New England Meeting Oversight of State Highway Safety Grant Programs July 6, 2004

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Future Safety Data Needs The Region
Perspective     Jo Ann Moore Highway Safety
Specialist National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration   30th International Traffic
Records Forum July 25 29, 2004
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Discussion Topics
    Section 412 Legislation   Oversight of
State Highway Safety Grant Programs   Trainings
  Regional Action Plans
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Section 412
IImprove collection, management and reporting of
highway safety data  Help identify safety
problems, set goals, select safety
countermeasures and monitor progress  Help
automate systems, link databases, purchase new
hardware and software, and other improvements  
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Section 412     Potential Funding for FY
2004-2009   SB 1072 270 M   H. R.
3550 159 M
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Congressional Interest in Renewed Oversight of
State Highway Safety Grant Programs
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GAO Audit Initiated July 2002

• In 2002, the Senate Commerce Committee requested
  the General Accounting Office (GAO) to study
  NHTSA Oversight of State Highway Safety Programs,
  to
• Provide trend data on highway safety
• Determine how much highway safety funding was
  provided to States and
• Review NHTSAs oversight of highway safety
  programs.

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GAO FindingsApril 2003

• GAO recommends that NHTSA provide more
  specific written guidance to its regional offices
  on when it is appropriate to use management
  reviews and improvement plans to assist states in
  their highway safety programs. (GAO
  Report 03-474)

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Congressional CriticismMay 2003

• Too many lives are lost while many states,
  with NHTSAs approval, use their safety grants to
  use bobble-head dolls, key chains and air
  fresheners to get the message out without any
  resultsI support state flexibility, but trinkets
  dont save lives. We must change our course if
  we expect to reduce the carnage on our nations
  highways. (Senator Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala),
  Chair, Appropriations Subcommittee on
  Transportation, Treasury, and General
  Government, May 22, 2003)

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Congressional Report RequestedMay 2003

• The House and Senate Committees on Appropriations
  requested NHTSA to
• Examine agency policies on State grant programs
• Report to Congress on current policies on
  guidance to States on developing highway safety
  plans and an analysis of agency oversight
  responsibilities, as proposed by the House
• Provide detailed examples of State usage of
  Section 402 funds, including both exemplary and
  frivolous items and
• Develop a clear policy on management review of
  State highway safety plans, including when a
  State improvement plan should be required, as
  proposed by the Senate.
• (FY 2004 Conference Report 108-401)

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Accountability Language in Senate Reauthorization
Bill February, 2004

• Requires NHTSA to
• Conduct Triennial State Management Reviews
• Provide data-based recommendations to each State
  90 days before State Plans are due
• Conduct Program Improvement Review of any State
  that fails to make substantial progress over a
  3-year period meeting its national priority
  program goals, and to provide technical
  assistance and recommendations for goals not
  achieved.
• Issue Uniform Program and Management Guidelines
  for use by Regions in conducting State Reviews.
• (SB 1072, Section 4112 NHTSA Accountability)

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NHTSA Response to Congress May 2004

• Current Guidance
• Reviewing Performance Plans and Highway Safety
  Plans
• Reviewing Annual Report
• Reviewing State Project Grant Agreements
• Providing Grant and Program Management Training
  Programs

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NHTSA Response to Congress May 2004

• New Guidance
• Issuing Program Priority Memorandum (Annually by
  January 31)
• Providing State Data and Data Analysis (Annually,
  by March 1)
• Disseminating Best Practices Program
  Development and Management Information (Ongoing)
• Conducting Data Analysis and Program Evaluation
  Training (beginning September, 2004)
• Expanding Regional Strategic Action Plans to
  include management/administrative performance
  (beginning
• FY 2005)

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NHTSA Response to CongressMay 2004

• Current Oversight Activities
• Management Reviews
• Program Reviews
• Program Assessments and Mini-Assessments
• Desk and On-Site Fiscal Reviews
• State Liquidation Rates and Draw Downs
• State Monitoring Practices
• Sub-Grantee Proposals and Project Vouchers
• Trip Briefings after State Visits

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NHTSA Response to CongressMay 2004

• New Policy on Management Reviews and Performance
  Plans
• Management Reviews in every States at least
  every 3 years
• Special Management Reviews -- triggered by data
  analysis of FARS data, a States substandard
  performance, and lack of progress in achieving
  safety goals
• Performance Enhancement Plans developed for a
  States failure to meet performance goals or show
  improvement toward priority program goals over a
  three-year period. Developed collaboratively
  between the Regional Office and State.

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NHTSA is Working to Ensure

• Program and Management Oversight Processes are
  Conducted in a Consistent Manner Among All
  Regions
• Program Oversight Procedures Remain a
  Collaborative Process between NHTSA and the
  States

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New Initiatives
MManagement and Oversight Curriculum  Data and
Evaluation Curriculum  Regional Action Plans