49 U.S.C. § 105: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is an administration in the Department of Transportation. The head of the Administration is the Administrator who is appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Administration has a Deputy Administrator who is appointed by the Secretary of Transportation, with the approval of the President. duties and powers vested in the Secretary by chapter 4 of title 23, except those related to highway design, construction and maintenance, traffic control devices, identification and surveillance of accident locations, and highway-related aspects of pedestrian safety; and additional duties and powers prescribed by the Secretary. The Secretary may carry out chapter 301 of this title through the Administrator. The Administrator shall consult with the Federal Highway Administrator on all matters related to the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of highways. the Administrator’s policy priorities; any rulemakings projected to be commenced; any plans to develop guidelines; any plans to restructure the Administration or to establish or alter working groups; any planned projects or initiatives of the Administration, including the working groups and advisory committees of the Administration; and any projected dates or timetables associated with any of the items described in paragraphs (1) through (5).” The Secretary [of Transportation] shall establish, within the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a Council for Vehicle Electronics, Vehicle Software, and Emerging Technologies (referred to in this section as the ‘Council’) to build, integrate, and aggregate the Administration’s expertise in passenger motor vehicle electronics and other new and emerging technologies. The Council shall research the inclusion of emerging lightweight plastic and composite technologies in motor vehicles to increase fuel efficiency, lower emissions, meet fuel economy standards, and enhance passenger motor vehicle safety through continued utilization of the Administration’s Plastic and Composite Intensive Vehicle Safety Roadmap (Report No. DOT HS 810 863). The Council shall coordinate with all components of the Administration responsible for vehicle safety, including research and development, rulemaking, and defects investigation. The Secretary shall establish, within the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an honors program for engineering students, computer science students, and other students interested in vehicle safety that will enable such students to train with engineers and other safety officials for careers in vehicle safety. The Secretary is authorized to provide a stipend to any student during the student’s participation in the program established under paragraph (1). The Council, in consultation with affected stakeholders, shall periodically assess the implications of emerging safety technologies in passenger motor vehicles, including the effect of such technologies on consumers, product availability, and cost.”