Highway Safety Improved Monitoring And Oversight Of Traffic Safety Data Program Are Needed Report To Congressional Committees

This report examines the quality of state crash information; the activities states undertook using 411 grant funds to improve their traffic safety data systems, and the progress they made using the grant funds; and NHTSA's oversight of the grant program

This report examines the quality of state crash information; the activities states undertook using 411 grant funds to improve their traffic safety data systems, and the progress they made using the grant funds; and NHTSA's oversight of the grant program.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent agency that works for Congress. The GAO watches over Congress, and investigates how the federal government spends taxpayers dollars. The Comptroller General of the United States is the leader of the GAO, and is appointed to a 15-year term by the U.S. President. The GAO wants to support Congress, while at the same time doing right by the citizens of the United States. They audit, investigate, perform analyses, issue legal decisions and report anything that the government is doing. This is one of their reports.

This report examines how DOT is (1) deciding on responses to the crash avoidance and electronic distractions trends--given available evidence and uncertainties; (2) developing new evidence on these trends' safety impacts; and (3) communicating with the Congress about these and other trends and related issues. To conduct this study, GAO analyzed DOT reports, peer-reviewed literature, and other documents; interviewed DOT officials and staff; and interviewed over 30 experts.