K.T. Safety Act of 2007
Latest Action
Became Public Law No: 110-189.
Official Summary
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on December 19, 2007. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007 or the K.T. Safety Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to initiate a rulemaking for motor vehicles to require: (1) automatic reversal of direction by power windows and panels when they detect an obstruction; (2) an expanded rearward field of view to prevent backing incidents; and (3) automatic transmissions to have an anti-rollaway system that requires the service brake to be depressed before the transmission can be shifted out of park, which shall function in any starting system key position in which the transmission can be shifted out of park. Requires the Secretary, if it is determined that no additional safety standards are reasonable and appropriate, to: (1) report to Congress the reason such standards were not prescribed; and (2) make available to the public information on which vehicles are or are not equipped with automatic reversal of direction by power windows and panels when they detect an obstruction. Provides a phase-in period for the power window and rearward visibility provisions. Requires: (1) motor vehicle manufacturers for each year through 2010 to transmit to the Secretary the make and model of motor vehicles with automatic transmissions that do not have an anti-rollaway system; and (2) the Secretary to make such information available to the public. Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish and maintain a database of injuries and deaths in nontraffic, noncrash motor vehicle events; (2) supplement an existing consumer information program on child safety or create a new program with information about hazards to children in nontraffic, noncrash incident situations; and (3) make such information available to the public.
GovScope Watchdog™
AI Government Intelligence™The K.T. Safety Act of 2007 mandates the Secretary of Transportation to develop safety regulations for motor vehicles focusing on three main areas: power windows and panels must automatically reverse direction upon detecting an obstruction, rearward visibility must be expanded to reduce backing accidents, and automatic transmissions must include an anti-rollaway system requiring the brake to be pressed before shifting out of park. The law includes phased implementation timelines and requires manufacturers to report annually on vehicles lacking the anti-rollaway system. It also directs the Secretary to maintain a database on injuries and deaths from nontraffic, noncrash motor vehicle incidents and to provide public information on child safety hazards in such contexts. If no additional safety standards are deemed reasonable, the Secretary must report to Congress and inform the public about which vehicles have or lack the automatic reversal feature for power windows and panels.
This law enhances motor vehicle safety by requiring new safety features for power windows, rear visibility, and automatic transmissions, while increasing transparency through reporting and public information programs.
- Requires automatic reversal of power windows and panels when an obstruction is detected to prevent injuries.
- Mandates expanded rearward visibility standards to reduce backing-related accidents.
- Requires automatic transmissions to have an anti-rollaway system that engages the service brake before shifting out of park.
- Establishes reporting requirements for manufacturers and public information dissemination by the Secretary of Transportation.
- Directs the creation of a database on injuries and deaths from nontraffic, noncrash motor vehicle events and child safety hazard information programs.
['Motor vehicle occupants, especially children and pedestrians, who are protected by enhanced safety features.', 'Manufacturers, through clear regulatory standards and phased implementation timelines.', 'The general public, via increased transparency and access to safety information.', 'Government agencies responsible for transportation safety and consumer protection.']
['Implementation challenges related to the development and enforcement of new safety standards.', 'Costs to manufacturers for redesigning vehicles to meet new safety requirements.', 'The adequacy of the phase-in period for compliance with power window and rear visibility provisions.', 'The effectiveness of public information programs in reaching and educating consumers.', 'Potential limitations if the Secretary determines additional safety standards are not reasonable or appropriate.']
The bill was passed by the House on December 19, 2007, and subsequently signed into law on February 28, 2008, becoming Public Law No: 110-189. It reflects congressional efforts to improve motor vehicle safety through regulatory action by the Department of Transportation, focusing on preventing injuries related to power windows, vehicle backing incidents, and unintended vehicle rollaway.
Hidden impact flags detected: 2
GovScope reviewed 2 policy-risk categories. Hover for a quick definition. Click detected flags for bill-specific details.
['Increased consumer awareness of vehicle safety features may influence purchasing decisions.', 'Manufacturers may accelerate innovation in vehicle safety technology to comply with or exceed standards.', 'Data collected on nontraffic, noncrash injuries and deaths could inform future safety regulations or public health initiatives.', 'Potential reduction in injuries and fatalities related to power windows, backing incidents, and vehicle rollaway events.']
The bill mandates transparency through reporting requirements and public information dissemination, which supports oversight of compliance and effectiveness. However, the absence of the full bill text limits detailed analysis of enforcement mechanisms and funding provisions. Monitoring the Secretary of Transportation's rulemaking progress and public reporting will be important for assessing implementation success.
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