David Strickland has stepped down as administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). David Friedman, NHTSA’s second-in-command, will serve as acting administrator until the position is filled. Nominations have yet to be made.
Strickland served as the nation’s top safety regulator since early 2010. Significant roles he played including overseeing investigation of Toyota’s unintended acceleration vehicle recall and in negotiating new fuel economy standards with the auto industry.
During his tenure, Strickland has led the agency in greater focus on advanced safety features that can prevent collisions. He’s also played a significant role in examining the possibilities of bringing driverless, autonomous vehicles to America’s roads.
Interim administrator Friedman is a fuel economy expert who came from advocacy group Union of Concerned Scientists to NHTSA earlier this year. Strickland’s successor will be overseeing high-profile investigations including the Tesla Motors’ Model S battery fires.