On March 4, “Vehicle Safety Recalls Week” kicks off in the U.S. There are so many causes and realities that deserve to be celebrated, honored and otherwise recognized. You may be wondering why vehicle safety recalls are so important that they warrant not just a day but an entire week of observances. The bottom-line is that vehicle safety recalls save lives.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates that during 2022 alone, in excess of 1,000 active safety recalls played out. These 1,000+ recalls affected more than 31 million vehicles and vehicle-related equipment in the U.S. Without these recalls, injury and fatality rates on American roads would be even higher than they already are.
What’s the big deal?
One AAA official recently explained why everyday motorists need to take vehicle recalls seriously. He observed that “When a part failure or safety concern escalates to the level of a recall, it means that previous incidents are not being dismissed as trivial or as outliers.” A safety issue has become so pressing and obviously widespread that it makes sense to alert all affected motor vehicle owners.
He went on to explain, “Similar to checking your smoke detector batteries, AAA and NHTSA recommend conducting a quick search in NHTSA’s open recalls database twice a year for all of your vehicles. It’s a simple process, and it could lead to a timely repair that prevents death or injury.”
Given that paying attention to a recall could save your life or the life of someone you love in a car accident — or even prevent an accident — heeding this advice is a good idea. While you may have celebrated Valentine’s Day with chocolate and you may toast St. Patrick’s Day with green beer, it’s wise to honor Vehicle Safety Recalls Week with some quick research about whether any of the vehicles belonging to your family are currently affected by recalls.
