The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is responsible for investigating automotive safety issues in the United States. However, a recent government audit has found that the NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) is too slow to respond to these issues, which could pose severe risks to American drivers. The audit was conducted by the Department of Transportation’s inspector general and identified several problems that are hindering the ODI’s ability to investigate safety issues in a timely manner.

Lack of an Integrated Computer System

One of the main issues identified in the audit is the lack of an integrated computer system for NHTSA’s probes. Without such a system, it is difficult for the agency to analyze data and identify potential safety issues. Although the agency has made progress in modernizing its data analysis systems, the lack of an integrated system continues to make timely results difficult.

Failure to Follow Procedures

The audit also found that the NHTSA does not consistently follow its own procedures for prioritizing investigations. This means that some safety issues may not be investigated in a timely manner, which could put American drivers at risk. The agency needs to ensure that it follows its procedures consistently to ensure that all safety issues are addressed promptly.

Missing Documentation

Another major issue identified in the audit is that the ODI does not always record all of the documentation in its investigations. In 22 out of 24 probes that were examined, files were missing. This could be due to the office not having clear requirements for documenting investigations and not providing adequate oversight. As a result, critical information may be missed, which could delay remedies for safety defects or not accurately inform the public and stakeholders about an investigation’s status.

Impact on American Drivers

The findings of the audit are concerning because they suggest that the NHTSA may not be able to respond to safety issues in a timely manner. This could put American drivers at risk and result in more accidents and fatalities. The NHTSA needs to address the issues identified in the audit to ensure that it can investigate safety issues promptly and effectively.

Improvements Recommended by the Inspector General

In response to the audit, the NHTSA has stated that it has already completed most of the improvements recommended by the inspector general. However, it is unclear how long it will take for these improvements to have an impact on the agency’s ability to investigate safety issues in a timely manner.

High-Visibility Investigations

The publication of the audit comes at a time when the NHTSA is struggling with a pair of high-visibility investigations. The first investigation involves a Tennessee parts supplier that has been asked to recall allegedly deadly airbag inflators found in 67 million American vehicles. However, the investigation started in 2015 and has lasted roughly eight years, during which time a 40-year-old mother died because of the part. The second investigation involves Tesla’s Autopilot system, which has been under scrutiny for several years. Although the agency has said that it is working as fast as possible, it is another example of an investigation that is struggling to keep up with technology.

Conclusion

The NHTSA plays a critical role in ensuring the safety of American drivers. However, the recent audit has identified several issues that are hindering the agency’s ability to investigate safety issues in a timely manner. The NHTSA needs to address these issues promptly to ensure that it can respond to safety issues effectively and protect American drivers from harm.