LEGISLATION FOR INCREASED HIGHWAY SAFETY

The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 authorized positive action on the problem of highway safety. The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act and the Highway Safety Act, both passed in 1966, gave highway safety national priority. The Highway Safety Act includes 18 safety standards that, if fulfilled, will increase the effectiveness of the total highway transportation system. Other federal legislation, including title II of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1973 (known as the Highway Safety Act of 1973), is discussed. Among the goals of these pieces of safety legislation are to standardize and simplify operation of the system, which in turn will increase its utility.