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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is an operating administration of the US Department of Transportation and was established by the Highway Safety Act of 1970 as the successor to the National Highway Safety Bureau.
Regulations from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) apply to motor carriers, commercial motor vehicles, and vehicle manufacturers, among others.
NHTSA is charged with reducing deaths, injuries, and economic loss resulting from motor vehicle crashes. This is accomplished by setting and enforcing safety performance standards for motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment. NHTSA also provides grants to state and local governments to assist them in conducting effective highway safety programs.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for commercial motor vehicles, administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), often cross-reference the NHTSA manufacturing standards. In effect, NHTSA tells manufacturers how to construct their vehicles, and the FMCSA requires motor carriers to maintain their vehicles to those NHTSA standards. Thus, to fully comply with the FMCSRs, motor carriers must reference and comply with the NHTSA manufacturing standards as found in 49 CFR 571.
NHTSA also:
Visit the NHTSA website.