They created in panic by the 1970s fuel embargos on Iran et al (domestic shortages) but instead of increasing domestic production/refining capacity by expanding oil production, they did this instead. 

The only way to reduce weight of vehicles as forced on them by government, was for car makers to stop using heavier steel frames. Aluminum is much lighter but nowhere near as strong as steel, so people in T.A.s were severely injured/killed at a MUCH higher rate due to the weaker frames. This fact about CAFE standards has been acknowledged by government, but dismissed as "irrelevant". It has been our wise government's view that safety of human beings is not as important as reduction of energy consumption.