Agency Mission and Goals
The mission of the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is to prevent death and injury on the Nation's roadways. Therefore, as it relates to juvenile justice issues, the agency develops, promotes, and implements programs designed to increase juvenile compliance with traffic safety laws and regulations. Of particular concern to NHTSA is the high rate of motor vehicle fatalities among juveniles of driving age. The laws regarding speeding, seat belt use, and impaired driving and drinking are of primary concern.
The two parts of the agency that deal with juvenile justice issues are the Traffic Safety Programs (TSP) and State and Community Services (SCS). TSP develops programs to positively change driving behavior. SCS, with 10 NHTSA regional offices, helps State highway offices implement TSP programs by showing the State offices how to properly use formula grant funds.
Activities and Priorities Relating to Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
NHTSA's goal is to reduce juvenile motor vehicle fatalities and injuries. Priority subgoals are to reduce the percentage of juvenile fatalities related to alcohol and to increase the seat belt usage rates. Another key priority is to encourage States to develop graduated licensing systems for juveniles that will slowly ease novice drivers into full licensure through stages.
TSP develops prevention programs in partnership with numerous national organizations to educate and create awareness among juveniles (and the population in general) about safe driving practices and the laws. Another focus is to promote effective traffic safety legislation and to increase compliance with those laws by encouraging effective enforcement, adjudication, and treatment. TSP is the program development arm of the agency.
SCS provides onsite assistance, training, and materials to the State highway safety offices to promote effective programs. Youth programs are a high priority with the NHTSA regions and State highway safety offices because of the high fatality and injury rates among youth in motor vehicle crashes. SCS is the program implementation arm of the agency.
NHTSA is collaborating with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) of the U.S. Department of Justice to promote effective criminal justice system coordination relating to juvenile impaired driving and drinking offenses. Five pilot sites have been initiated. NHTSA has contributed half of the funding for this $500,000 program.
NHTSA has collaborated frequently with the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The latest product of this collaboration is the publication of a joint report by the National Association of Governors' Highway Safety Representatives and the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors on promising State approaches to preventing underage drinking.
NHTSA is currently working with the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools of the U.S. Department of Education, to develop a jointly sponsored publication for students, parents, policymakers, and community advocates on priority issues and programs related to juvenile alcohol use.
Approximately $1 million in NHTSA discretionary funds was spent on youth programs for those under age 21 in FY 1995. Approximately $21 million of formula grant funds to the States was spent on youth programs. Similar amounts were spent in each of the past 2 years. These amounts compare with a total agency budget of approximately $277 million. Approximately four full-time employees at headquarters and five in the regional offices were devoted to youth programming.
The National Minimum Drinking Age Law, Pub. L. No. 98-363, § 6 (1984), 23 U.S.C.
§ 158, encourages States to establish laws prohibiting the purchase and possession of alcoholic beverages by persons under age 21 by withholding Federal highway funds from States without such laws.
The Highway Safety Act of 1991, Pub. L. No. 102-240, Title II, Part A (1991), 23 U.S.C.
§ 401 et seq., authorizes the use of funds for youth programming and technical assistance to address problems of teenage drinking and driving.