Motor Vehicle Safety Act

Congress enacted the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 (Act) to reduce traffic accidents and deaths and injuries resulting from traffic accidents. Congress directed the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to issue motor vehicle safety standards. This task was delegated to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which was set up to carry out safety programs. Besides adopting motor vehicle safety standards, the NHTSA investigates safety defects in automobiles and trucks and orders vehicle recalls when necessary.

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards

The first Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard was promulgated in 1967. The NHTSA has implemented numerous standards since then. For example, one safety standard establishes the types of passenger restraint systems that car and truck manufacturers must install in their vehicles. Its purpose is to reduce the number of deaths of vehicle occupants and the severity of their injuries. The standard does not mandate any particular type of restraint. Instead, a manufacturer is free to choose from several options in installing a restraint system in cars and trucks. Another safety standard requires trucks, buses and trailers equipped with air brakes to have an anti-lock brake system.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation

The Secretary of Transportation has authority over enforcement of the Act. After making an initial decision that a vehicle does not comply with a safety standard, the Secretary must immediately notify the manufacturer of such noncompliance. After that, the Secretary follows a specific process in making a final decision about compliance. If appropriate, the Secretary can order the manufacturer to remedy the problem through notice to the vehicle owners and a recall.