VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION SYSTEMS. HOW EFFECTIVE?

A comprehensive examination is provided of motor vehicle inspection programs implemented as part of an effort by the states to develop highway safety programs in accordance with uniform safety standards promulgated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) between 1967 and 1972. A statistical analysis compares death and accident rates in states with and without inspection programs. Also analyzed are the basic premises underlying inspection policies, the different types of programs, and the economic impact of inspection regulations. It is shown that the programs have had no discernible effect on highway safety; technical, political, and economic reasons for this failure are offered. It is concluded that, in view of its costs and the absence of benefits, the overall vehicle safety inspection program should be reevaluated and perhaps terminated. Random inspection programs are at least as effective than periodic (once or twice yearly) inspections and are less costly. This finding argues that NHTSA consider substituting random for periodic inspections on a permanent basis.

Supplemental Notes:
- American Enterprise Institute Studies in Government Regulation.
Corporate Authors:
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research

1150 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20036
Authors:
- Crain, W M
Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

Features: References;
Pagination: 80 p.

Subject/Index Terms

TRT Terms: Cost effectiveness; Crash rates; Economic impacts; Fatalities; Inspection; Measures of effectiveness; Motor vehicles; Statistical analysis; Vehicle safety
Uncontrolled Terms: Effectiveness
Old TRIS Terms: Vehicular safety
Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Economics; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

Accession Number: 00384709
Record Type: Publication
Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Report/Paper Numbers: AEI-258, HS-029 063
Files: HSL, USDOT
Created Date: May 30 1984 12:00AM