DeGette Urges Regulators To Set Safety Standards For Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (CO-01) and John D. Dingell (D-MI12) wrote to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) urging regulators to set safety standards for tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) that span the life of a vehicle.

“While safety standards for new vehicles were set a few years ago, nothing has been done to extend these standards throughout a vehicle’s life,” said DeGette. “Providing this clarity is critical to improving the safety of our vehicles.”

Under the TREAD Act, NHSTA is to require all new motor vehicles to be equipped with a warning system if a tire is significantly underinflated. A NHSTA report in 2012 indicated that tire-related issues contribute to approximately 200,000 accidents a year. NHTSA further determined in the report that tire and wheel failure is a leading factor in vehicle-attributed accidents.

March 12, 2014

The Honorable David J. Friedman

Acting Administrator

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.

West Building

Washington, D.C. 20590

Dear Acting Administrator Friedman:

We write to encourage the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to provide clarity and guidance about the treatment of tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) in the aftermarket. As you are aware, NHTSA’s April 2012 report, Tire-Related Factors in the Pre-Crash Phase, indicates that tire-related issues contribute to approximately 200,000 accidents a year. NHTSA further determined in that report that tire and wheel failure is a leading factor in accidents where the critical reason for the crash was attributed to the vehicle. TPMS helps mitigate such accidents by keeping drivers aware of their vehicles’ tire pressure status.

Additionally, TPMS is an active safety system that requires service and repair throughout a vehicle’s lifetime. While NHTSA has specified clear TPMS standards for original equipment manufacturers, I understand there is still need for guidance clarifying that this active safety system should be maintained for the life of the vehicle according to original equipment manufacturers’ procedures and requirements. Clarification by NHTSA in this area will help the service and repair industry perform its job effectively and ensure the safety benefits TPMS provides are fully realized.

Thank you for your kind consideration of our request. Should you require additional information, please feel free to be in touch with us, or have a member of your staff contact Andrew Woelfling in Congressman Dingell’s office at 202-225-4071 or Eleanor Bastian in Congresswoman DeGette’s office at 202-225-4431.

Sincerely,

John D. Dingell

Member of Congress

Diana DeGette

Member of Congress

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