In a victory for highway safety advocates everywhere, a new law went into effect yesterday. Rental car companies now forbidden to rent recalled cars; if the company has a fleet of over 35 vehicles, all those with NHTSA-issued recalls must be “grounded” until they are properly repaired.
In a victory for highway safety advocates everywhere, a new law went into effect yesterday. Rental car companies now forbidden to rent recalled cars; if the company has a fleet of over 35 vehicles, all those with NHTSA-issued recalls must be “grounded” until they are properly repaired.
The Raechel and Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental Car Act was named after two sisters who lost their lives in 2004 in a crash involving a recalled rental car. Cally Houck, their mother, spent years lobbying Congress to get this important safety change. Unfortunately, the law does not affect used car dealerships, though safety advocates are hard at work to change that, too.
Proponents of the law and highway safety in general were happy to see it finally approved. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said he will happily enforce the ban. “When a family picks up a rental car on vacation, they should be able to expect it is free of any known safety defect. I thank Congress and the safety advocates who helped turn this common-sense idea into law.”
Cally Houck issued a statement that was shared by the Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety Group. “I’m thrilled that the Safe Rental Car Act named for my beautiful, treasured daughters, Raechel and Jacqueline, is now the law of the land. But I’m worried about the loaner-car loophole for car dealers and remain committed to closing that dangerous safety gap.”
Many other safety advocates and politicians share her concern and continue to work to close that dangerous loophole.
In the meantime, other supporters have issued comments, including Alexander Brangman. Mr. Brangman’s 26-year-old daughter Jewel lost her life in a 2014 crash involving a rented 2001 Honda Civic. He said, “If this law was in existence when my cherished, beautiful daughter Jewel rented a car, she would still be alive today.”
Legislators in our nation’s capital have also chimed in, happy to see that the Raechel and Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental Car Act is now the law. Some of these lawmakers tried several times to get the law passed before it was finally added to the 2015 highway bill.
Among them, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) said, “I am so proud that the Raechel and Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental Car Act takes effect today so that the public can be assured that when they rent a car, it cannot be under recall.”
She was joined in her celebration by Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) who added, “This law is going to save lives, period. Families heading out for vacation or businesspeople on travel should never have to wonder if their rental car is under recall when they drive it off the lot. Thanks to this bill, the millions of people who rent cars every year will have peace of mind that rental companies can’t rent or sell cars that they know are unsafe.”
Mark Rosekind, NHTSA Administrator, also applauded the Act, saying it gives NHTSA “one more tool to protect the safety of U.S. motorists.” He added, sadly, that there are currently over 900 active vehicle recalls. Even so, he is confident that the Act will make a difference.
He said, “It’s critical that every recalled vehicle, whether new, used, rented or leased, is repaired as soon as possible. Rental agencies operate some of the largest fleets, so this law will go a long way in ensuring the cars and trucks on the road are safe.”
NHTSA’s chief also said that he is after a 100% completion rate for outstanding recalls.
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