Nhtsa Oversight

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) mission is to save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce the economic costs due to traffic crashes. As such, NHTSA is responsible for overseeing vehicle safety, a task made more challenging by the increasingly complex electronics and software used in today's vehicles. NHTSA's oversight faces greater scrutiny after a series of high-profile vehicle recalls that highlighted deficiencies with NHTSA's safety-defect investigation processes. This book addresses challenges identified for NHTSA's oversight of safety defects; NHTSA's implementation of a new IT system for safety-defect investigations; and how NHTSA is addressing new technologies in its oversight of vehicle safety, among other things.

In 2010, auto manufacturers recalled more vehicles than any other year, according to the Nat. Highway Traffic Safety Admin. (NHTSA), the federal oversight authority for vehicle recalls. However, many recalled vehicles are never fixed, posing a risk to vehicle operators, other drivers, and pedestrians. After the recent recalls of Toyota vehicles, Congress raised questions about the auto safety defect recall process, including the sufficiency of NHTSA's oversight authorities and whether vehicle owners are being effectively motivated to comply with recalls. This report reviewed laws and documents and interviewed NHTSA and stakeholders about the (1) extent of NHTSA's role in the recall process, and how its authorities compare to selected federal and foreign agencies that oversee recalls; (2) benefits and challenges of the recall process for NHTSA and manufacturers; and (3) options for improving the recall process. Figures and tables. This is a print on demand report.

Traffic crashes kill thousands of Americans every year -- in 2005, it was the the leading cause of death among young Americans. To try to improve highway safety, Congress authorized a grant program overseen by the Nat. Hwy. Traffic Safety Admin. (NHTSA). In 2003, it was recommended that NHTSA improve the consistency of its mgmt. reviews, a key aspect of NHTSA¿s oversight. In response to a legislative mandate, this report assessed: (1) how states have used grant funding to address safety goals; (2) NHTSA¿s progress in improving consistency in its mgmt. reviews; (3) the usefulness of its mgmt. review recommendations; and (4) approaches to further improve safety. Includes recommendations. Charts and tables.