U.S. NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind Urges The Auto Industry To Be More Proactive On Vehicle Safety

DETROIT, Jan. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Mark Rosekind, administrator for the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), doubled down on his push for the auto industry to take up a more proactive approach to vehicle safety, following a year of massive recalls and record fines imposed on automakers.

Speaking at the Automotive News World Congress today, he called for a cultural change in the industry in which automakers, suppliers, sales executives and dealers work actively and collaboratively to prevent crashes, rather than responding to safety crises after they happen.

Rosekind said that while NHTSA's enforcement actions have been important, its success as a regulator should ultimately be measured by how well it is able to cement more lasting change in safety practices across the industry aimed at preventing crashes and fatalities.

"The era of big recall is not a sign of progress. Record civil penalties are not a metric of success," Rosekind said. "NHTSA is truly successful not when we catch safety violations and hand down penalties, but when we work together with industry to prevent that kind of crisis from ever occurring in the first place."

At the annual Automotive News World Congress, the automotive industry's top-tier leaders from around the globe come together to deliver the state of the industry, discuss the trends and hot-button issues facing companies today, all while looking ahead to emerging technologies and the future of transportation. This year's World Congress, held at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center, marks the 40th anniversary of the global conference.

Since 1976, when Keith Crain and Henry Ford II delivered the first welcome address, the Automotive News World Congress has annually hosted nearly 1,000 of the most influential leaders of every segment of the automotive industry who have shaped one of the most fascinating industries in the world including the likes of Henry Ford II, John DeLorean, Lee Iacocca, Mary Barra, Sergio Marchionne and Elon Musk.

Among this year's speakers are Dan Ammann, president of General Motors; Carlos Ghosn, president and CEO of Nissan Motor Co.; and Mark Fields, president and CEO of Ford Motor Co.

About Automotive News
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About Crain Communications Inc.
Crain Communications Inc. is a privately held media company producing trusted and relevant news publications, lead generation, research and data products, custom publishing and events with uncompromising integrity. Reaching more than 3.5 million business decision makers and consumers across the United States and in select markets in Europe and Asia, the company's portfolio includes many of the most influential media properties in the verticals they serve including Automotive News, Autoweek, Advertising Age, Modern Healthcare, Plastics News, Business Insurance and Pensions & Investments. Headquartered in Detroit, the company's more than 800 employees in 13 locations currently publish 34 news print and online publications and the multimedia content and product extensions related to each, contributing to the success of its readers and clients.

SOURCE Automotive News