NHTSA Administrator Strickland Raises Questions on Agency Authority, Cites Goals

As vehicle design drives changes in expectations, both in the United States and globally, the first question on new National Highway Traffic Safety Administration administrator David Strickland’s mind is whether the agency is being well-served by the vehicle statutory authorities it relies on to regulate it.

Speaking at the SAE Government/Industry meeting Jan. 27, Strickland ticked off a list of other questions the agency’s legal staff will be assessing in the coming months. He invited suggestions on how to improve NHTSA’s statutory authority, to make it clearer and more logical: “The door is open at NHTSA.”

Also on Strickland’s mind: ...