Motor Vehicle Safety

NHTSA Should Resume Its Support of State Periodic Inspection Programs Gao ID: RCED-90-175 July 5, 1990

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO evaluated the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) state motor vehicle inspection program, to determine whether: (1) a 1989 NHTSA report accurately represented the safety benefits of state inspection programs; (2) available evidence indicates that state inspection programs reduce accidents; and (3) NHTSA appropriately carried out its responsibilities regarding inspection programs.

GAO found that: (1) periodic inspection programs improve the condition of the safety-related components of vehicles subject to inspection; (2) accidents involving vehicle defects occur less often in states requiring periodic inspections; (3) state periodic inspection programs reduce the number of poorly maintained vehicles; (4) NHTSA issued a standard requiring states to inspect vehicles at least annually, and in 1973 issued specific standards for vehicle inspection; and (5) NHTSA intends to resume supporting periodic vehicle inspections.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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