Category: Blog

FCA Wants To Buy Employees and Families Constitutional Right To Trial By Jury – Cheap


FCA Wants To Buy Employees and Families Constitutional Right To Trial By Jury – Cheap

October, 2015

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members: The LA Times reports:“Each of Detroit’s Big Three automakers offer a discount on new vehicles for employees, their families and friends.

But only one, Fiat Chrysler, requires that those using the discount give up their constitutional right to a jury trial in return for a few hundred bucks in savings.

“It’s like they’re doing you a favor and, by the way, they’re taking away your right to sue,” said Rosemary Shahan, president of the Sacramento advocacy group Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety. “This discount is like the piece of cheese on the trap that kills the mouse.”

See http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lazarus-20151016-column.html

How low can FCA go?

 

House Commerce Committee Subcommittee Hearing on Auto Safety – NHTSA and Advocates


House Commerce Committee Subcommittee Hearing on Auto Safety – NHTSA and Advocates

October, 2015

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

Hearing Info is at http://energycommerce.house.gov/hearing/examining-ways-improve-vehicle-and-roadway-safety

Media Advisory: * * * MEDIA ADVISORY * * * October 20, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact Sam Avery (Schakowsky): 202-225-2111 Christine Brennan (Pallone): 202-225-5735 Schakowsky, Pallone and others highlight Vehicle Safety Improvement Act after Auto and Roadway Safety Hearing WASHINGTON, DC – On Wednesday, October 21, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade will hold a legislative hearing on a draft auto bill. While a legislative fix to auto safety issues is sorely needed, it is inexcusable that it has taken so long to reach a legislative hearing. The House Republican draft is woefully inadequate and will not make American drivers, passengers, or pedestrians any safer.  Congressional action should begin with the enactment of H.R. 1181, the Vehicle Safety Improvement Act – legislation introduced by Commerce, Trade and Manufacturing Subcommittee Ranking Member Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), and other Committee Democrats earlier this year. Schakowsky, Pallone, other members of the Committee, consumer advocates, and victims of General Motors’ defective ignitions switches will hold a press conference after the hearing to make clear that Congress can and must do more to improve automobile safety. WHEN:          Immediately following the Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee Hearing (Around 12:30 p.m.) Wednesday, October 21, 2015 Link to Livestream the Press Conference: <https://youtu.be/hA32a0cAE70> WHERE:       House Triangle WHAT:          Promote the Vehicle Safety Improvement Act, legislation to enhance auto safety, oversight, and accountability WHO:                         Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Commerce, Trade and Manufacturing Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Joan Claybrook, Co-Chair Advocates for Highway Safety and Former Head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Will Wallace, Consumers Union Two GM Victims (Laura Christian and Jamie Frei)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA32a0cAE70 

 Claybrook Testimony attached

 

Media Advisory on Senators Opposition to Bigger Trucks


Media Advisory on Senators Opposition to Bigger Trucks

October, 2015

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 20, 2015

Contact: 

Ryan Taylor (Wicker), 202-224-6253

Dean Lieberman (Feinstein), 202-224-9629

Sarah Zukowski (Blumenthal), 202-224-2823

 

**MEDIA ADVISORY**

Wicker, Feinstein, Blumenthal Unite to Stop Bigger Trucks

Senators Joined by Coalition of Industry, Safety Advocates, Law Enforcement, and Unions 

 

WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, October 21, U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., will hold a press conference to discuss their bipartisan opposition to a federal mandate that would allow large trucks to pull double 33-foot trailers on the nation’s highways. The Senators will be joined by representatives from the trucking industry, Teamsters, law enforcement, and a safety advocacy group.

 

A tractor trailer with two 33-foot trailers measures approximately 91 feet in total length, and this equipment will also be available for viewing. 

 

Earlier this year, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved an amendment to the transportation funding bill requiring states to allow trucks with two 33-foot trailers on their highways. Current federal law permits double 28-foot trailers.

 

When the committee considered the measure, the Department of Transportation (DOT) advised that there is currently not enough data to draw firm conclusions on the safety implications of double 33-foot trailers. DOT recommended that no changes to truck size be considered at this time.

WHEN:          

Wednesday, October 21, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. ET

WHO:             

Senator Roger Wicker

Senator Dianne Feinstein

Senator Richard Blumenthal

David Williams, Knight Transportation

James Hoffa, International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Walter Armstrong, Police Chief, Vicksburg, MS

Jackie Gillan, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

WHERE:       

West Front of the U.S. Capitol on 1st Street NW, between Constitution Avenue and Peace Circle

 

# # #

 

“Get Out of Jail Free” Cards for Corporate Criminals


“Get Out of Jail Free” Cards for Corporate Criminals

October, 2015

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

New evidence that “Equal Justice Before the Law” does not apply to corporations and complicit government safety officials.

See Judge’s opinion on GM settlement at http://www.nationallawjournal.com/id=1202740396196/Federal-Judge-Slams-Shocking-DOJ-Deal-with-GM-Over-Safety-Defect

Also see what GM has done at least 174 deaths – and growing as unfixed vehicles continue to have crashes – at 

Not equal justice now.
Not equal justice for at least the next 6 years as Congress considers legislation that favors profits over people.  Seehttp://wbt.com/congress-proposes-giveaways-to-auto-trucking-industries/  andhttp://www.manufacturing.net/news/2015/10/critics-say-proposed-bill-would-favor-auto-industry-undermine-safety
Lou

 

NHTSA’s “Independent” Monitors

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:
Pick a Monitor
FCA gave NHTSA 3 choices for a monitor and told to pick one.  Who really is in charge?  Imagine if NHTSA said it would appoint 3 monitors and the other 2 would be a crash victim and a safety advocate.  See
http://www.autonews.com/article/20151023/OEM02/151029908/former-u.s.-transportation-chief-slater-picked-to-monitor-fca-safety

Conflicts of Interest?

“The settlement will last at least three years and could be extended for a fourth year at NHTSA’s request.

Slater is a partner at law firm Squire Patton Boggs, where he co-leads the transportation practice. He is an adviser to Takata Corp., the air bag manufacturer under investigation by federal prosecutors and NHTSA over ruptures of inflators linked to at least eight deaths.

He also was an adviser to Toyota Motor Corp., and led an advisory panel that said in a 2011 report that Toyota was still “too centralized” in decision-making in the wake of its sudden acceleration problems. And he represented Cerberus Capital Management LP in 2007, when it was the majority owner of Chrysler Group LLC, as it sought to convince Congress to approve a softer fuel efficiency bill.

Slater in 2007 was named chairman of Driving America’s Future, a group largely funded by GM. It was aimed at generating grass-roots support for softer fuel rules using tools.

General Motors Co. is expected to announce the name of its independent monitor by the end of next week as part of the Justice Department’s $900 million, three-year consent decree after GM was charged with two felony counts over its delayed ignition switch recall linked to at least 124 deaths and 275 injuries. GM last week named an outside lawyer to oversee its compliance with the agreement.”  See

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/chrysler/2015/10/23/former-dot-chief-oversee-fiat-chrysler-safety-plan/74478366/

With Whom Does President Obama Work?
See President Obama’s 2009 statement protecting bankers from pitchforks and please watch the video athttp://www.politico.com/story/2009/04/inside-obamas-bank-ceos-meeting-020871
If anyone finds a photo of President Obama with crash victims and families and consumer advocates, please forward a link.  Medal of Freedom for Ralph Nader and Joan Claybrook?  Maybe a State of the Union appearance or mention?
The President has a “Strange Indifference to Highway Carnage”.  Seehttp://www.fairwarning.org/2012/09/a-strange-indifference-to-highway-carnage/
Lou

Crash Victim Petition for Rental Car Safety – Already More Than 100,000 Signatures


Crash Victim Petition for Rental Car Safety – Already More Than 100,000 Signatures

October, 2015

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

Please sign this petition created by someone who has lost loved ones to help us all to have a Safer America.  The petition already has more than 100,000 signatures – raised in just a few days.  See

We need to send this Congress a message that they will not ignore.  Please share it with as many people as you know.

 

Republican House of Representatives Committee Proposes Safety “Reforms”


Republican House of Representatives Committee Proposes Safety “Reforms”

October, 2015

Dear Care for  Crash Victims Community Members:

Draft legislation has been made public that many of our readers are worried will damage public safety.  Automotive News reports:“WASHINGTON — Automakers would earn credits for meeting fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions targets by installing crash-avoidance and connected-car technologies on new vehicles under a broad set of safety reforms proposed by staff of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.“

Click on highlighted link to see the Draft.  Source: 

See what worries readers and what should worry you.  To help you make your voice heard I have been creating resources you can use.  *  The number of Crash Fatalities for each Congressional District for each of the years 2004-2013 are at: https://www.careforcrashvictims.com/CrashDeathMappingTools.php *  Recent analyses of crash consequences and safety needs by State for building political support are at:https://www.careforcrashvictims.com/assets/MonthlyReportforJuly2015final.pdfhttps://www.careforcrashvictims.com/blog-idworst.phphttps://www.careforcrashvictims.com/blog-airbagrecall.php
Here’s hoping the safety of people will prevail over campaign contributions.
Lou