U.S. Government News

Drug Testing: New DOT Rule Makes Cheating on Drug Testing Harder

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:20:25 PST

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters announced today a new rule that will make it more difficult for transportation workers to cheat on their required drug tests by requiring drug testing labs to analyze every test for tampering

Children Flying Alone, DOt Releases New Guide

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 20:03:04 PST

New Booklet Provides Advice on Children Flying Alone. A new booklet from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) provides advice to the parents of children who must travel alone by air. "When Kids Fly Alone" notes that while there are no DOT regulations governing unaccompanied minors on airlines, the carriers have various rules on the ages of children they will allow to travel alone and special procedures they use to safeguard children who are traveling without an adult.

Americans Drove 1.4 Billion Fewer Highway Miles in April of 2008 than in April 2007

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:21:01 PST

Sixth Month of Declining Vehicle Miles Traveled Signals Need to Find New Revenue Sources for Highway and Transit Programs, Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters Says

Infiniti SUV earns top safety award

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:51:03 PST

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.

Traffic Control Device Rules Strengthened In New Publication

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 08:58:11 PST

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.

New 2008 CHP laws For The Road

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:31:11 PST

(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.

Daily Death Toll from Drunk Driving Crashes Highest During Holiday Season, New Data Shows

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 06:58:33 PST

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.

New crash tests: some midsize SUVs perform worse than many cars in side tests

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 08:20:54 PST

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.

Motorcycle Helmet Use in 2007 - Overall Results

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 10:33:18 PST

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.

DUI: NHTSA Urges Increased Use of Ignition Interlocks for Repeat Drunk Driving Offenders

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 21:33:05 PST

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.

NHTSA Urges Drivers To Check Their Tires During The Hot Weather

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 07:09:15 PST

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.

Declining Traffic Deaths Lead to Lowest Highway Fatality Rate Ever Recorded

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 16:55:21 PST

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.

FinCEN and IRS to Provide Outreach Sessions for Nevada Casinos on Bank Secrecy Act Regulatory Requirements- Anti-money laundering requirements

Tue, 06 Feb 2007 08:09:58 PST

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.

LATCH Child Safety Seat System Confusing Says NHTSA Study

Mon, 25 Dec 2006 21:59:13 PST

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.

First Hydrogen Powered Santa Sleigh To Fly Through U.S. Airspace This Holiday Season

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 13:13:11 PST

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.

DOT Proposes Anti-Rollover Technology for New Vehicles

Fri, 15 Sep 2006 06:23:00 PST

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.

New side crash tests: performance of two Fords improves with side airbags

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 06:01:00 PST

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.

New �Stars on Cars� Rule Announced Today Will Help Help

Thu, 07 Sep 2006 19:30:00 PST

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.

Rise in Motorcycle and Pedestrian Deaths Led to Increase in Overall Highway Fatality Rate in 2005

Tue, 22 Aug 2006 15:03:00 PST

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.

New DOT Rule Requires Automakers to Tell Consumers if New Vehicles Are Equipped with Event Data Recorders (EDR)

Mon, 21 Aug 2006 07:46:00 PST

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).