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 within the next two years in the areas of tire safety standards, rollover propensity, and improving child safety.
As amended, the NHTSA statutes are as follows:
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The FY 2003 Budget Request reflects the priority placed on highway safety programs by the Secretary and the Administration. Motor vehicle crashes account for 94 percent of the deaths and 99 percent of the injuries in U.S. transportation. The funding levels below include staffing, administrative, and program costs.
PROGRAMS | FY 2001* Enacted | FY 2002* Enacted | FY2002* Request | +/- 02/03 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Safety Performance Standards | $18,812 | $22,020 | $25,085 | +$3,065 |
Safety Assurance | $31,611 | $30,925 | $32,252 | +$1,327 |
Highway Safety | $54,982 | $58,577 | $54,405 | –$4,172 |
Research and Analysis | $72,920 | $74,377 | $73,674 | –$703 |
General Administration | $10,902 | $12,230 | $12,665 | +$435 |
Office of the Administrator | $4,922 | $6,556 | $6,800 | +$244 |
Subtotal, Operations and Research | $194,419 | $204,685 | $204,881 | +$196 |
Section 402 State and Community Grants |
$154,659 | $160,000 | $165,000 | +$5,000 |
Section 410 Alcohol Driving Countermeasures Grants | $35,921 | $38,000 | $40,000 | +$2,000 |
Section 405 Occupant Protection Incentive Grants |
$12,971 | $15,000 | $20,000 | +$5,000 |
Section 2003(b) Child Passenger Protection Education Grants** | [$7,500] | [$7,500] | $0 | $0 |
Section 411 Safety Data | $8,980 | $10,000 | $0 | –$10,000 |
National Driver Register*** | [$2,000] | [$2,000] | [$2,000] | $0 |
Subtotal, Highway Safety Grants | $212,531 | $223,000 | $225,000 | +$2,000 |
Total | $406,680 | $427,685 | $429,881 | +$2,196 |
FY 2003 TOTAL Request: $204,881
FY 2003 TOTAL Request: $225,000