Some people think that we, as a culture, complain too much. You know who doesn’t feel that way? The U.S. government.
The NHTSA has a newly proposed rule would require carmakers to put labels on the sun visors of all new cars that include instructions on how to file safety complaints, reports AP. As consumers, we are the eyes and ears for when something goes wrong:
The agency uses consumer complaints to spot safety problems. If NHTSA workers spot a trend in the complaints, the agency investigates and can pressure automakers into doing recalls.
Last year, there weren’t enough people to process the 75,000 complaints that were made. Happily, though, the NHTSA has since hired additional people and received more funding, probably because their shit got called out.
The regulation process could take many years to complete, notes AP, so it’s unlikely that the labels will be required any time soon.
Good for them, I say. I have a list of grievances that I’d like to see addressed. Here they are, in no particular order:
- C- and D-pillars are getting too thick and limit rearward visibility
- A-pillars are also too thick and limiting forward visibility
- Seats often cannot comfortably accommodate people who are taller or shorter than average
- The bolsters on certain bucket seats are too large and inhibit arm movement
- Text size on gauges is too big
- Cheap, pasted-on Garmin-looking center-mounted display screens
- Pants that fit well in the store but stretch to fit poorly after purchase and a few wears later
- Plastic chopsticks that render the coefficient of friction between the utensil and the food too low
- That last bit of Tootsie Roll that adheres to the wrapper
- The glue that holds a new roll of toilet paper closed is too strong
- The sun too orange
- Leaving time on the microwave
- Squeaky shoes