Wednesday
Feb242010
Toyota President Accepts Responsibility For Deaths Due To Car Defects
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 5:19PM
By Laurel Brishel Prichard - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service
Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation, expressed extreme sorrow to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Wednesday. Toyoda said he was deeply saddened over the deaths of over 30 Toyota drivers due to gas pedal malfunctions, and said he took full responsibility for the accidents.
The automaker's head assured the committee that his company prioritizes safety over anything else.
“I myself, as well as Toyota, am not perfect. At times, we do find defects. But in such situations, we always stop, strive to understand the problem, and make changes to improve further. In the name of the company, its long-standing tradition and pride, we never run away form our problems or pretend we don’t notice them,” said Toyoda.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHSTA) has attributed 34 deaths to the ‘unintended acceleration’ of the Toyota vehicles. This number tops the 27 deaths caused by Ford Pintos in the 1970’s.
“It turns out that people from all over the country had been complaining about sudden acceleration in Toyota vehicles for years, and what people are wondering is, “Am I next?”,”said the committee's Chairman Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.).
Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood testified earlier in the day, and reiterated his recent warning to drivers that continuing to drive cars which have been recalled is unsafe. LaHood, who faced an onslaught of grilling from lawmakers during the hearing, stressed that safety has and will always be the top priority of the NHSTA, and reminded the committee that the department had pressed Toyota to issue the recall of the 2.3 million vehicles that were fitted with the pedals.
“We haven't been sitting around on our hands. When people complain, we investigate. When there needs to be a recall, we do it,” LaHood insisted.
LaHood urged Toyota customers to check the Department of Transportation's website to see if their car has been recalled, and implored anyone at risk to take their car to the nearest Toyota dealership immediately.
Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation, expressed extreme sorrow to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Wednesday. Toyoda said he was deeply saddened over the deaths of over 30 Toyota drivers due to gas pedal malfunctions, and said he took full responsibility for the accidents.
The automaker's head assured the committee that his company prioritizes safety over anything else.
“I myself, as well as Toyota, am not perfect. At times, we do find defects. But in such situations, we always stop, strive to understand the problem, and make changes to improve further. In the name of the company, its long-standing tradition and pride, we never run away form our problems or pretend we don’t notice them,” said Toyoda.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHSTA) has attributed 34 deaths to the ‘unintended acceleration’ of the Toyota vehicles. This number tops the 27 deaths caused by Ford Pintos in the 1970’s.
“It turns out that people from all over the country had been complaining about sudden acceleration in Toyota vehicles for years, and what people are wondering is, “Am I next?”,”said the committee's Chairman Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.).
Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood testified earlier in the day, and reiterated his recent warning to drivers that continuing to drive cars which have been recalled is unsafe. LaHood, who faced an onslaught of grilling from lawmakers during the hearing, stressed that safety has and will always be the top priority of the NHSTA, and reminded the committee that the department had pressed Toyota to issue the recall of the 2.3 million vehicles that were fitted with the pedals.
“We haven't been sitting around on our hands. When people complain, we investigate. When there needs to be a recall, we do it,” LaHood insisted.
LaHood urged Toyota customers to check the Department of Transportation's website to see if their car has been recalled, and implored anyone at risk to take their car to the nearest Toyota dealership immediately.
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