What is that thing that addicts do when they feel their addiction being challenged? Oh yeah, they go berserk. Check out this press release from Union of Concerned Scientists about the auto industry’s latest hijinks–or, if you really want a little blood pressure rush, skip right down to one of the two sample ads at the bottom:
AUTOMAKERS SUMMER PRESCRIPTION FOR AMERICAN DRIVERS:
HIGHER GAS PRICES, MORE POLLUTION
INDUSTRY KICKS OFF MILLION DOLLAR-PLUS MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN TO
SCUTTLE STRONGER FUEL EFFICIENCY STANDARDS, INCREASE U.S. OIL ADDICTION
WASHINGTON (May 24, 2007) – To kick off the summer driving season this
Memorial Day weekend, the auto industry has a message for drivers facing
record-high gasoline prices: Pay up!
Despite rising gas prices and the threat of global warming, the
Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers – which represents Detroit*s Big
Three, Toyota, BMW and four other automakers – will launch a print and
radio advertising campaign this weekend to try to convince Americans to
oppose stronger fuel economy standards. These standards would save
drivers tens of billions of dollars in fuel costs and cut millions of
metric tons of global warming pollution every year.
*This misinformation campaign is akin to a drug pusher telling people
that cutting their addiction is bad for their health,* said David
Friedman, research director for the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS)
Clean Vehicles Program. *Automakers are not giving consumers the
34-mpg SUVs, the 37-mpg minivans and the 41-mpg family cars our
nation*s top engineers and scientists can deliver, according to the
National Academies of Science.*
The Senate is currently considering a bill with a 35-mpg average
fleetwide fuel economy goal for 2020, but loopholes in the bill mean
that this is far from guaranteed. Americans need to call on lawmakers to
strengthen efforts on fuel economy and guarantee a 35-mpg fleet in the
next decade, Friedman said. The auto industry*s radio and print ads,
which are targeted at 10 states, encourage people to tell their members
of Congress to oppose the bill. They falsely claim that the pending
legislation would lead to higher sticker prices and smaller, less safe
vehicles.
Here are the facts:
More fuel-efficient cars and trucks would save consumers money,
according to a UCS analysis. A pickup, for example, would only have to
reach about 28 mpg if the fleet of all cars and trucks averaged 35 mpg.
Improved fuel-economy technology on that truck would pay for itself in
less than two years. And pickup owners would save an additional $4,500
on gasoline over the life of the truck.
Improvements to the Senate bill guaranteeing a fleetwide average of 35
mpg would not affect vehicle size or choice, it would increase the
number of higher fuel economy choices. Different standards would be set
based on the size of each vehicle. Large pickup trucks would only have
to reach about 28 mpg; they would not be required to meet the 35 mpg
average. Automakers already have the technology for large pickups to
reach 28 mpg. These light trucks would maintain today*s performance,
size and safety standards.
An average 35-mpg fleet can be reached while maintaining or improving
safety. Studies by Oakridge National Labs, Lawrence Berkeley National
Labs, the University of Michigan and Dynamics Research Inc. demonstrate
that fuel economy is not linked with increased fatalities. They also
found that large vehicles do not have lower fatality rates compared to
smaller vehicles, and increased weight is actually associated with
increased fatalities.
Projections for mileage driven this weekend nationwide help tell the
story of how better fuel economy would save consumers money and cut
pollution. More than 32 million Americans will drive at least 100 miles
round-trip this weekend, according to AAA. With today*s average gas
price of $3.23 a gallon, UCS estimates that Americans will spend more
than $250 million for nearly 80 million gallons and generate nearly
880,000 metric tons of global warming pollution. If the fleet of cars
and trucks on the road today averaged 35 mpg on government tests (up
from 24.6 mpg today), drivers would save more than $75 million and cut
global warming pollution by some 260,000 metric tons – the equivalent of
taking about 9.5 million of today*s automobiles off the road.
*Manufacturers already have the technology to increase fuel
efficiency for all vehicle classes – from two-seaters to four-by-fours –
while protecting jobs and ensuring safety,* said Friedman. *And they
have the responsibility to reduce our dependence on oil and clean up
vehicle pollution.*
The auto industry campaign includes radio and newspaper ads in
Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska,
North Dakota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. All of the states have high
percentages of light truck and SUV owners. (For two sample ads, go to:
http://info.detnews.com/audio