FEDERAL ROLE IN TRAFFIC SAFETY
(Pursuant to S. Res. 56, 89th Cong.)
SUBCOMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE REORGANIZATION
OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS,
The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 9:45 a.m., in room 1318, New Senate Office Building, Senator Abraham Ribicoff (chairman), presiding.
Present: Senators Ribicoff, Simpson, and Montoya.
Also present: Jerome Sonosky, staff director, and Constance Greess, chief clerk.
Senator RIBICOFF. The Subcommittee on Executive Reorganization will begin its hearings on the Federal role in traffic safety. And I would like to make a short statement.
STATEMENT OF HON. ABRAHAM RIBICOFF, U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT
Senator RIBICOFF. Today we begin a long-range series of hearings on the role of the Federal Government in the field of traffic safety. We intend to examine and review from top to bottom those agencies-both public and private-Federal, State, and local-which direct and support the Nation's traffic safety efforts.
Two main points stand out clearly after an examination of the existing situation.
VAST EXTENT OF TRAFFIC SAFETY "ESTABLISHMENT"
First, the vast extent of the so-called traffic safety establishment. It extends from the local police station to community safety councils to State traffic safety commissions and to the White House itself. In the Federal Government alone some 16 separate agencies have some traffic safety responsibility or role. The key Federal agencies will be testifying in this opening round of hearings. We will examine the efficiency, economy and interagency coordination aspects of these various programs. We will endeavor to establish exactly what the present Federal role in traffic safety is, how much is expended to support it, how it might duplicate and overlap, and how it might be improved.