Category: Blog

Crash Victims Coming To Washington To Deliver Vision Zero Petition


Crash Victims Coming To Washington To Deliver Vision Zero Petition

March, 2016

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

Please see and support this crash victims petition.

 

Contact: Marianne Karth, mariannekarth@gmail.com or (432) 556-1567

MEDIA ADVISORY

 

NORTH CAROLINA TRUCK CRASH VICTIMS HEAD TO DC TO DELIVER

‘VISION ZERO’ PETITIONS TO U.S. DOT AND OMB

 

(WASHINGTON, DC) – A Rocky Mount, NC family who lost their two teenage daughters in a 2013 truck crash, will deliver their “Vision Zero” petition with nearly 20,000 signatures to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in Washington, D.C. on Friday, March 4, 2016.  

 

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death in the United States with 33,000 people killed in crashes each year.  The U.S. DOT currently makes highway safety rules based on a cost benefit analysis resulting in many highway safety measures being blocked. The Karth’s petition, launched in 2015, urges DOT and the Office of Management and Budget to change that practice, and move towards a Vision Zero safety strategy model with goals of: Zero Deaths, Zero Serious Injuries, Zero Fear of Traffic by:

 

·       Change rulemaking policy to move away from a cost/benefit model and adopt a more humanistic, rational vision Zero safety strategy model that will impact all DOT safety regulations;

 

·       Apply Vision Zero principles initiating rulemaking to require forward collision avoidance and mitigation braking on all new large trucks; and

 

·       Apply Vision Zero principles by requiring crash test-base performance standards for truck side and rear underride guards.

 

In addition to delivering the petitions to and meeting with U.S. DOT Director of Public Engagement Bryna Helfer and a group of DOT Policy officials, the Karth family will meet with several Members of Congress and their staff including Senators Sid Blumenthal (D-CT), Richard Burr (R-NC), Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Ed Markey (D-MA), and Representatives Matt Cartwright (D-PA), Rene Ellmers (R-NC) and George Holding (R-NC).  Full schedule of meetings can be found at http://annaleahmary.com/.

 

WHO: Marianne and Jerry Karth (Rocky Mount, NC) and members of their family (available for interviews)

 

WHEN:  Thursday, March 3 – Friday, March 4, 2016

 

WHERE: U.S. DOT and Capitol Hill offices

 

BACKGROUND: On May 4, 2013, as the Karth family drove to Texas to celebrate four graduations and a wedding their car was hit by a truck that was unable to stop in time for slowed traffic. The impact spun their car around and forced it backward and underneath a second truck’s trailer. Marianne and her son were in the front seats and survived the impact with injuries. AnnaLeah (17) and Mary (13) were in the back seats, which went underneath the trailer, and died as a result of catastrophic injuries.

 

To bring attention to the need for improved rear underride guard standards to protect car occupants in truck crashes and honor the memories of their daughters, AnnaLeah and Mary, on the first anniversary of the crash the Karth family began a petition.  They delivered 11,000 signatures on their AnnaLeah and Mary Stand Up for Truck Safety petition to the U.S. DOT in 2014.

 

The Karth family has set up a non-profit organization to promote highway safety research and federal regulations to protect motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.

 

For more information on the Vision Zero petition, please visit http://annaleahmary.com/.

 

Crash Victims Vision Zero Petition To Be Delivered To Washington Officials

Crash Victims Vision Zero Petition To Be Delivered To Washington Officials

March, 2016

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

Corporate Crime Reporter interviewed Marianne Karth and Byron Bloch.

“The Karth family – a Rocky Mount, North Carolina family who lost their two teenage daughters in a 2013 truck crash – will travel to Washington, D.C. Friday March 4 to deliver a Vision Zero petition with over 20,000 signatures to the Department of Transportation.

Mary and AnnaLeah KarthMary and AnnaLeah Karth

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death in the United States with 33,000 people killed in crashes each year.

The Department of Transportation currently makes highway safety rules based on a cost benefit analysis resulting in many highway safety measures being blocked.

The petition, launched in 2015, urges Department of Transportation and the Office of Management and Budget to change that practice, and move toward a Vision Zero safety strategy model with goals of: Zero Deaths, Zero Serious Injuries, Zero Fear of Traffic.

The petition calls for changing rulemaking policy to move away from a cost/benefit model and adopt a more humanistic, rational vision Zero safety strategy model that will impact all DOT safety regulation.

Specifically, the petition also calls for applying Vision Zero principles initiating rulemaking to require forward collision avoidance and mitigation braking on all new large trucks and applying Vision Zero principles by requiring crash test-base performance standards for truck side and rear underride guards.

– See more at:  http://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/news/200/north-carolina-truck-crash-victims-in-washington-friday-to-deliver-vision-zero-petitions/

DOT Secretary Foxx and NHTSA Administrator Rosekind should meet with the Karth family as they did with the auto industry.  It is the least they could do.

See attached picture of Secretary Foxx and Administrator Rosekind and auto makers smiling.

President Obama should also meet with the Karth family in view of the 200,000 crash deaths under his presidency so far — and growing at nearly 100 more per day.
See https://www.careforcrashvictims.com/assets/MonthlyReportforJanuary2016-Corrected.pdf

Lou
 

Should Crash Victims Support Sen. Bernie Sanders?


Should Crash Victims Support Sen. Bernie Sanders?

March, 2016

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

Hillary a Hypocrite

Ralph Nader’s work has resulted in saving an estimated 3.5 million American people from crash deaths.  See https://www.careforcrashvictims.com/blog/blog-unsafe/  

Ralph Nader who I have found to be an accurate citizen in describing the many problems Americans face and possible solutions has noted Hillary Clinton’s hypocrisy.  Seehttp://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/274253-ralph-nader-dubs-clinton-hillary-the-hypocrite 

Secretary Clinton’s charge against Sen. Sanders’ vote on gun violence and not a word against vehicle violence, substantiate her dependency on corporate contributors.   Seehttps://www.careforcrashvictims.com/blog/blog-hillaryguns/

Numbers of Crash Victims

The U.S. Crash Death Clock now has recorded 3,686,202 deaths and nearly 1 billion injuries from vehicular violence.  See https://www.careforcrashvictims.com/clock.php

And the U.S. Crash Meters show that currently on every average day 100 Americans die of crash injuries + 400 suffer major crash injuries + losses = $2 billion.   See https://www.careforcrashvictims.com/clock.php
The numbers of family members who suffer from crash losses is unknown but clearly is in the billions.
What if they vote for Sen. Sanders?  What if they contributed $1 to his campaign?
Remember:  We are all crash victims – past, present, and future – as people injured physically – and financially as tax payers and insurance premium payers.
Note: Sen. Sanders’ position on Health Care for All as a Human Right would have major benefits for crash victims.  See his Seattle speech last night at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRafrFgsgJA
Crash Victims’ Organizing Efforts 
Consider the attached letter from over 250 Public Health, Safety and Consumer Organizations and Crash Victims’ Families to Congressional Conferees Don’t Sacrifice Safety for Special Industry Interests.
Consider the Marianne Karth family petition on a Vision Zero Policy with more than 20,000 signatures delivered to DOT.   See http://www.thepetitionsite.com/417/742/234/save-lives-not-dollars-urge-dot-to-adopt-vision-zero-policy/
Imagine these efforts growing to impact the election this year and ending crash deaths and serious injuries in or by new vehicles in a decade – the next two terms of a President determined to act for the people – not the corporate contributors.  This is a realistic goal if enough of us act in time to overcome the corruption.
As former Clinton White House Counselor Bill Curry has written “It’s the corruption. stupid”.  See http://www.salon.com/2016/02/23/its_the_corruption_stupid_hillarys_too_compromised_to_see_what_donald_trump_understands/
Lou

 

An Easter Post by Marianne Karth Urging All Of Us Forward


An Easter Post by Marianne Karth Urging All Of Us Forward

March, 2016

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

“Fight then wherever you may be to protect us all from the end that shouldn’t be”

See this inspirational message of hope for a safer future from a mother’s love – from a safety leader.  http://annaleahmary.com/2016/03/fight-then-wherever-you-may-be-to-protect-us-all-from-the-end-that-shouldnt-be/
Lou

 

NHTSA Responds to CAS Lawsuit With Plan for Public Disclosure of Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs)


NHTSA Responds to CAS Lawsuit With Plan for Public Disclosure of Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs)

March, 2016

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

The Center for Auto Safety has issued a Press Release on its law suit against NHTSA seeking public disclosure of TSBs.“According to CAS Executive Director Clarence Ditlow: “DOT’s new measures to implement the law will save consumers money for repairs covered by Service Bulletins and dealer communications.  For Service Bulletins and dealer communications concerning defects that can cause crashes, deaths and injuries, disclosure could save lives. The GM ignition switch provides a good example. In December 2005, GM issued a TSB warning that the ignition switch could shut off while driving that was never posted by DOT. Nine months earlier in February 2005, GM issued a electronic dealer alert warning that the ignition switch could cut off while driving.  This alert was never made public. Disclosure of these dealer communications could have saved lives and led to an earlier discovery of the ignition switch defect.”

See Release below.

March 28, 2016202-328-7700

In Response to CAS Lawsuit, NHTSA Announces Plan to Comply With Law to Post TSBs and Manufacturer Communications to Dealers

Until sued by Center for Auto Safety (CAS), DOT violated the Congressional mandate in the “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act” (MAP-21) enacted on July 6, 2012 that “the Secretary shall make available on a publicly accessible Internet website, a true or representative copy of each communication to the manufacturer’s dealers or to owners or purchasers of a motor vehicle or replacement equipment produced by the manufacturer about a defect or noncompliance with a motor vehicle safety standard prescribed under this chapter in a vehicle or equipment that is sold or serviced.”

On March 25, DOT finally announced its intent to start obeying the law by issuing a Federal Register noticestating it would post all Technical Service Bulletins and communications to dealers on defects in vehicles, regardless of whether the defects were safety related. DOT also required manufacturers of vehicles and equipment to prepare indexes to TSBs and dealer communications, as a guide to consumers looking for information on potential vehicle problems. “At a minimum, an index must identify the make, model, and model year of the affected vehicles and must include a concise summary of the subject matter of the communication.”

According to CAS Executive Director Clarence Ditlow: “DOT’s new measures to implement the law will save consumers money for repairs covered by Service Bulletins and dealer communications.  For Service Bulletins and dealer communications concerning defects that can cause crashes, deaths and injuries, disclosure could save lives. The GM ignition switch provides a good example. In December 2005, GM issued a TSB warning that the ignition switch could shut off while driving that was never posted by DOT. Nine months earlier in February 2005, GM issued a electronic dealer alert warning that the ignition switch could cut off while driving.  This alert was never made public. Disclosure of these dealer communications could have saved lives and led to an earlier discovery of the ignition switch defect.”

#     #     #

The Center is represented by Adina Rosenbaum of Public Citizen Litigation Group in Washington DC (202-588-1000).

 

Clarence Ditlow

Executive Director

Center for Auto Safety

1825 Connecticut Ave NW #330

Washington DC 20009

Shocking that it takes a lawsuit to pressure NHTSA into expressing its intent to adhere to the law and to do what it failed to do for decades.   Note:  Former GM Executives still occupy high level NHTSA positions.
Lou

 

GM Ignition Switch Lawyers Keep Their Licenses


GM Ignition Switch Lawyers Keep Their Licenses

March, 2016

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

WSJ reports:

“General Motors Co.lawyers who lost their jobs over the auto maker’s ignition-switch crisis will avoid relinquishing their law licenses.

Michigan authorities in February and March denied requests from an ignition-switch victim’s father to investigate a half dozen former GM employees, according to documents The Wall Street Journal reviewed.

Jay Gass, a Tennessee retiree, asked Michigan’s Attorney Grievance Commission to launch the probes and suggested the former employees be stripped of their state law licenses, the documents show. Mr. Gass’s 27-year-old daughter died in 2014 in a car with the faulty switch after GM failed for more than a decade to recall vehicles with the safety defect, now linked to 124 deaths….

The Michigan commission, a state supreme court arm that polices lawyer misconduct, rejected his requests, saying the matters were litigated and resolved. “The tragedies that resulted from various individuals employed by General Motors are not subject to review by this agency,” a commission staffer wrote in separate letters to Mr. Gass that the Journal reviewed. The letters supported decisions not to reveal confidential client information.

A corporate lawyer’s obligation to speak up varies by state. Florida lawyers, for instance, must breach confidentiality to warn consumers at risk of death or bodily harm. But GM lawyers weren’t required to do so under Michigan’s professional conduct rules, said Stephen Gillers, a legal ethics professor at New York University’s law school.

Michigan and most other states “leave it up to the lawyer’s conscience,” Mr. Gillers said.”

See https://www.wsj.com/articles/michigan-won-t-discipline-lawyers-in-gm-ignition-case-1459080002

Unequal justice for crash victims.

Lou