49 CFR § 501.1 - Purpose.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t49/s501.1"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "49 CFR § 501.1 - Purpose."
title_number: 49
title_name: "Transportation"
section_number: "501.1"
section_name: "Purpose."
chapter_name: "NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
part_number: "501"
part_name: "ORGANIZATION AND DELEGATION OF POWERS AND DUTIES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "49 U.S.C. 105 and 322, and delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.81 and 1.95."
regulatory_source: "81 FR 5938, Feb. 4, 2016, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "501"
---


# 501.1 Purpose.

This part describes the organization of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an operating administration within the U.S. Department of Transportation, and provides for the performance of duties imposed on, and the exercise of powers vested in, the Administrator of NHTSA.