National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

What Does National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Mean?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is an agency of the Executive Branch of the U.S. government, part of the Department of Transportation. The agency is dedicated to improving motor vehicle safety through a variety of research and educational initiatives.

Safeopedia Explains National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

The agency has six focus areas:

1. Safety Ratings
   1. Vehicles – NHTSA has a 5-Star Safety Ratings system for the benefit of consumers.
   2. Car Seats – Ease-of-use ratings for certain car seat features.
   3. Tires – Uniform Tire Quality Grading Systems (UTQGS) ratings to compare tire features.
2. Safety Issues and Recalls
   1. Drivers can enter their information online to get information about their vehicle's make and model.
3. Risky Driving
   1. Drunk Driving
   2. Distracted Driving
   3. Drowsy Driving
4. Road Safety
   1. Teen Safety – initiatives focused on new and young drivers.
   2. Pedestrian Safety
   3. Driving With Disabilities
5. Equipment
   1. Safety Technologies
   2. Air Bags
   3. Odometer Fraud – NHTSA estimates that more than 450,000 vehicles are sold each year with false odometer readings, costing American car buyers more than $1 billion annually.
6. Technology & Innovation
   1. Vehicle to Vehicle Communications
   2. Vehicle Cybersecurity
   3. Automated Vehicles