The NHTSA warned the government against further downsizing and higher CAFÉ standards. In 1992, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) released a study on fuel economy that confirmed that the CAFÉ program was "seriously flawed."" The trade-offs for higher gas mileage included cost, safety, utility, and performance. The Coalition for Vehicle Choice (CVC) led rallies of laborers, businesses, farmers and others opposing CAFÉ standards increases. The CVC also launched newspaper and TV ads that demonstrated government crash tests with a large and small car, to warn about vehicle downsizing.
The continuing popularity of light trucks, mini-vans and sport-utility vehicles was due to the discovery of extra safety and utility. This caused many full-size passenger cars and station wagons to be eliminated. In 1991, the Department of Transportation (DOT) became concerned over climate change, because of an increase of CO2 admissions, and announced a new program to raise light-truck CAFÉ standards by forty percent over the next decade, from current level of 20.7 mpg to as high as 28 mpg. This threatened the future availability of popular models and features. Light-truck users objected to the DOT's new proposal. In 1995, Congress held a hearing on whether CAFÉ program may be counter-productive. The CVC and other groups testified that the program was out-dated and the usefulness it once had threatened vehicle choice and highway safety. The hearing ended without a change in the CAFÉ standards. Since that time the CAFÉ standards have remained relatively the same, because of many CAFÉ freezes and the personal rights of citizens.
Importance of CAFÉ Standards:.
Vehicle CAFÉ standards are important reasons behind there regulations. They help in protecting the environment, conserving natural resources, reducing oil imports, and saving money.
