Nason's last day is Friday; she starts work in regulatory and government affairs for General Electric's transportation division later this year. The Detroit News sat down with Nason on Tuesday to talk about her time at NHTSA. Q . Can you review your time at NHTSA and what your successor will face in a new administration? A . I certainly would not have predicted that most of my tenure would be spent on CAFE and fuel economy issues. ... We have been at the center of a national debate that I didn't anticipate. I think the agency has responded admirably to the attention and the pressure. Not only did we get almost everything that we wanted to get done accomplished, we set new records for seat belt use and fatality reduction, and we did it with this major issue looming. I think the staff is well aware of the pressure that they are under to get this completed for the Secretary (of Transportation) during this presidency. I don't think that's the end of the discussion. I expect that energy will be at the top of the agenda in the national debate next year. I don't imagine anyone sees its going away. ... The challenge is going to be, you get the rest of the work accomplished and not let this one issue hijack the entire agency. Q . What should automakers expect on a final fuel efficiency regulation? Is there any realistic expectation that NHTSA's final rule could be less stringent? A . The debate is over. The industry needs to understand that and respect that. There is going to be an increase in fuel economy, and if there is a change in the price of gasoline that's going to have an impact on the rulemaking. ... I think it's unrealistic for a manufacturer to assume that gas prices go down. Q . Automakers argue NHTSA should have been less demanding in the first five years of CAFE increases. Is that fair? A . I think they have a hard time saying with a straight face that we've been too aggressive on CAFE. The agency intends to complete this. It could be reopened again by Congress in the next administration. I can't imagine its going to be reopened to be decreased. Q . What do you think is the future of larger vehicles? A . There are families, like me, who need larger vehicles. I can't fit all three of my car seats in a regular back seat. You have a need for those vehicles. The challenge for manufacturers is how to meet needs of a mother like me who wants to fit the whole family but have a fuel-efficient vehicle. Americans love their cars and they love to drive, so while we're very enthusiastic about a move to mass transit or telecommuting, people are not going to give up their cars. They may want more fuel-efficient vehicles, but they aren't going to stop driving. Q . Do you think safety belts should be mandated on commercial buses? A . We have a record-high seat belt use in this country and Americans are in the habit of buckling up, and now they are starting to wonder why their aren't seatbelts in places where they might expect them. That's something we can do and I think should do on motor coaches. ... They are putting seat belts on all buses in DC for drivers, so we want the drivers to be safe. Passengers also want to be safe. Q . How much pressure does NHTSA come under from the automakers? A . We come out with a final rule and no one likes it and that means I think we've done a good job balancing all the factors. We didn't give the manufacturers everything they wanted, but we heard them and we gave them the chance to comment. You can reach David Shepardson at (202) 662-8735 or [email protected].