Final answer:
The MCSIA of 1999 aims to improve highway safety by imposing stricter penalties for traffic violations, creating the FMCSA, and enhancing commercial vehicle safety through research and data collection.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act (MCSIA) of 1999 was enacted with the primary goal of improving highway safety by ensuring that commercial motor vehicle operations do not cause accidents, injuries, or fatalities.
The key requirements of the MCSIA include the establishment of stricter penalties for serious traffic violations and for commercial drivers who operate commercial vehicles in a dangerous or fatal manner. The Act also created the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a new agency within the Department of Transportation, charged with the enforcement of strict safety regulations.
Furthermore, the MCSIA instigated the improvement of CMV safety through research, data collection, and evaluation of safety strategies.