NHTSA Issues Final CAFE Standards for Model Years 2017 and Beyond
August 28: When combined with previous standards set by this Administration, this move will nearly double the fuel efficiency of those vehicles compared to new vehicles currently on our roads. Consumer savings will be comparable to lowering price of gasoline by $1 per gallon by 2025. Read More
DOT Launches Largest-
Ever Road Test of Connected Vehicle Crash Avoidance Technology
August 21: DOT test of nearly 3,000 vehicles will send Wi-Fi-like signals that warn of safety hazards, could help reduce crashes during year-long research project. Read More
HHS Joins DOT's "Where's Baby? Look Before You Lock." Campaign
August 17: With at least 23 deaths and an unknown number of serious injuries to children left unattended in hot vehicles this summer, DOT is teaming up with Health and Human Services to mobilize the network of Head Start and child care providers nationwide to prevent further tragedies. Read More
Crackdown on Drunk Driving Begins: 'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over'
August 14: Official start of NHTSA's annual nationwide anti-drunk driving campaign comes as startling new agency statistics show 70 percent of deaths in drunk driving crashes in 2010 involved drivers with blood alcohol levels that were nearly twice the .08 legal limit. Read More
NHTSA & Safe Kids Partner to Prevent Child Heatstroke Deaths
June 26: Nationwide effort will include public events throughout July to highlight the dangers of heatstroke. Heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children under the age of 14, with at least 33 fatalities reported in 2011 alone. Read More
Parents Urged to Choose the Right Seat for Children in Cars
April 10: Launch of new public service announcements (PSAs) aimed at raising awareness about the importance of choosing the right child safety seat and making sure it is installed properly. In addition, NHTSA is launching Parents Central, a new one-stop shop with tools and resources for keeping kids safe in and around cars. Read More
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Email Recall Alerts
For Your Vehicles
NHTSA has made it easier and faster to receive important email alerts on recalls for up to 5 vehicles. You can also subscribe for alerts on recalls for child seats and tires. Read More
Key Issues
Recent Research & Data
- NCSA Research Note: Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes as a Leading Cause of Death in the United States, 2008 & 2009, For the first time since 1981 (when data was first available), motor vehicle traffic crashes were not among the top 10 causes of death in the United States. Motor vehicle crashes were the 11th leading cause of death in 2009. In 2008, motor vehicle traffic crashes were the 9th leading cause of death overall. Fatalities in motor vehicle crashes have declined by about 25 percent since 2005, influenced largely by a significant drop in crashes and fatalities involving the younger population.
- NCSA Research Note: Motorcycle Helmet Use in 2011 – Overall Results, The use of DOT-compliant motorcycle helmets increased significantly to 66 percent in 2011, up from 54 percent in 2010. This percentage is based on the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS) the only survey that provides nationwide probability-based observed data on helmet use in the U.S.
- NCSA Crash*Stats: Lives Saved in 2010 by Restraint Use and Minimum Drinking Age Laws, In 2010, the use of seat belts in passenger vehicles saved an estimated 12,546 lives. Lives saved have been produced by NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics & Analysis since 1975. The counts are estimates that are calculated using the effectiveness of each device or law that is mentioned.
NCSA Traffic Safety Fact Sheet 2010 “Alcohol-Impaired Driving”, The fact sheet presents detailed data about 2010 fatal alcohol-impaired driving crashes in which there were 10,228 persons killed. A total of 9,695 drivers (85%) who were involved in fatal crashes had a BAC level at or above .08. The most frequently reported BAC was 0.18. The rate of alcohol impairment among fatally involved drivers was four times higher at night than during the day.
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September 12, 2012NHTSA Announces Model Year 2013 Vehicles to be Rated Under Government 5-Star Safety Ratings Program
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September 05, 2012'BACK TO SCHOOL' SAFETY ADVISORY: NHTSA and Chuggington™ Remind Parents and Students To Think Safe, Ride Safe, Be Safe!
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August 31, 2012U.S. DOT Teams Up With Mazda Motorsports, Project Yellow Light, the Ad Council, and NOYS to Engage Young Drivers in Anti-Distracted Driving Campaign
The Student Safety Technology Design Competition gives young scholars an exciting opportunity to design, build, and demonstrate a cost-effective conceptual scale model of a vehicle safety technology.
