U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
7500.lB
November 22,1988
Par.
(1) investigate transportation accidents and determine their probable cause;
(2) request accident investigation assistance from the heads of other agencies;
(3) conduct special studies or investigations pertaining to transportation safety;
(4) make safety recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation or heads of operating administrations and other groups for the prevention and investigation of accidents;
(5) evaluate and assess the transportation safety consciousness and effectiveness of other Government agencies charged by law with responsibility in this field; and
(6) report to Congress, including an annual appraisal, evaluation, and review of transportation safety with recommendations for legislative and administrative action.
(1) assuring coordinated responses to NTSB safety recommendations issued to the FHWA;
(2) coordinating those highway accident investigation activities of the FHWA performed in accordance with the interagency agreement between the Department of Transportation (DOT), and operating administrations, and the NTSB;
(3) carrying out liaison with DST on safety subjects involving NTSB safety recommendations; and
(4) preparing quarterly and annual reports to OST.
(1) developing an appropriate course of action,
(2) coordinating with other involved offices,
(3) preparing a proposed response to the NTSB, and
(4) assuring that actions initiated in response to a safety recommendation are accomplished in a timely manner.
(1) reviewing and commenting, as appropriate, on safety recommendations referred specifically to them, and
(2) maintaining liaison with States as may be necessary to monitor NTSB highway safety recommendations and investigations impacting upon FHWA jurisdictions and responsibilities.
(1) All NTSB safety recommendations formally addressed to the Federal Highway Administrator will be routed to the Associate Administrator for Safety and Operations who will serve as the control point for responding to these recommendations.
(2) The Associate Administrator for Safety and Operations will arrange with other Washington Headquarters offices, as appropriate, for the preparation of responses to NTSB recommendations or, when the NTSB requests, participation in highway accident investigations. This includes designation of a single office to act as the primary respondent to develop a unified FHWA response.
(3) The primary respondent will develop a proposed response to the NTSB safety recommendation and forward it to the Associate Administrator forSafety and Operations. In order to develop a unified FHWA response, it may be' necessary for the primary respondent to obtain information or coordinate with other Washington Headquarters or field offices. The proposed response will describe the action the FHWA has taken or plans to take as a result of the NTSB safety recommendation. If the safety recommendation is adopted only in part or is totally rejected, the response shall indicate in detail the reasons for such a decision. A timetable is to be included whenever any part of a proposed action has not been completed unless the NTSB safety recommendation is totally rejected.
(4) The Associate Administrator for Safety and Operations will review all proposed responses from Washington Headquarters offices for adequacy and compliance with DOT and FHWA procedures, and will coordinate the final reply within the FHWA.
(5) The Associate Administrator for Safety and Operations will maintain such records and files as necessary to carry out these procedures effec tively, and prepare the quarterly and annual reports as required by DOT Order 2000.lC.
Robert E. Farris
Federal Highway Administrator