Yet , NHTSA 's budget is just over 1 percent of the overall budget of its parent , the Department of Transportation . Rik Paul : Some facts have been overlooked in the rush of coverage of Toyota . He says some auto defects and recalls are routine and relatively minor . But he also points out that there is a lot more to it than just those few cases, which can be very costly for consumers who end up with damaged cars or even worse injuries. Good can come out of this if regulators are given more funding , he says .
Rik Paul : Some facts have been overlooked in the rush of coverage of Toyota . He says some auto defects and recalls are routine and relatively minor . But he also points out that there is a lot more to it than just those few cases, which can be very costly for consumers who end up with damaged cars or even worse injuries. Good can come out of this if regulators are given more funding , he says .