National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) was created by the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 to set safety standards for motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment. The Energy Policy and Conservation Act and Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970 also gave the agency the authority to set standards for fuel economy and emissions. This agency is located within the Department of Transportation with the general purpose of protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury resulting from the usage of motor vehicles and is responsible for developing programs to reduce deaths and injuries as well as economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes.

The specific responsibilities of the agency include (1) setting and enforcing mandatory average fuel economy standards for new ...