://www.careforcrashvictims.com/blog-lastdecade.php
Resources Not Spent On Safety
Where are the Foundations?  The largest Gates spends 75% of our money overseas.  (Yes, I think of it as “our money” to some extent since it was made here in the U.S.A. and tax sheltered here for years.)
Imagine how many lives would have been saved if the Center for Auto Safety over the past 40 years had a budget of $10 million each year (actually it is far less than $1 million).
Note the Obama Administration spends more than $100 million each year on vehicle safety research – but it is managed by former GM employees.  And because of the freely spinning DOT Revolving Door by too many past, present, and future corporate servants.
Under Obama, American taxpayers bailed out automakers, but Obama has overseen scandals at NHTSA and an estimated 250,000 deaths by the end of this year here in the U.S.A.  Currently, vehicle violence is resulting in 100 deaths + 400 serious injuries and an estimated cost of $2 billion every average day in the U.S.A. today.  See https://www.careforcrashvictims.com/assets/MonthlyReportforJanuary2016-Corrected.pdf
Lou Lombardo
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____________________Lou Lombardowww.CareForCrashVictims.com

Forbes Offers Blind Spot Crash Avoidance Technique Free

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

A good article on how people can avoid blind spot accidents has been published by Forbes.

This is a Mirror Adjustment technique that I have used for decades and have taught my children and grandchildren.  See

This is one little known thing we can do to be safer.
Lou Lombardo
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____________________Lou Lombardowww.CareForCrashVictims.com

Four Million Reasons To Sign Petition That May Save Your Life

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

A Mom and Grandmother who lost two young daughters in a crash, Marianne Karth and her family, have started another petition to get President Obama to do his job of protecting us all here at home in the U.S.A. today.  Her petition to end preventable deaths by vehicle violence is easily accomplished.  She simply asks for the appointment of a Traffic Safety Ombudsman to pursue reasonable and effective safety policies.  Seehttp://annaleahmary.com/2016/08/new-care2-petition-to-end-preventable-crash-deaths-appoint-a-traffic-safety-ombudsman/

If anything has been learned in recent years, it is that the Federal government, now captive of corporate powers, has failed us all. See http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/29/opinion/weak-oversight-deadly-cars.html?_r=0

Today we are on a path to counting our 4 millionth fatality due to vehicle violence in the coming decade.  See

https://www.careforcrashvictims.com/assets/MonthlyReportforJanuary2016-Corrected.pdfWhen government is not doing its job of providing for our safety, the Declaration of Independence says that it is up to us all.
That is what the Karth family is doing and they deserve the support of all Americans.
Please consider signing and sharing their petition.
And note this woman’s exploration of the tragedies of vehicle violence and what can be done to end such violence is inspirational.  I recommend people read her work as she asks the important humane questions of the governance that has failed us all for decades.
Lou Lombardo
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____________________Lou Lombardowww.CareForCrashVictims.com