For years, the automobile industry has argued that congressional attempts to make cars and trucks more fuel-efficient would compromise passenger safety. The argument is based on the premise that the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards imposed in 1975 resulted in a reduction of vehicle weights, which in turn caused about 2,000 traffic deaths a year that would not have occurred otherwise. But as Congress considers an energy bill that would further boost fuel economy--the combined average for cars and light trucks has been stalled at about 25 miles per gallon since the 1980s--transportation experts have disputed the contention that a lighter fleet would be less safe. What is more, new engine and transmission technologies could enable manufacturers to improve fuel efficiency without significantly cutting vehicle weights.
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