The Trump administration says its proposal to roll back fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks will make roadways safer for U.S. motorists. But environmentalists and safety experts contend that line of thinking is overly simplistic — and could contribute to America’s love of bigger and often more dangerous vehicles.
The administration’s logic rests on a few key points.
If the White House lets carmakers build vehicles that get fewer miles to the gallon, then it should cost less to build and sell them — which means more Americans can afford to buy a new car. And because new cars tend to be safer than older ones, that’s better for everyone because there will be more new cars on the road.
Jonathan Morrison, head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, summed up that logic in December, when his agency unveiled plans for a fuel efficiency standard that’s less stringent than the one put in place by the Biden administration. The new Trump standard likely will take effect later this year.
