Highway Safety Act

A PPENDIX A

Statutory Authority

In 1966, Congress passed the Highway Safety Act, P.L. 89-564, 72 Stat. 885 (1966), codified at 23 U.S.C. § 401 et seq., which authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to conduct research in driver behavior.¹

TITLE 23--HIGHWAYS

CHAPTER 4--HIGHWAY SAFETY

Sec. 403. Highway safety research and development

(a) Authority of the Secretary.--The Secretary is authorized to use funds appropriated to carry out this section to--

(1) conduct research on all phases of highway safety and traffic conditions, including accident causation, highway or driver characteristics, communications, and emergency care;

(2) conduct ongoing research into driver behavior and its effect on traffic safety;

(3) conduct research on, launch initiatives to counter, and conduct demonstration projects on fatigued driving by drivers of motor vehicles and distracted driving in such vehicles, including the effect that the use of electronic devices and other factors deemed relevant by the Secretary have on driving;

(4) conduct training or education programs in cooperation with other Federal departments and agencies, States, private sector persons, highway safety personnel, and law enforcement personnel;

(5) conduct research on, and evaluate the effectiveness of, traffic safety countermeasures, including seat belts and impaired driving initiatives;

(6) conduct research on, evaluate, and develop best practices related to driver education programs (including driver education curricula, instructor training and certification, program administration and delivery mechanisms) and make recommendations for harmonizing driver education and multistage graduated licensing systems;

(7) conduct research, training, and education programs related to older drivers;

(8) conduct demonstration projects; and

(9) conduct research, training, and programs relating to motorcycle safety, including impaired driving.

(b) Drugs and Driver Behavior.--In addition to the research authorized by subsection (a), the Secretary, in consultation with other Government and private agencies as may be necessary, is authorized to carry out safety research on the following:

(1) The relationship between the consumption and use of drugs and their effect upon highway safety and drivers of motor vehicles.

(2) Driver behavior research, including the characteristics of driver performance, the relationships of mental and physical abilities or disabilities to the driving task, and the relationship of frequency of driver crash involvement to highway safety.

(3) Measures that may deter drugged driving.

(4) Programs to train law enforcement officers on motor vehicle pursuits conducted by the officers.

(5) Technology to detect drug use and enable States to efficiently process toxicology evidence.

(6) Research on the effects of illicit drugs and the compound effects of alcohol and illicit drugs on impairment.

(c) The research authorized by subsections (a) and (b) of this section may be conducted by the Secretary through grants and contracts with public and private agencies, institutions, and individuals.

1 From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access [www.gpoaccess.gov] [Laws in effect as of January 3, 2007]

[CITE: 23USC403]