It’s not often than an automobile safety issue can become a political talking point in the battle between Democrats and Republicans, but here we are.
Republicans have recently taken to questioning the government under the Obama administration over whether or not they have a conflict of interest in investigating battery fires in General Motors’s Chevy Volt. The government, you see, owns 26.5% of the company’s shares.
For their part, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration claims that they did not give the company a free pass.
The argument stems from an incident in June in which a test car caught fire weeks after a side-impact test. Two other safety tests also created fires. An investigation was launched on November 25, and last week, the government stated that the electric Volt did not pose a greater fire risk than gasoline-fueled counterparts. Republicans are condemning the delay between the initial fire and the investigation announcement, a delay they say was used to broker new mileage standards.
As a car accident attorney in Fresno, I hate to see matters of safety being used as a tool for a political cause. I like to think that safety is paramount to anyone in a position of power, and I hope that societal welfare is never put at risk for the sake of politics. I’m a Fresno car accident lawyer, and I think those in power need to learn to put politics aside to further the common good.
General Motors is conducting a recall of two of their vehicles due to a defective tire pressure device, according to recent news sources.
About 36,000 vehicles are subject to recall. The models affected by this recall are the Chevrolet Equinox and the GMC Terrain crossover SUVs. The models of the 2012 model year are equipped with the faulty system.
The system is designed to warn drivers when the tire pressure in their vehicle is below 25 percent of what it should be according to industry standards. However, in these vehicles the warning is only activated when the tire pressure is under 25 percent total.
Tires that aren’t inflated enough can easily overheat. This increases the risk of a blowout, and, as a result, a crash. Right now General Motors has not reported any injuries in relation with this recall.
The affected vehicles were built from July 18, 2011 and September 6, 2011. Consumers with these vehicles can visit a dealership to get a free software update.
As a Los Angeles car accident lawyer, I know that having a safe vehicle that is properly maintained is necessary to the safety of drivers and everyone else on the road. If you or someone you care about has been injured in a car accident due to the fault of another party, I recommend contacting a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
General Motors has introduced two new safety methods that can be used in modern day cars, according to recent news sources. These are an alert system used in the event of a crash, which is camera based, while other system is an airbag that can inflate between front seats and protect the driver and the person sitting next to him or her.
The system that is for crash alert is supported with a camera that helps to track the proximity of a vehicle and also informs a driver with the help of a beep when he is at a risk while driving. There is a light on the dashboard that changes color to indicate different dangers. For example, an orange light indicates that the car is drifting while a red light shows that the car is tailgating.
This system has been launched in exhibitions and reportedly costs only $295. GM expects that many will purchase the system due to its affordability.
As a Los Angeles car accident lawyer, I’m glad to see that car manufacturers are making steps toward safer cars in regards to technology. As a personal injury lawyer, I know that these changes will help not only the drivers of the car with the features, but also the other drivers on the road, as well as pedestrians and cyclists.
