Daines Presses Highway Safety Administrator for Answers on Fire Truck Safety

Senator Steve Daines today pressed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for answers about delayed recall efforts for a failing fire truck component that resulted in a deadly crash outside of Helena, Montana last summer.

During today’s Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing with NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind, Daines recalled the crash and pressed Rosekind as to why a full recall of the defective part has taken approximately one year to institute. Daines also pointed out that the component in question was a NHTSA approved solution to a previous recall in 2003, yet still was faulty – ultimately leading to a deadly crash. 

“It’s deeply concerning that this administration failed to call for a full recall of the failing component until a full year after this horrific accident,” Daines stated following today’s hearing. “It’s imperative that NHTSA institutes necessary reforms to increase efficiency and works in a more expedited manner to protect Americans’ safety.”