The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released a proposal to weaken the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for new vehicles starting with model year 2027. The proposed changes would reduce requirements for fuel efficiency in cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks.
Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association, responded to the announcement by stating: “Today’s proposal to weaken fuel economy standards is a step backwards for people’s health. For decades, fuel economy standards have ensured new cars, SUVs and pickup trucks are more efficient, which saves lives and money. There is no reason to weaken standards that are commonsense, technologically feasible and have a direct benefit for the quality of the air people breathe.
“Standards that ensure more efficient cars and pickup trucks are important for the nation’s health. Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of traffic pollution, which can cause new cases of pediatric asthma, make asthma symptoms worse and increase kids’ risk of respiratory infection. Stripping back efficiency standards means new cars will burn more gas and create more air pollution. It makes cars more costly to drive and will further drive health care costs for families.
“Cleaning up new cars also has widespread public support. A poll released by the Lung Association found that a strong majority of voters supported the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency setting stricter limits on emissions from light-duty vehicles like cars or pickup trucks. These NHTSA standards go hand-in-hand with EPA’s standards to make new cars more efficient and less polluting.
“We call on NHTSA to withdraw the proposal to weaken these important standards that protect public health from emissions from cars and pickup trucks.”
Fuel economy regulations have played a role in improving vehicle efficiency over several decades in the United States. According to previous polling by advocacy groups such as the American Lung Association, most voters support stronger federal action on reducing vehicle emissions.
