Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2010

Summary

Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2010 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), to establish within NHTSA: (1) a Center for Vehicle Electronics, Vehicle Software, and Emerging Technologies to build, integrate, and aggregate NHTSA's expertise in vehicle electronics and other new and emerging technologies; and (2) an honors recruitment program for engineering students, computer science students, and other students interested in vehicle safety to train with engineers and other safety officials for careers in vehicle safety. Requires the Secretary to initiate a rulemaking to prescribe a federal motor vehicle safety standard to: (1) prevent unintended acceleration in passenger motor vehicles (excluding motorcycles or trailers) through a brake override system; (2) prevent potential obstruction of pedal movement by establishing minimum clearances for passenger motor vehicle foot pedals; (3) require electronic systems in passenger motor vehicles to meet minimum performance standards; (4) establish standards for the operation of passenger motor vehicles with keyless or push-button ignition systems, particularly in bringing a vehicle under control during an emergency situation; and (5) require an intuitive configuration and labeling of gear shifting controls for drivers. Directs the Secretary to require all passenger motor vehicles to be equipped with an event data recorder (EDR) that meets certain federal motor vehicle safety standards. Increases civil penalties for persons who violate federal motor vehicle safety requirements. Requires the Secretary to notify manufacturers of motor vehicles or related equipment whose noncompliance with federal motor vehicle safety standards or defect presents an imminent hazard to public safety that may result in death or serious bodily harm. Authorizes the Secretary, in such instances, to issue an imminent hazard order to the manufacturer, dealer, and distributor to: (1) stop further production, sale, lease, distribution, or importation into the United States of the item; and (2) notify purchasers of the imminent safety hazard. Requires the Secretary to issue regulations to require public disclosure of possible defects of motor vehicles or related equipment reported to the Secretary by motor vehicle manufacturers (Early Warning data). Directs the Secretary to: (1) improve public accessibility to information on the NHTSA vehicle safety databases; (2) issue regulations to require passenger motor vehicle manufacturers to affix, in a readily accessible location, a device that provides information on how to submit a safety-related motor vehicle defect complaint to NHTSA; and (3) establish a NHTSA passenger vehicle safety defect hotline for manufacturer, dealer, and mechanic personnel. Requires certain motor vehicle manufacturer communications to include all notices to dealerships of software upgrades and recommended vehicle modifications. Establishes whistleblower protections for motor vehicle manufacturer, part supplier, and dealership employees. Directs the Secretary to require the principal executive officer of a corporation to be responsible for requests for information in NHTSA safety or compliance investigations. Prescribes both civil and criminal penalties for knowingly and willfully submitting false, misleading, or incomplete information. Prohibits a motor vehicle manufacturer or other person who is subject to federal motor vehicle safety regulation from employing NHTSA employees for the 36-month period following the employee's termination of employment with NHTSA. Prescribes civil penalties for violations of such prohibition.

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Documents

6 official files

• Reported to Senate (text)

  Reported to Senate · EN · 29 November 2010

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• Reported to Senate (PDF)

  Reported to Senate · EN · 29 November 2010

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• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 29 November 2010

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• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 4 May 2010

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• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 4 May 2010

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• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 4 May 2010

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