Archive for the ‘Government regulation’ Category

Reaction to the White House’s new vehicle sticker proposal: “If we get below a C do our parents have to sign off on it?”

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

So said my 24 year old son when he saw the announcement that the White House/EPA was planning a major overhaul to the window stickers that appear on new cars to include a grade based on fuel efficiency and emissions.  To be fair, the EPA has put forth two proposals, one without a “grade:”

http://autoperspectives.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/epa-label-wo-grade-150x111.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 280px) 100vw, 280px" />

and one with a grade:

http://autoperspectives.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/epa-label-w-grade-68x150.jpg 68w, http://autoperspectives.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/epa-label-w-grade-137x300.jpg 137w" sizes="(max-width: 183px) 100vw, 183px" />

According to the EPA’s website the “EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are updating this label to provide consumers with simple, straightforward energy and environmental comparisons across all vehicles types.”

Fair enough, after almost thirty years with very little updating, it’s probably time to make some improvements to the industry’s new car stickers.  I’m all for providing consumers more and better information to enable them to make the vehicle purchase decision that is best suited to their needs and desires.  I doubt that anyone in the industry would disagree.

Here’s the rub, the option with the letter grade is a not too thinly veiled attempt on the Government’s part to pass a value judgment on your decision to purchase a vehicle. (more…)