Consumer Groups and Victims/Survivors Urge Congress to Act Now and Ignore Industry Assault on New Safety Bill Addressing Sudden Acceleration and Other Vehicle Defects

July 20, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The nation's leading consumer and auto safety advocacy groups will join with survivor advocates to call on the U.S. House of Representatives to pass H.R. 5381, the Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2010 and not to cave in to the latest attacks on auto safety by automakers and the Chamber of Commerce.

          Joan Claybrook, Former NHTSA Administrator and President Emeritus,
  WHO:    Public Citizen
          U.S. Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA), Chair, Energy and
          Commerce Committee
          U.S. Representative Bruce L. Braley (D-IA) Vice Chair,
          Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
         U.S. Representative Bart Stupak (D-MI)
          Bulent Ezal, Pismo Beach, CA-On February 25, 2007, Bulent was
          parking his 2005 Toyota Camry at a restaurant with his wife as
          the Camry went into sudden unintended acceleration (SUA).  The
          car jumped the curb, went across a sidewalk and plummeted 100
          feet down a steep cliff.  His wife, Anne, was found dead at the
          scene of the crash.
          Rhonda Smith, Sevierville, TN-Smith was the victim of sudden
          unintended acceleration while driving her Lexus 350 ES in October
          16, 2006.    Her harrowing experience on the highway included
          reaching speeds of over 100 mph and several attempts trying to
          stop her vehicle.  After several attempts, she was able to turn
          off the engine.
          Lilia Alberto, Mr. and Mrs. Doug Alberto and Tom Golen, family
          members of Guadalupe Alberto of Flint, MI-Guadalupe Alberto of
          Flint, MI was driving her 2005 Toyota Camry en route to deliver
          her husband's lunch on April 19, 2008.  Her Toyota Camry
          experienced sudden unintended acceleration (SUA).  She was able
          to maneuver through four intersections with stop signs and
          eventually crashed into a tree at an estimated 80 mph.  Guadalupe
          died at the scene.
         Clarence Ditlow, Executive Director, Center for Auto Safety
         Ami Gadhia, Policy Counsel, Consumers Union
          Jackie Gillan, Vice President, Advocates for Highway and Auto
          Safety

  WHEN:  Wednesday, July 21, 2010, 1 p.m. EDT

  WHERE: Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2322

Background: The auto companies have joined forces with a wide variety of anti-consumer associations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to eliminate critically-important safety provisions in the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (H.R. 5381). H.R. 5381 responds to auto industry safety problems that contributed to 93 deaths and millions of Toyota vehicles being recalled because of sudden acceleration. The legislation, sponsored by Representatives Waxman (D-CA), Rush (D-IL), Dingell (D-MI), Stupak (D-MI) and Braley (D-IA), will also help strengthen NHTSA's ability to crack down on car makers and to keep unsafe vehicles off the road.