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Highway Safety Research and Development--Better Management Can Make It More Useful

CED-80-87 Published: Jul 28, 1980. Publicly Released: Sep 08, 1980.
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Highlights

A national program, established by Congress in 1966 to reduce fatalities and improve highway safety programs at all levels of government, has provided about $380 million in federal highway safety research funds. The objective of the research has been to design and demonstrate methods generally relating to drivers and pedestrians and to help state and local governments increase the effectiveness of their programs. Highway safety is difficult and complex, mainly because of unpredictable human behavior. Highway safety research has had many financial management problems. It has suffered from weak planning and a credibility gap, many of its results are unsuccessful, and there is a lack of knowledge about the use of results. Problems also exist in contract management. Readily accessible information to differentiate highway safety research funds from other program funds is not available. This has contributed to duplication of programs and misuse of state funds.

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Financial managementHighway researchHighway safetyProgram evaluationResearch program managementProcurementSolicitationsResearch and developmentBid proposalsBidders