Which organization is responsible for issuing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is the agency responsible for issuing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). These standards are put in place to ensure the safety of vehicles on the road by setting minimum safety performance requirements for motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment. The NHTSA develops these standards based on research, testing, and engineering analysis to improve safety and reduce accidents, injuries, and fatalities.

In this context, while other organizations mentioned, such as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), have important regulatory roles, they focus on other aspects of transportation. The FMCSA oversees commercial motor vehicle safety regulations, the EPA manages environmental regulations including emissions standards, and the PHMSA oversees the safe transport of hazardous materials. However, when it comes to vehicle safety standards specifically, the NHTSA is the designated authority.