Views on Three Bills Dealing With Passive Restraints in Passenger Automobiles

GAO comments were requested on three bills dealing with passive restraints in passenger automobiles. These proposals are directed toward providing economic relief to consumers and manufacturers because of the domestic industry's current financial and competitive problems. The Department of Transportation (DOT) delayed the implementation of the proposals and issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to reevaluate the requirements. Three alternatives similar to the proposals are being considered by DOT. Because considerable audit effort was required to fully analyze information on the economic factors, GAO was unable at this time to meaningfully assess the relative merits of each congressional proposal and the DOT proposed alternatives.