NHTSA at a glance

NHTSA at a glance Founded: 1970, after the merger of the National Traffic Safety Agency and the National Highway Safety AgencyAdministrator: David Strickland, nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate on Dec. 24. Mission: Regulate safety standards in the auto and transportation industries. NHTSA has oversight over safety in passenger vehicles, trucks and buses and also promotes safety programs.Employees: About 650Budget: $867 millionLocations: Headquarters in Washington. Its Vehicle Research and Test Center is in East Liberty, Ohio.