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[[File:CAS logo black.jpg|thumb|Logo for the Center for Auto Safety]]
[[File:CAS logo black.jpg|thumb|Logo for the Center for Auto Safety]]
[[File:Universal South Building.JPG|thumb|CAS headquarters in [[Washington, D.C.]]]]
[[File:Universal South Building.JPG|thumb|CAS headquarters in [[Washington, D.C.]]]]
The '''Center for Auto Safety''' (CAS) is a [[Washington, D.C.]]-based 501(c)(3) consumer advocacy non-profit group focused on the [[United States]] automotive industry. Founded in 1970 by [[Consumers Union]] and [[Ralph Nader]], the group focuses its efforts on enacting reform though public advocacy and pressuring the [[National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]] and automakers through litigation. For decades, it was led by Executive Director [[Clarence Ditlow]], who died in late 2016 from cancer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/clarence-ditlow-crusading-consumer-advocate-for-auto-safety-dies-at-72/2016/11/11/4141f65e-9b9f-11e6-a0ed-ab0774c1eaa5_story.html|title=Clarence Ditlow, crusading consumer advocate for auto safety, dies at 72|last=|first=|date=|website=Washington Post|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2017-06-23}}</ref> Ditlow was widely admired in the auto safety community,although he also had detractors among auto manufacturers. The Center for Auto Safety is currently led by Executive Director Jason Levine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.autonews.com/article/20170815/OEM11/170819888/center-for-auto-safety-names-ditlows-successor|title=Center for Auto Safety names Ditlow's successor|last=|first=|date=2017-08-15|website=www.autosafety.org|language=en-US|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2017-06-23}}</ref>
The '''Center for Auto Safety''' (CAS) is a [[Washington, D.C.]]-based 501(c)(3) consumer advocacy non-profit group focused on the [[United States]] automotive industry. Founded in 1970 by [[Consumers Union]] and [[Ralph Nader]], the group focuses its efforts on enacting reform though public advocacy and pressuring the [[National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]] and automakers through litigation. For decades, it was led by Executive Director [[Clarence Ditlow]], who died in late 2016 from cancer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/clarence-ditlow-crusading-consumer-advocate-for-auto-safety-dies-at-72/2016/11/11/4141f65e-9b9f-11e6-a0ed-ab0774c1eaa5_story.html|title=Clarence Ditlow, crusading consumer advocate for auto safety, dies at 72|last=|first=|date=|website=Washington Post|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2017-06-23}}</ref> Ditlow was widely admired in the auto safety community,although he also had detractors among auto manufacturers. The Center for Auto Safety is currently led by Executive Director Jason Levine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.autonews.com/article/20170815/OEM11/170819888/center-for-auto-safety-names-ditlows-successor|title=Center for Auto Safety names Ditlow's successor|last=|first=|date=2017-08-15|website=www.autosafety.org|language=en-US|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2017-06-23}}</ref>


== Accomplishments ==
== Accomplishments ==
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* Exposure of a potentially lethal gas tank design in [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors]] [[pickup truck]]s<ref>{{cite web | title=GM pickup trucks — fuel tanks and the media spotlight | work=Insurance Institute for Highway Safety | url= http://www.iihs.org/research/advisories/iihs_advisory_11.html | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110701101919/http://www.iihs.org/research/advisories/iihs_advisory_11.html |archivedate=July 1, 2011 | accessdate=October 4, 2013}}</ref>
* Exposure of a potentially lethal gas tank design in [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors]] [[pickup truck]]s<ref>{{cite web | title=GM pickup trucks — fuel tanks and the media spotlight | work=Insurance Institute for Highway Safety | url= http://www.iihs.org/research/advisories/iihs_advisory_11.html | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110701101919/http://www.iihs.org/research/advisories/iihs_advisory_11.html |archivedate=July 1, 2011 | accessdate=October 4, 2013}}</ref>
* Improved U.S. highway safety standards administered by the U.S. [[National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]] (NHTSA)
* Improved U.S. highway safety standards administered by the U.S. [[National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]] (NHTSA)
* Recall of Jeep vehicles with fuel tanks that could explode in rear impact
* Recall of [[Jeep]] vehicles with fuel tanks that could explode in rear impact<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/20/consumer-group-calls-chryslers-jeep-fix-inadequate/#more-186146|title=Consumer Group Calls Chrysler's Jeep Fix Inadequate|last=Jensen|first=Christopher|work=Wheels Blog|access-date=2017-10-04|language=en}}</ref>
* Pressuring [[General Motors]] to take action on their faulty airbags and ignition switches<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-04-07/nhtsa-asked-to-investigate-more-gm-air-bag-failures|title=NHTSA Asked to Investigate More GM Air-Bag Failures|date=2014-04-07|work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=2017-10-04}}</ref>
* Annual publication of ''The Car Book'' to inform drivers of the safety of specific models<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/which-cars-are-the-safest-its-hard-to-tell-from-the-governments-ratings-032515.html|title=Which cars are the safest? It's hard to tell from the government's ratings|work=ConsumerAffairs|access-date=2017-10-04|language=en}}</ref>
* Better protection for drivers against rollover and roof crush in SUVs<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.autonews.com/article/20070716/SUB/70712025/self-made-activist-to-raise-roof-at-summit|title=Self-made activist to raise roof at summit|work=Automotive News|access-date=2017-10-04|language=en-US}}</ref>
* Maintaining an online database of vehicle safety complaints submitted to CAS


== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://www.autosafety.org/ The Center for Auto Safety] — official website
* [http://www.autosafety.org/ The Center for Auto Safety] — official website
* [https://www.autosafety.org/search-complaints/ CAS Vehicle Complaints Database] — CAS online database for auto safety complaints


== Notes ==
== Notes ==

Revision as of 20:39, 4 October 2017

File:CAS logo black.jpg
Logo for the Center for Auto Safety
CAS headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The Center for Auto Safety (CAS) is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) consumer advocacy non-profit group focused on the United States automotive industry. Founded in 1970 by Consumers Union and Ralph Nader, the group focuses its efforts on enacting reform though public advocacy and pressuring the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and automakers through litigation. For decades, it was led by Executive Director Clarence Ditlow, who died in late 2016 from cancer.[1] Ditlow was widely admired in the auto safety community,although he also had detractors among auto manufacturers. The Center for Auto Safety is currently led by Executive Director Jason Levine.[2]

Accomplishments

CAS counts numerous far-reaching efforts among its successes:[3]

  • "Lemon laws" enacted in all 50 states
  • State laws requiring auto manufacturers to disclose "hidden" warranties to consumers
  • The Firestone tire recall
  • The Ford Pinto recall due to its dangerous gas tank design
  • Exposure of a potentially lethal gas tank design in General Motors pickup trucks[4]
  • Improved U.S. highway safety standards administered by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
  • Recall of Jeep vehicles with fuel tanks that could explode in rear impact[5]
  • Pressuring General Motors to take action on their faulty airbags and ignition switches[6]
  • Annual publication of The Car Book to inform drivers of the safety of specific models[7]
  • Better protection for drivers against rollover and roof crush in SUVs[8]
  • Maintaining an online database of vehicle safety complaints submitted to CAS

Notes

  1. ^ "Clarence Ditlow, crusading consumer advocate for auto safety, dies at 72". Washington Post. Retrieved 2017-06-23. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  2. ^ "Center for Auto Safety names Ditlow's successor". www.autosafety.org. 2017-08-15. Retrieved 2017-06-23. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  3. ^ "About Us". The Center for Auto Safety. Retrieved 2006-02-26.
  4. ^ "GM pickup trucks — fuel tanks and the media spotlight". Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Archived from the original on July 1, 2011. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
  5. ^ Jensen, Christopher. "Consumer Group Calls Chrysler's Jeep Fix Inadequate". Wheels Blog. Retrieved 2017-10-04.
  6. ^ "NHTSA Asked to Investigate More GM Air-Bag Failures". Bloomberg.com. 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2017-10-04.
  7. ^ "Which cars are the safest? It's hard to tell from the government's ratings". ConsumerAffairs. Retrieved 2017-10-04.
  8. ^ "Self-made activist to raise roof at summit". Automotive News. Retrieved 2017-10-04.


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