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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a final rule that authorizes the secretary of transportation to pay an award to whistleblowers who voluntarily provide original information relating to any motor vehicle defect that is likely to cause unreasonable risk of death or serious physical injury.
“Whistleblowers shine a light on critical safety issues and play a vital role in safeguarding our nation’s vehicles and roads,” NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman said in a statement. “Safety is NHTSA’s top priority, and the agency is committed to doing everything in its power to protect whistleblowers.”
Any current or former employee or contractor of a vehicle manufacturer, part supplier or dealership may be a whistleblower, NHTSA said.
“NHTSA welcomes information from whistleblowers on a wide variety of topics, including potential vehicle safety defects, noncompliance with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and violations of the Vehicle Safety Act,” the agency said in a Dec. 17 Federal Register post. “That information can lead to formal actions, including investigations, recalls or a civil penalty enforcement action.”
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NHTSA has a webpage for potential whistleblowers to learn more about the program and the protections available to them, the announcement said.
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