FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 24, 2022
CONTACT: Allison Kennedy / akennedy@saferoads.org / 360-281-7033 (C)
Statement from Cathy Chase, President, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, on the STOP Frontovers Act
New legislation would help prevent tragic frontover incidents.
Fatalities have surged as vehicle blind zones have expanded.
Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) announced new legislation, Standards to Prevent (STOP) Frontovers Act, which would require new vehicles be equipped with technology to improve the ability of drivers to see what is directly in front of the vehicle. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), in 2020 more than 500 people were killed in frontover crashes. Children are at particular risk of being killed or injured. Demonstrations have revealed that some vehicles have front blind zones as long as 16 feet. This often obstructs the driver’s visibility and can lead to unimaginable tragedies. Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) commends Senator Blumenthal for his leadership on this issue. His action today brings necessary attention to these types of incidents, and the STOP Frontovers Act offers a vital and commonsense solution to this growing problem.
Advocates, Kids and Car Safety and others similarly championed a rear visibility standard to address children being killed and injured in backover incidents. Thanks to the heroic efforts of families who tragically lost children in these types of crashes, Congress took action in 2008 to direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to issue a rule on rear visibility. As of May 2018, new vehicles are required to come equipped with a rearview camera and child backover deaths have been dramatically reduced, according to data from Kids and Car Safety. Technology offers a similarly promising solution for frontovers and should be standard equipment on all new vehicles, not just an option as part of a luxury package or on high-end trim models that many consumers cannot afford.
Advocates is proud to support the STOP Frontovers Act, which when enacted will undoubtedly save lives. We urge Congress to pass it without delay.
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety is an alliance of consumer, medical, public health, law enforcement, and safety groups and insurance companies and agents working together to improve road safety in the U.S. Advocates’ mission is the adoption of federal and state laws, policies and programs that prevent motor vehicle crashes, save lives, reduce injuries, and contain costs.
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