Interpretation ID: nht93-1.13

DATE: January 19, 1993

FROM: Olin Wright

TO: Porter Goss -- U.S. House of Representatives

TITLE: None

ATTACHMT: Attached to letter dated 5-17-93 from John Womack to Olin Wright (A41; Std. 208)

TEXT: This is to follow up our telephone conversation this weekend and the call from Sheryl about airbags in automobiles.

I would like to establish a company to install airbags in automobiles not currently equipped with these life saving safety systems. As of this date, I have been unable to find a supplier who will sell me the airbags. I have contacted many companies here and abroad without success.

The bags are made in this country by both Morton International and TRW. I am not interested in anything but the best quality that can be bought. I need complete systems, ready for installation.

I will appreciate any help which you and your staff can give me. I feel that every day there is additional unnecessary loss of life.

January 27, 1993

The Honorable Porter Goss House of Representatives Washington, DC

Dear Rep. Goss:

I hope you received my FAX on January 19, 1993 pertaining to retrofitting airbags in automobiles. Below is a quote from the February 1993 issue of MOTOR TREND magazine which has interesting figures on automobile crash costs:

"While traffic fatality rates continue falling to historic lows, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports the total dollar cost to the nation from motor vehicle crashes keeps going up. In 1990, we spent $137.5 billion -- roughly 2 percent of the country's gross national product -- for lost market and household productivity ($50.6 billion), property damage ($45.7 billion), medical costs ($13.9 billion), insurance administration ($10 billion), legal and court costs ($9 billion), and other costs ($3 billion)."

Much of the drop in fatality rates can be attributed to the increase use of seatbelts and airbags. There are many lives and much money to be saved by the continued use of airbags in automobiles, particularly the retrofitting of airbags in older automobiles. I hope you and your staff will continue to do whatever you can to see that these important safety systems are made available

to the public. The establishment of a company to install these airbags would provide jobs for hundreds of persons now unemployed.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Olin Wright

Phone: 313-489-2073

April 7, 1993

Mr. Stanley Feldman Congressional Liaison Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 400 7th Street, S.W. Room 5219 Washington, DC 20590

RE: Name: Mr. Olin Wright Address: 6852 Sandtrap Drive Fort Myers, Fl. 33919 Claim/File #:

Gentlemen:

Enclosed please find correspondence from the referenced constituent.

I would appreciate your immediate review of the concerns addressed in this correspondence and your prompt response as to what action will be taken by your office.

As Mr. Wright is anticipating a prompt response from you, my thanks in advance for your prompt attention to this matter.

PLEASE RESPOND DIRECTLY TO MR. WRIGHT AT THE ABOVE ADDRESS.

Sincerely,

Peter Goss Member of Congress