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RESOLUTION URGING THE U.S. CONGRESS TO PASS LEGISLATION THAT REQUIRES CARS AND LIGHT TRUCKS SOLD IN THE U.S. TO BE DESIGNED WITH REARWARD VISIBILITY PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

BODY
WHEREAS, since 2001, it is estimated that more than 1,000 children have died and more than 9,160 children have been treated in hospital emergency rooms due to vehicle incidents that are not related to crashes; and
WHEREAS, it is estimated that approximately 50 children per day are hit by vehicles backing up in the U.S., with 2 children per day dying from such incidents; and
WHEREAS, these incidents often involve driveway backovers, according to the Emergency Nurses Association; and
WHEREAS, as vehicles have grown bigger over time, so too has the incidents of backover accidents involving children; and
WHEREAS, many popular vehicles, especially trucks and SUVs, have large blind spots, allowing even the most attentive driver to overlook a child that might be behind the vehicle; and
WHEREAS, in July 2005, President Bush signed into law the "Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users" (SAFETEA-LU); and
WHEREAS, SAFETEA-LU included a provision that requires the U.S. Department of Transportation and related agencies to study effective methods for reducing injuries and deaths outside parked passenger cars; and
WHEREAS, there is currently no rearward visibility standard in federal law to ensure safety behind all vehicles; and
WHEREAS, vehicle safety and visibility bills are currently pending before Congress, S. 694 and H.R. 1216, the Cameron Gulbransen Kids and Cars Safety Act of 2007; and
WHEREAS, these bills would require that within two years, all cars and light trucks marketed in the U.S. be designed with rearward visibility performance standards that provide drivers with a means for detecting the presence of a person or object behind the vehicle to prevent death and injury resulting from backing incidents, particularly incidents involving small children and disabled persons; and
WHEREAS, S. 694 and H.R. 1216 have bipartisan support, and 31 Senate sponsors and 36 House sponsors, including Florida Senator Bill Nelson and Florida Representatives Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Alcee Hastings, Ron Klein, and Robert Wexler; and
WHEREAS, while these bills would not expressly mandate that automakers add rear visibility cameras, sensors or LCD displays, the addition of such equipment would be one means to achieve the unobstructed rear view standard; and
WHEREAS, at the present time, only 22 percent of the 2007 vehicle models have standard or optional rearview cameras or other detection devices,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the U.S. Congress to pass the Cameron Gulbransen Kids and Cars Safety Act of 2007, S. 694, H.R. 1216, or similar legislation that requires cars and light trucks sold in the U.S. to be designed with rearward visibility performance standards that provide drivers with a means for detecting the presence of a person or object behind the vehicle to prevent death and injury resulting from backing incidents.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the members of the Florida Congressional Delegation.
Section 3. Directs the County's federal lobbyists to advocate for the passage of the legislation set forth in Section 1 above, and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item in the 2007 and 2008 Federal Legislative Packages.