Overview

Index | Statement from the Administrator | Overview | Performance Goals | Miscellaneous

Summary of Authorizing Legislation | Total FY 2005 NHTSA Request

SUMMARY OF AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) was established as a separate organization within the Department of Transportation (DOT) in March 1970 to administer the Department's motor vehicle and highway safety programs. NHTSA succeeded the Department's Federal Highway Administration's National Highway Safety Bureau, which originally was charged with administering these programs.

On June 9, 1998, the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) (Pub. L. 105-178) reauthorized all of NHTSA's motor vehicle and highway safety programs and created several new highway safety incentive grant programs that NHTSA administers.

On November 1, 2000, the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation (TREAD) Act (Pub. L. 106-414) was enacted. The TREAD Act requires NHTSA to undertake more than a dozen rulemaking actions in the areas of tire safety standards, rollover propensity, and improving child safety.

On December 4, 2004, Anton's Law (Pub. L. 107-318) was enacted. Anton's Law (among other purposes) directs NHTSA to: (1) establish performance requirements for child restraints used in passenger motor vehicles, including booster seats; (2) develop and evaluate a test dummy for use in testing child restraints; and (3) require lap and shoulder belt assemblies for the rear seats of passenger motor vehicles.

As amended, the NHTSA statutes are as follows:

Motor Vehicle Safety (chapter 301 of title 49, U.S. Code), provides for the establishment and enforcement of safety standards and regulations for the manufacture of new motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment, together with supporting research.

Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings (part C of subtitle VI of title 49, U.S. Code), provides for the establishment of low-speed bumper protection standards, consumer information activities, odometer regulations, fuel economy standards, and motor vehicle theft prevention standards.

Highway Safety (chapter 4 of title 23, U.S. Code), provides for coordinated national highway safety grant programs carried out by the States and local communities (Section 402), supported by research and development programs (Section 403). Highway safety incentive grant programs are provided to encourage the States to enhance the effectiveness of: (1) occupant protection programs and laws (Section 405); (2) alcohol-impaired driving countermeasures and laws (Section 410); and (3) highway safety data improvement programs (Section 411).

National Driver Register (chapter 303 of title 49 U.S. Code), provides for the operation of the National Driver Register (NDR), which facilitates the interstate exchange of driver licensing information concerning problem drivers whose licenses to drive have been suspended or revoked for cause.

The FY 2005 Budget Request reflects a performance-based budget dedicated to attaining the FY 2008 Departmental goal of reducing highway fatalities to no more than 1.0 for every 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT). This Budget in Brief is organized and presented by grouping NHTSA's highway traffic safety programs within each of the three performance goals they are dedicated to meet: Vehicle Safety, Behavioral Safety, and Environmental Stewardship. The performance goals appear at the beginning of each section. Highlights of the FY 2005 Budget Request, describing critical program activities dedicated to attaining the FY 2008 Departmental goal, are included in each section. The funding levels below include staffing, administrative, and program costs.

NHTSA FUNDING
(Dollars in Thousands)

1 In FY 2004, funding displayed in brackets is inlcuded in the FHWA appropriation.