National Highway Traffic Safety Administration RSS Feed

Last Updated: Mar 16, 2008 - 11:04:56 AM

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Announcements
Infiniti SUV earns top safety award

ARLINGTON, VA -- The new Infiniti EX35, a luxury SUV, earns the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick award for 2008. The EX35 is the first Infiniti to earn this award. Top Safety Pick winners afford superior overall crash protection among the vehicles in their class. To qualify a vehicle must earn the highest rating of good in the Institute's front, side, and rear tests and be equipped with electronic stability control.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Traffic Control Device Rules Strengthened In New Publication
New rules for highway signs and pavement markings developed in response to a bus crash in Atlanta last March are among the changes in the Notice of Proposed Amendments for the next edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), Federal Highway Administrator J. Richard Capka announced today.
Jan 4, 2008 - 8:58:11 AM

Announcements
New 2008 CHP laws For The Road
(Sacramento) With a new year on the horizon, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) wants to remind motorists of a handful of new laws, passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Schwarzenegger, that go into effect in 2008.
Jan 2, 2008 - 8:31:11 PM

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Daily Death Toll from Drunk Driving Crashes Highest During Holiday Season, New Data Shows
New federal traffic safety data shows that the daily death toll from drunk driving crashes during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday periods is significantly more than for the rest of the year, announced U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters.
Dec 19, 2007 - 6:58:33 AM

Announcements
New crash tests: some midsize SUVs perform worse than many cars in side tests
Results of crash tests for six SUVs show frontal crash protection has improved. However, the tests reveal significant differences in how well SUVs protect people in serious side crashes. Among the worst performers in the side test are the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chevrolet TrailBlazer, even though both are equipped with standard side airbags. The front and side tests recently were conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety to evaluate how well midsize SUVs protect people in the two most common kinds of serious crashes. Rear crash protection ratings for these models were released earlier this year.
Oct 11, 2007 - 8:20:54 AM

Announcements
Motorcycle Helmet Use in 2007 - Overall Results
A new focus on motorcycle safety and increased efforts to encourage seatbelt use are paying off, according to U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters, who said new figures released today show the national seat belt use rate increased to an all time high and more motorcyclists are wearing their helmets. 
Sep 24, 2007 - 10:33:18 AM

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
DUI: NHTSA Urges Increased Use of Ignition Interlocks for Repeat Drunk Driving Offenders
The nation’s top highway safety official, National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator Nicole Nason, called on judges and prosecutors to consider increasing the use of ignition interlocks as part of a penalty enforced against repeat drunk driving offenders.
Aug 22, 2007 - 9:33:05 PM

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
NHTSA Urges Drivers To Check Their Tires During The Hot Weather
The nation’s top highway safety official today cautioned motorists that hot weather and under-inflated tires are a dangerous combination. Nicole Nason, Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, unveiled a public service announcement urging drivers to check tire pressure and tread-wear often but especially during the hot, summer months.
Aug 13, 2007 - 7:09:15 AM

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Declining Traffic Deaths Lead to Lowest Highway Fatality Rate Ever Recorded
The number of people who died on the nation’s roads fell last year, leading to the lowest highway fatality rate ever recorded and the largest drop in total deaths in 15 years, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters announced today.
Jul 23, 2007 - 4:55:21 PM

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
FinCEN and IRS to Provide Outreach Sessions for Nevada Casinos on Bank Secrecy Act Regulatory Requirements- Anti-money laundering requirements
These educational outreach sessions will reinforce our message to Nevada casinos about the importance of having effective BSA anti-money laundering programs and complying with reporting and recordkeeping requirements," said William F. Baity, Acting Director, FinCEN.
Feb 6, 2007 - 8:09:58 AM

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
LATCH Child Safety Seat System Confusing Says NHTSA Study
Too many parents are still not properly using the new safety LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) technology designed to better secure child safety seats to vehicles because of a lack of education about the system and how to use it according to a new study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released today.
Dec 25, 2006 - 9:59:13 PM

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
First Hydrogen Powered Santa Sleigh To Fly Through U.S. Airspace This Holiday Season
Santa’s new sleigh is a hybrid vehicle that can fly using either the traditional eight tiny reindeer or modern hydrogen fuel cells.  The hydrogen sleigh is quieter, so Santa can make his deliveries without waking children and disturbing the visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads,” Secretary Peters said.
Dec 20, 2006 - 1:13:11 PM

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
DOT Proposes Anti-Rollover Technology for New Vehicles
A new proposal to require auto manufacturers to install electronic stability control (ESC) as a standard feature on all new passenger vehicles has the potential to save more than 10,000 lives every year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced today.
Sep 15, 2006 - 6:23:00 AM

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
New side crash tests: performance of two Fords improves with side airbags
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently tested four 2007 model vehicles with side airbags: Toyota FJ Cruiser and Ford Freestyle (midsize SUVs); Ford Fusion (midsize moderately priced car) and Ford Crown Victoria (large family car). The FJ Cruiser and Freestyle earn good ratings for protection in side crashes. The Fusion is rated acceptable, and the Crown Victoria is marginal. Side airbags are optional in the FJ Cruiser and Crown Victoria. The Fusion has been upgraded to standard side airbags for the 2007 model year. The Freestyle will have standard side airbags in 2007s built after September.
Sep 14, 2006 - 6:01:00 AM

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
New “Stars on Cars” Rule Announced Today Will Help Help

Manufacturers will display the government's star safety ratings on every new vehicle with a price sticker, according to a federal rule made final today in Washington, DC. The rule announced by National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator Nicole Nason and Ohio Senator Mike DeWine, provides for an expanded window sticker meant to provide consumers with safety rating information about new vehicles.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Rise in Motorcycle and Pedestrian Deaths Led to Increase in Overall Highway Fatality Rate in 2005
An increase in motorcycle and pedestrian deaths contributed to an overall rise in highway fatalities in 2005, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced today. The total number of fatalities rose 1.4 percent from 42,836 in 2004 to 43,443 in 2005 while the rate of fatalities was 1.47 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT), up from 1.45 in 2004.
Aug 22, 2006 - 3:03:00 PM

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
New DOT Rule Requires Automakers to Tell Consumers if New Vehicles Are Equipped with Event Data Recorders (EDR)
Automakers will be required, for the first time ever, to tell new car buyers if an Event Data Recorder (EDR) has been installed under a new rule issued today by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Aug 21, 2006 - 7:46:00 AM

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
U.S. DOT Releases 2005 Data on Alcohol-Related Traffic Fatalities;

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today released new state-by-state and national data for 2005 showing that alcohol-impaired driving remains an extremely severe problem. Last year alone, there were 16,885 alcohol-related fatalities in traffic crashes, a figure nearly unchanged during the last decade.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Declining death rates due to safer vehicles, not better drivers or improved roadways
The designs of passenger vehicles have been improving for years, becoming more protective of their occupants in crashes. Without these improvements, the motor vehicle death rate per registered vehicle would have stopped declining in 1994 and started going up. This is the main finding of a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Aug 10, 2006 - 7:14:00 AM

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
DOT, British Airways Reach Settlement Over Treatment of Passengers with Disabilities
British Airways is being assessed a $50,000 fine for denying transportation to four passengers with mobility-related disabilities on flights leaving the United States under a settlement announced today by Acting Secretary of Transportation Maria Cino
Aug 8, 2006 - 7:26:00 AM

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
NHTSA Releases 2006 Child Safety Seat Ratings
The newest models of child safety seats are easier to use than their predecessors, according to an annual National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) survey.
Jun 15, 2006 - 1:58:00 PM

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
New 2006 Rollover Rankings Show Improvement
Rollover ratings for 2006 model sport utility vehicles (SUVs) show a marked improvement over 2005, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced today. The rating results also point to an unprecedented number of SUVs with electronic stability control (ESC) in 2006.
May 30, 2006 - 5:56:00 PM

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
NHTSA Presents 14 Awards for Safety Accomplishments
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today recognized 14 individuals and organizations from across the nation for accomplishments in improving traffic safety.
Apr 10, 2006 - 8:43:00 AM

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
New Light Truck Economy Standards to Save 10.7 Billion Gallons of Fuel, Include Largest SUVs for First Time
New fuel economy standards for light trucks will save 10.7 billions of gallons of fuel and include, for the first time ever, the largest sport utility vehicles, Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta announced today in Baltimore, MD.
Mar 29, 2006 - 7:27:00 PM

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Train Accidents and Derailments Decline in 2005, Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Collision Rate at All-Time Record Low
Amid a strong economy and increased demand for rail services in 2005, the number of overall train accidents and derailments declined according to the latest statistics compiled by the Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta announced today.

Mar 21, 2006 - 8:19:00 PM