U.S. House committee approves auto safety bill

The U.S. House of Representatives has pushed forward an auto safety bill that critics say is too harsh on the automotive industry, according the Associated Press.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee — in a 31-21 vote — approved legislation that would require automakers to meet new safety standards to prevent unintended acceleration in vehicles. This comes in the wake of Toyota Motor Corp.’s recent troubles with alleged unintended acceleration problems in some of its vehicles and which prompted the company to order a recall of more than 8.5 million of its car around the world.

Included in the proposed bill, which now goes before the full House where lawmakers will debate the bill, are provisions for new rules for brake override systems and onboard black boxes, as well as tougher penalties for slowing down a recall.

Representative Henry Waxman, D-Calif., the committee’s chair, said the bill was balanced and would improve the safety of motor vehicles.

Republicans said the bill with its tough fines was too harsh on the industry and questioned efforts in the bill to boost federal funding for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and user fees on vehicles to fund the safety program.