The new head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said Monday that he is expecting 2015 to have more vehicle recalls than 2014 as the agency urges automakers to be more proactive in announcing recalls.
"I'd rather have people be preemptive," said Mark Rosekind, the new chief of NHTSA. He made the announcement while speaking at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
"We'd rather have people at the proactive end, catching stuff early."
Rosekind said that the agency is aiming for a 100 percent completion rate on all recalls for 2015 and expects to have all affected vehicles fixed. He also acknowledged some issues such as some car owners who refuse to bring their cars for repairs even after the recall announcement, according to the Wall Street Journal.
During the car show, he was able to discuss safety technology with 20 automakers and reiterate the need for a standard safety technology. It is no secret that the safety features of cars vary per price range. He mentioned that 25 percent of car-related deaths for 2014 are "completely unacceptable."
"Safety should not be based on the price of your car," he said.
On Monday, Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne commented that 2014's series of recalls was an overkill.
"In some instances, we may have overreacted to a particular problem," Marchionne stated, quoted by the New York Times.
Even so, Rosekind is not taken aback by this criticism, arguing that the auto industry must prioritize the consumers' safety.
"You can't save those lives after they're gone," he said.
The NHTSA will be implementing a tougher approach for 2015 after receiving criticism and questioning from lawmakers for the oversight of safety issues and failure to execute quick recall orders and repairs.
