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IV. Agency Budget Summaries
NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
- RESOURCE SUMMARY
- METHODOLOGY
- Operations and Research (O&R) Account: Drug control numbers are derived from specific budget line items that fund drug and youth alcohol-related activities.
- Highway Traffic Safety Grant Account: Drug control numbers are estimated from trends in expenditures in youth alcohol programs and by applying varying percentages to components of the grant program funding.
- PROGRAM SUMMARY
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) funds programs that address the problems of drug and drugged driving and prevention programs targeting zero tolerance for alcohol and drug use among youth. The agency's drug control programs are listed below by the National Drug Control Strategy Goal they support.
Goal 1: Educate and enable America's youth to reject illegal drug as well as alcohol and tobacco.
- Alcohol and Drug Youth Initiative: This program will bolster training and education for law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges on detecting, arresting, and sanctioning youth alcohol and drug offenders.
- Youth Alcohol: NHTSA will continue to emphasize programs for youth. While drinking and driving has decreased even faster for youth than for adults, drivers under 21 are still over-involved in alcohol-related crashes. Extensive evidence demonstrates that both alcohol sale and drinking while driving laws are not well enforced for youth. The agency will continue to assist states and communities in developing zero tolerance laws for youth as well as prevention and enforcement programs to comply with these laws. Specifically, the agency will continue to assist states in training police officers in enforcement of traffic and drinking laws pertaining to youth. Enforcement demonstration projects will also highlight effective police strategies and programs.
- Drug Evaluation and Classification (DFC): The central purpose of this program is to assist states with drugged driving programs and to institutionalize DEC technical assistance to law enforcement with the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The main goal of DEC is to increase the number of participating states to maintain a national prevention infrastructure.
- Highway Traffic Safety Grants: State and local governments are key partners in working toward NHTSA's goal to reduce deaths, injuries, and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes. Federal aid to states and communities is available to assist this effort. Through Section 402 of the Highway Safety Act (the State and Community Highway Safety Grant Program) and Section 410 of the Highway Safety Act (the Alcohol-Impaired Driving Countermeasures Grant Program), funds are provided to states to prevent drugged and drunk driving through education, public information, and enforcement. Elements of this program directed toward youth populations support Goal 1 of the National Drug Control Strategy.
Goal 2: Increase the safety of America's citizens by substantially reducing drug-related crime and violence.
- Highway Safety Research: This program provides funding for youth alcohol- impaired and drug-impaired driving. The primary focus of the alcohol and drug research program is to identify the scope and nature of the impaired driving problem, identify specific target groups and to develop associated countermeasure programs aimed at these target populations. Research is also conducted to improve methods for police enforcement of youth alcohol-impaired driving and drugged driving laws.
- Highway Traffic Safety Grants: In addition to supporting Goal 1, as described above, elements of this program that are dedicated toward a broader population support Goals 2 of the National Drug Control Strategy.
- BUDGET SUMMARY
1998 Program
- The total base program for FY 1998 is $30.7 million. This includes $16.6 million for state and local assistance and R&D activities that support Goal 1 and $14.1 million for state and local assistance activities that support Goal 2. The base program funds activities in both the Highway Traffic Safety Grant and the Operations and Research accounts.
Goal 1: Educate and enable America's youth to reject illegal drugs as well as the use of alcohol and tobacco.
| |
($ in millions) |
| Youth Alcohol |
$1.7 |
| Alcohol and Drug Youth Initiative |
1.4 |
| Highway Safety Research (Youth Alcohol) |
0.1 |
| Section 402 State and Community Formula Grants |
10.5 |
| Section 410 Alcohol Incentive Grants |
3.0 |
| Total |
$16.6 |
| |
($ in millions) |
| Drug Evaluation and Classification |
$0.5 |
| Highway Safety Research (Drug) |
0.2 |
| Section 402 State and Community Formula Grants |
10.5 |
| Section 410 Alcohol Incentive Grants |
3.0 |
| Total |
$14.1 |
- The total drug control budget request for FY 1999 is $37.8 million. This funding level represents an increase of about $7.1 million over the FY 1998 enacted level.
- Enhancements are based on the request for the new Drugged Driving Incentive Grant program. The grants will encourage states to implement laws and programs such as Zero Tolerance Law for Illicit Drugs, Drug Impaired Driving Law, Mandatory Testing for Drugs Law, Administrative License Revocation for Drugs, License Revocation/Suspension of Persons Convicted of Drug Offenses, Graduated Licensing System that Includes Drug Use and Drugged Driving Provisions. States that receive grants must use the funding to support programs to reduce drugged driving. About $5 million will be applied toward this effort.
Goal 1: Educate and enable America's youth to reject illegal drugs as well as the use of alcohol and tobacco.
- The total drug control request for Goal 1 activities for FY 1999 is $20.2 million, a net increase of $3.5 million over FY 1998. The 1999 request includes the following program funding levels:
| |
($ in millions) |
| Youth Alcohol |
$1.7 |
| Presidential Initiative on Drugs, Driving & Youth |
2.0 |
| Section 402 State and Community Formula Grants |
10.7 |
| Section 410 Alcohol Incentive Grants |
3.3 |
| Drugged Driving Incentive Grants |
2.5 |
| Total |
$20.2 |
Goal 2: Increase the safety of America's citizens by substantially reducing drug-related crime and violence.
- The total drug control request for Goal 2 activities for FY 1999 is $17.7 million, a net increase of $3.5 million over FY 1998. The 1999 request includes the following program funding levels:
| |
($ in millions)
| Drug Evaluation and Classification |
$0.9 |
| Highway Safety Research (Drug) |
0.3 |
| Section 402 State and Community Formula Grants |
10.7 |
| Section 410 Alcohol Incentive Grants |
3.3 |
| Drugged Driving Incentive Grants |
2.5 |
| Total |
$14.1 |
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- PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Drugs, Youth, and Driving Presidential Initiative developed in conjunction with other Federal Partners to reduce the incidence of youth driving under the influence of drugs.
- Provided training to judges and prosecutors to assist in the DEC evidence admitted to facilitate the prosecution and adjudication of drug-impaired drivers. Since 1996, there have been successful court cases in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, and New York.
- The status of major studies and research projects is listed below:
- Completed a laboratory study of non-invasive drug testing devices for police use.
- Implemented a field study of non-invasive drug test devices for police use.
- Completed a survey of self-reported driving after drug use from a national probability sample of approximately 14,000 respondents (a driving module added to the National Household Survey on Drug Use).
- Completed a study of drug use by seriously injured drivers.
- Conducted three to six workshops per year utilizing recently completed Teen Court manual to demonstrate the success of teen courts as an alternative to adjudicating less serious traffic, alcohol, and drug offenses.
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