Reintroducing NHTSA

NHTSA is the agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation that’s responsible for helping Americans drive, ride, and walk safely. We do this by prompting vehicle safety innovations; educating Americans about safer driving, riding, and walking; partnering with the States to increase safety in communities; and working with law enforcement agencies to make sure that we’re all following the rules of the road that keep everyone safe. Public engagement is central to the success of our mission of saving lives. As the Department of Transportation celebrates its 50th anniversary, there is an opportunity to enhance the public’s understanding of the agency, where we’ve successfully engaged with the American people and how we can better connect to broaden Americans’ knowledge of our work and its benefits to them.

Data clearly shows that most Americans have little knowledge about NHTSA, what we do and how our work affects them. As a result, they may be less likely to turn to us to report potential safety defects, check to see if their vehicles are under recalls, or to learn more about safety ratings, new safety technologies, child safety and our many programs to combat unsafe driving.

To enhance the public’s understanding of NHTSA, we are putting forth a new visual identity, including a new logo and a more consumer-focused website that better projects our agency’s core mission.

Americans want quick, understandable and personally relevant information to keep themselves and their families safe on the road.

Relevant. Consumer Friendly. Easy. Accessible. Those are the hallmarks of NHTSA’s new communications philosophy.

So in practice, what does this mean?

The men and women of NHTSA provide a lifesaving public service. These enhancements will serve to better connect us to the public, increase engagement, and ultimately save even more lives.

Responsible:

the guardian of our safety on America’s roads

Reliable:

the respected voice for vehicle and passenger safety

Resourceful:

we are innovative, proactive and agile in deploying best practices and new technologies

Rules and restrictions

The NHTSA logo is for the official use of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The following rules and restrictions govern its use.

Documents and Publications

Exception: The NHTSA logo may appear with the logo of another entity on a document only when NHTSA and the other entity each made a substantial contribution to the contents of the document.

Defining Substantial Contribution

Meets Substantial Contribution

• Co-authorship/joint development
• Collaborative research, planning, or problem solving
• Operational involvement from early stages of ongoing programs

Does Not Meet Substantial Contribution

• Peer review — reviewing and editing material after its creation
• Federal review without further contribution
• Receiving NHTSA grant funds
• NHTSA approval of grant recipient plans prior to award
• Information exchange between NHTSA and an organization
• Agreement with an organization’s mission

Paid Advertising High-Visibility Enforcement Campaigns

• NHTSA material developed for States and others to use in implementing high-visibility enforcement campaigns shall include the NHTSA logo in combination with the appropriate safety initiative logo.
• States may use this material with or without adding their logo accompanied by any necessary qualifying language.

Special Cases: Documents or Publications Produced In-House, under Contract, Under Grant or Cooperative Agreement

• In-house production: Use NHTSA logo
• Contract: Use NHTSA logo except when the contract is with an educational institution
• Grant or cooperative agreement: Do not use NHTSA logo.

Federal law dictates when to use a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement. Documents produced under a contract are for the direct benefit or use of the United States Government, so it is appropriate to use the NHTSA logo (the exception for contracts with educational institutes as provided by statute). Documents produced under a grant or cooperative agreement are created by and for the benefit of the grantee, so use of the NHTSA logo is not appropriate

Physical Property Not Owned by NHTSA (e.g., safety vehicle or vehicle equipment purchased using grant funds)

• Do not use NHTSA logo

Conference or Press Event Material, or Similar Setting

• Conference
  • — No NHTSA attribution if NHTSA participation or funding is minimal
  • — Attribution statement (but no NHTSA logo) when participation is minimal
• Press Event
  • —Use NHTSA logo only if event is a NHTSA event.

Approval Process

NHTSA’s logo may not be used or reproduced without written permission. Requests for permission to use or reproduce any of NHTSA’s official logos should be directed to: public.affairs@dot.gov.

The request must be in writing and describe exactly how the organization plans to use the NHTSA logo. NHTSA’s Office of Communications and Consumer Information (OCCI) in consultation with NHTSA’s Chief Counsel will determine whether the requested use meets the above approved uses, and then OCCI will respond to the request.

Principal rule:

The NHTSA logo is reserved for NHTSA-created material, as it represents the official position of the agency.