FEDERAL ROLE IN TRAFFIC SAFETY

(Pursuant to S. Res. 56, 89th Cong.)

FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 1965

U.S. SENATE,

SUBCOMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE REORGANIZATION

OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS,

Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met, pursuant to recess, at 10 a.m., in room 3302, New Senate Office Building, Senator Abraham Ribicoff (chairman) presiding.

Present: Senators Ribicoff and Simpson.

Also present: Jerome Sonosky, staff director, and Constance Greess, chief clerk.

Senator RIBICOFF. The meeting will come to order.

We are privileged to have before this committee for the first time John T. Connor, Secretary of Commerce and Chairman of the Interdepartmental Highway Safety Board.

We do appreciate your taking time from your busy day to come here.

Will you proceed, Mr. Secretary?

STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN T. CONNOR, SECRETARY OF COMMERCE AND CHAIRMAN, INTERDEPARTMENTAL HIGHWAY SAFETY BOARD

Secretary CONNOR. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee.

We are pleased that this subcommittee is focusing on one of the most critical problems facing the Nation: the mounting toll of deaths, injuries, and property damage on the Nation's streets and highways. I wish to assure you of the full cooperation, not only of the Department of Commerce, but also of the Interdepartmental Highway Safety Board, of which I am Chairman, in this important undertaking.

407

EXHIBIT 30

THE FEDERAL PROGRAM IN HIGHWAY SAFETY (1963)

INTRODUCTION

(।૧૯૩)

Social and economic losses exceeding those of all past wars have

been sustained by the Nation as a consequence of motor vehicle traffic accidents. This is a sobering challenge to all those having official responsibilities for highway safety. Local and State governments carry the principal official burden for performance of traffic accident prevention functions, but the Federal establishment cannot avoid its essential role on a problem of such proportions. The Interdepartmental Highway Safety Board was formed as a means for better performance of that role.

THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL HIGHWAY SAFETY BOARD

Established by Executive Order 10898, issued December 2, 1960,

and amended January 12, 1962, the Interdepartmental Highway Safety Board is directed to provide Federal leadership and guidance of existing and future official activities that affect the safety of travel on public streets and highways and to establish a coordinated traffic safety program for Federal agencies.

Membership of the Board, as specified in the amended Order, is

6.

The Chairman of the Interstate Commerce Commission

7.

The Administrator of General Services

An organization meeting of the Board was called by Secretary Hodges

on June 28, 1962, and all member Departments and agencies were represented by top policy officials. Chairman Hodges invited each Board

member or alternate to report briefly on major items of official

More

activity in highway safety in his Department. In the discussion of these reports, much enthusiasm was shown for the primary task of giving additional Federal emphasis to highway traffic safety programs. precise definition of Federal resources and improved collaboration in objectives and programs were identified as principal needs.

At the June 28 meeting, the Board accepted the suggestion of Secretary Hodges and authorized the establishment of a Working Committee of selected staff from the seven Board agencies. As a first assignment, the Board directed this Committee to evaluate the various agency resources fully with the view of preparing a report on the status of Federal programs in highway safety, together with recommendations for legislative or administrative action, where appropriate. Progress made at the initial organization meeting of the Board

was reported by Secretary Hodges in his letter of July 16, 1962 to the President. The Working Committee was organized promptly under the direction of the Executive Officer (Deputy Director, Office of Highway Safety, Bureau of Public Roads, Department of Commerce), and had full

cooperation from the traffic safety staff of the seven Board agencies, and that of the President's Committee for Traffic Safety. Five formal meetings of the Working Committee have been held and their efforts are responsible for this report. Noteworthy byproducts are the more frequent staff level contacts among the Board agencies and a greater perception of mutual interests in the traffic safety problem. Activation of the Interdepartmental Board and its Working Committee has already provided a positive and growing symptom of improved cooperation. This gives encouragement for the future, in terms of more intelligent, coordinated use of Federal resources for the reduction of traffic accidents, injuries and deaths.

ROLE OF THE BOARD

Functions and Responsibilities

The concern of the Interdepartmental Highway Safety Board extends to all drivers and all vehicles of the Nation. It is thus a broad

national interest, sensitive to the annual accident toll of nearly 48,000 deaths, over 3 million injuries*, and nearly $8 billion of economic loss. In no way does the Board minimize the emphasis on safety of the nearly 2 million Federal employees in traffic, both on the job and off the job. An improvement in the accident experience of the Nation's largest employer would not only have a salutary effect on the national picture; it would provide a useful, inspiring example for the general population.

The greater attention to highway safety among Federal agencies generally and by the Interdepartmental Highway Safety Board in

*

Activity-restricting or medically-attended injuries resulting from traffic accidents.