Highway Safety Act of 1983

Highway Safety Act of 1983 - Title I: Automotive Safety Improvement Act of 1983 - Amends the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act to prescribe bumper standards for passenger motor vehicles manufactured or imported after September 1, 1984.

Directs the Secretary of Transportation to reopen rulemaking proceedings to implement the Federal motor vehicle safety standard on side impact protection. Requires the issuance of final regulations on such standard by July 1, 1984.

Requires the Secretary to make grants to States which have in effect a law requiring the use of child safety seats which meet the requirements of a specified safety standard. Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund for FY 1984 through 1985.

Amends the National Traffic and Motor Vehicles Safety Act of 1966 to require manufacturers of passenger automobiles to install airbags in such automobiles manufactured on or after September 1, 1985.

Directs the Secretary to amend a specified safety standard to require automobile manufacturers to install antilacerative windshields in all passenger automobiles manufactured on or after September 1, 1984.

Requires the Secretary to report to Congress by September 30, 1984 on the results of a study of crash protection for truck occupants, including potential performance standards for truck manufacturers. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 for such study.

Directs the Secretary to amend a specified safety standard to require manufacturers to equip passenger automobiles manufactured on or after September 1, 1984, with a high-mounted rear stoplamp.

Requires the Secretary to promulgate a safety standard establishing passenger automobile crashworthiness rating and labeling requirements for such automobiles manufactured on or after September 1, 1984. Requires the Secretary by July 1, 1984 to require automobile dealers to make available to prospective purchasers data comparing the crashworthiness of passenger automobiles.

Directs the Department of Transportation to study the effectiveness of existing regulations on emergency warning devices required to be carried on buses, trucks, truck tractors, and motor-driven vehicles which are involved in emergency situations. Requires such study to investigate the potential costs and benefits of requiring passenger automobile operators to carry emergency warning devices and to examine the benefits of warning devices in enhancing highway safety. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 for such study.

Title II: Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Act of 1983 - Includes under the alcohol traffic safety program traffic safety problems resulting from persons driving under the influence of drugs. Directs the Secretary to establish criteria for rehabilitation and treatment programs for persons arrested and convicted of driving while under the influence of drugs.

Directs the Secretary to make grants to a State to enforce alcohol traffic safety programs if such State has in effect a law which: (1) sets the minimum legal drinking age at 21 years of age; and (2) provides for the penalty of misdemeanor for certain persons who supply alcoholic beverages to individuals under 21 years of age or to individuals who appear to be intoxicated. Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund for FY 1984 and 1985 for such grant program.

Directs the Secretary to make grants to States which implement accident-reduction projects using computerized safety recordkeeping systems. Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund for FY 1984 through 1986.

Directs the appropriate congressional committees to conduct oversight hearings at least annually for the first three years after enactment of this Act.

Title III: Motor Carrier Safety Act of 1983 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish rules, regulations, standards, and orders to assure that: (1) commercial motor vehicles are safely maintained, equipped, loaded, and operated; (2) the responsibilities imposed upon drivers of commercial motor vehicles do not impair such drivers' ability to operate safely; (3) the physical condition of such drivers is adequate to enable them to drive safely; and (4) the operation of commercial motor vehicles does not create deleterious effects on the physical condition of such drivers.

Requires the Secretary and the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, to undertake a study of health hazards to which employees engaged in the operation of commercial motor vehicles are exposed, and to develop information to enable such employees to operate free from recognized hazards. Requires that such study be submitted to Congress within one year after enactment of this Act. Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund for FY 1984 for such study.

Authorizes agents of the Secretary to conduct inspections of facilities, equipment, operations, and pertinent records in carrying out the responsibilities of this title.

Sets forth penalties for violations of safety standards promulgated under this title.

Allows States to adopt more stringent safety rules if such rules are not inconsistent with Federal rules.

Requires each commercial motor vehicle to pass an annual inspection of its safety equipment. Directs the Secretary to establish Federal standards for such equipment and a procedure for State implementation of such inspections. Requires the issuance of such regulations before September 30, 1984.

Directs the Secretary and the Interstate Commerce Commission to jointly establish a procedure to determine the safety fitness of persons seeking operating authority as motor carriers. Requires the submission of such procedure to Congress by July 1, 1984.

Directs the Secretary to conduct a study of safety characteristics of heavy trucks, including an examination of the handling, stability, and crashworthiness of such trucks. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 and 1985 for such study.

Directs the appropriate congressional committees to conduct periodic oversight hearings on the effects of this title for the first three years after enactment of this Act.

Title IV: Hazardous Materials Transportation Act Amendments of 1983 - Amends the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act to require the Secretary and the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to evaluate training programs of Federal, State, and local agencies and private organizations for incident prevention and response with respect to the transportation of hazardous materials. Authorizes the Secretary and the Director to develop appropriate training programs and make recommendations to improve existing programs. Directs the Secretary or the Director to maintain an information dissemination service on the safe and proper methods of transporting hazardous materials and for responding to incidents. Requires the Secretary to establish or encourage the establishment of regional training centers on incident prevention.

Sets forth terms and conditions under which the Secretary is authorized to make grants to States for the enforcement of Federal rules on hazardous materials transportation.

Authorizes the Secretary to establish regulations on the routing of hazardous materials and a prenotification system to inform State or local governments on such routing.

Authorizes the Director to make emergency response planning grants to State, regional, and local governments and to conduct research and development activities to improve incident-response capabilities.

Authorizes appropriations for grant programs under this title.

Requires the appropriate congressional committees to conduct periodic oversight hearings on the implementation and effects of this title at least annually for the first three years after enactment of this Act.