The Highway Traffic Safety Act

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By Civita Dyer
eHow Contributing Writer

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Also known as the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act or the Highway Safety Act, this act was signed into law in 1966 by President Lyndon Johnson. The act was created as a federal set of safety standards for the proper use of motor vehicles and other equipment on the United States highway system, and to govern the continuation of safety research and development of better safety features. Signing of this act into a law eventually caused the creation of the Department of Transportation, as well as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Seat Belt Policy

The act instituted the law that all occupants of a motor vehicle must be wearing a seat belt at all times while the vehicle is being operated. Each state began to enact this law in its own time. Though technically all motor vehicle occupants are required to wear seat belts, only in some states may a police officer or state trooper pull you over solely for not being buckled in. In other states where the secondary seat belt laws exist, a police officer may only write a ticket for the lack of a seat belt when the occupant is pulled over for some other reason.

Used Motor Vehicles

Congress included regulations on used motor vehicles to continue the effectiveness of the national safety program. The act states that it is the policy of the government to encourage inspection of used vehicles by the state in which the vehicle is registered.

School Buses

The Highway Traffic Safety Act includes standards of performance requirements for parts of the bus. The act requires the inclusion of emergency exits on the bus, a strong frame, floor and outer shell for sustainability during crashes, a safe seating system and the requirement of a test drive before offered for sale and use in a school system.

Air Bags

The Highway Traffic Safety Act guidelines require inflatable air bag restraints to be built into all vehicles manufactured after August 31, 1997. Eventually, the act came to be edited to require that the option to turn off the air bag be included as part of the vehicle, for instances in which a smaller occupant may need to ride in an air bag protected seat.

Importing Motor Vehicles

Congress included in the Highway Traffic Safety Act guidelines and regulations for the import of motor vehicles from other countries to the United States for various reasons. Individual guidelines restrict use and titling of motor vehicles imported for personal use, by those employed in other countries, for temporary needs and for further manufacturing.

Speed Laws

Speed laws were eventually included in the Highway Traffic Safety Act to assist with safety, and under the theory that gas mileage is better when vehicles are traveling at approximately 55 miles per hour, the general speed limit for unmarked roads in the United States. This limit was instituted in 1974 during the Emergency Conservation Act, but now is considered the limit on any roads in the United States that are not marked by a speed limit sign.