Primary Contacts
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
U.S. Department of Labor
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
West Building
Washington, DC 20590
Phone: 888.327.4236
Website: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov
General Overview of Agency Activities
NHTSA is an organization under the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) whose mission is to save lives, prevent injuries and reduce economic costs due to road traffic crashes, through education, research, safety standards and enforcement activity. NHTSA is dedicated to achieving the highest standards of excellence in motor vehicle and highway safety.
Overview of Regulatory Activities
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has a legislative mandate under Title 49 of the United States Code, Chapter 301, Motor Vehicle Safety, to issue Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and Regulations to which manufacturers of motor vehicles and items of motor vehicle equipment must conform and certify compliance. FMVSS 209, Seat Belt Assemblies, was the first standard to become effective on March 1, 1967. A number of FMVSS became effective for vehicles manufactured on and after January 1, 1968. Subsequently, other FMVSS have been issued. For instance, NHTSA has issued seven new FMVSS and has amended six FMVSS and two consumer information regulations and requirements since this booklet was revised in March 1999. New standards and amendments to existing standards are published in the Federal Register.
These Federal safety standards are regulations written in terms of minimum safety performance requirements for motor vehicles or items of motor vehicle equipment. These requirements are specified in such a manner that the public is protected against unreasonable risk of crashes occurring as a result of the design, construction, or performance of motor vehicles and is also protected against unreasonable risk of death or injury in the event crashes do occur.
This booklet lists the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards that were in effect as of October 2003, and provides a brief summary of each safety standard. It also provides similar information on other Federal consumer information regulations and requirements.
 Learn more about Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and Regulations.
Standards Used in Regulation and Procurement
NHTSA has incorporated into its technical regulations and recognizes voluntary consensus standards developed by the following organizations:
This list may be incomplete and only attempts to name some of the standards developing organizations from which NHTSA has incorporated standards. For more information:
Access the NHTSA Regulations and Standards Website
NHTSA recognizes a variety of conformity assessment approaches on a sector-by-sector basis. For more information:
Access the NHTSA Regulations and Standards Website
Browse NHTSA Importation and Certification Frequently Asked Questions
Quick Links
International Activities
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
400 Seventh Street, S.W., Suite 5220
Washington, D.C. 20590
Phone: 202.366.4941
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