Which government agency is primarily responsible for highway safety standards?

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is primarily responsible for highway safety standards. This agency, which operates under the Department of Transportation (DOT), plays a critical role in overseeing national policies and regulations that ensure the safe construction, maintenance, and operation of the nation's highways. The FHWA sets guidelines and standards that states and local governments must follow to improve safety outcomes on highways, including aspects like road design, signage, and traffic control measures.

Highway safety is a multifaceted issue, addressing not just the engineering of roadways but also the behavior of drivers, crash prevention, and incident response. The FHWA conducts research, provides technical assistance, and collaborates with other transport agencies to implement effective safety programs. This focus on highway safety aligns with the agency's overarching goal of reducing fatalities and injuries on the road.

While other agencies like the EPA deal with environmental impacts, the DOT encompasses a broader scope of transportation regulation, but it is the FHWA that specifically tackles the standards related to highway safety. FEMA, on the other hand, focuses on disaster response and emergency management, which is not directly related to highway safety standards.