23 U.S.C. § 403 : US Code - Section 403: Highway safety research and development

Search 23 U.S.C. § 403 : US Code - Section 403: Highway safety research and development

(a) Authority of the Secretary. - The Secretary is authorized to
use funds appropriated to carry out this section to -
(1) conduct research on all phases of highway safety and
traffic conditions, including accident causation, highway or
driver characteristics, communications, and emergency care;
(2) conduct ongoing research into driver behavior and its
effect on traffic safety;
(3) conduct research on, launch initiatives to counter, and
conduct demonstration projects on fatigued driving by drivers of
motor vehicles and distracted driving in such vehicles, including
the effect that the use of electronic devices and other factors
deemed relevant by the Secretary have on driving;
(4) conduct training or education programs in cooperation with
other Federal departments and agencies, States, private sector
persons, highway safety personnel, and law enforcement personnel;
(5) conduct research on, and evaluate the effectiveness of,
traffic safety countermeasures, including seat belts and impaired
driving initiatives;
(6) conduct research on, evaluate, and develop best practices
related to driver education programs (including driver education
curricula, instructor training and certification, program
administration and delivery mechanisms) and make recommendations
for harmonizing driver education and multistage graduated
licensing systems;
(7) conduct research, training, and education programs related
to older drivers;
(8) conduct demonstration projects; and
(9) conduct research, training, and programs relating to
motorcycle safety, including impaired driving.
(b) Drugs and Driver Behavior. - In addition to the research
authorized by subsection (a), the Secretary, in consultation with
other Government and private agencies as may be necessary, is
authorized to carry out safety research on the following:
(1) The relationship between the consumption and use of drugs
and their effect upon highway safety and drivers of motor
vehicles.
(2) Driver behavior research, including the characteristics of
driver performance, the relationships of mental and physical
abilities or disabilities to the driving task, and the
relationship of frequency of driver crash involvement to highway
safety.
(3) Measures that may deter drugged driving.
(4) Programs to train law enforcement officers on motor vehicle
pursuits conducted by the officers.
(5) Technology to detect drug use and enable States to
efficiently process toxicology evidence.
(6) Research on the effects of illicit drugs and the compound
effects of alcohol and illicit drugs on impairment.
(c) The research authorized by subsections (a) and (b) of this
section may be conducted by the Secretary through grants and
contracts with public and private agencies, institutions, and
individuals.
(d) The Secretary may, where he deems it to be in furtherance of
the purposes of section 402 of this title, vest in State or local
agencies, on such terms and conditions as he deems appropriate,
title to equipment purchased for demonstration projects with funds
authorized by this section.
(e) In addition to the research authorized by subsection (a) of
this section, the Secretary shall, either independently or in
cooperation with other Federal departments or agencies, conduct
research into, and make grants to or contracts with State or local
agencies, institutions, and individuals for projects to demonstrate
the administrative adjudication of traffic infractions. Such
administrative adjudication demonstration projects shall be
designed to improve highway safety by developing fair, efficient,
and effective processes and procedures for traffic infraction
adjudication, utilizing appropriate punishment, training, and
rehabilitative measures for traffic offenders. The Secretary shall
report to Congress by July 1, 1975, and each year thereafter during
the continuance of the program, on the research and demonstration
projects authorized by this subsection, and shall include in such
report a comparison of the fairness, efficiency, and effectiveness
of administrative adjudication of traffic infractions with other
methods of handling such infractions.
(f) Collaborative Research and Development. -
(1) In general. - For the purpose of encouraging innovative
solutions to highway safety problems, stimulating voluntary
improvements in highway safety, and stimulating the marketing of
new highway safety-related technology by private industry, the
Secretary is authorized to undertake, on a cost-shared basis,
collaborative research and development with non-Federal entities,
including State and local governments, colleges, and universities
and corporations, partnerships, sole proprietorships, and trade
associations that are incorporated or established under the laws
of any State or the United States. This collaborative research
may include crash data collection and analysis; driver and
pedestrian behavior; and demonstrations of technology.
(2) Cooperative agreements. - In carrying out this subsection,
the Secretary may enter into cooperative research and development
agreements, as defined in section 12 of the Stevenson-Wydler
Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710a); except that
in entering into such agreements, the Secretary may agree to
provide not more than 50 percent of the cost of any research or
development project selected by the Secretary under this
subsection.
(3) Project selection. - In selecting projects to be conducted
under this subsection, the Secretary shall establish a procedure
to consider the views of experts and the public concerning the
project areas.
(4) Applicability of stevenson-wydler technology innovation
act. - The research, development, or utilization of any
technology pursuant to an agreement under the provisions of this
subsection, including the terms under which technology may be
licensed and the resulting royalties may be distributed, shall be
subject to the provisions of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology
Innovation Act of 1980.
(g) International Cooperation. - The Administrator of the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration may participate and
cooperate in international activities to enhance highway safety.