The director of the safety division, under the supervision of the highway patrol superintendent, shall direct and carry on a public education and information program and assist and cooperate with all governmental or private agencies, organizations, or groups in order to encourage better and safer driving practices, better law enforcement, and more uniform penalties, for the purpose of reducing the number of motor vehicle accidents.

The director shall coordinate and strengthen the highway and traffic safety activities of the state of North Dakota and its political subdivisions. The director shall specifically promote the coordination of the functions of driver licensing and control, financial responsibility, traffic law enforcement, and other highway and traffic safety activities of the state highway patrol and the department of transportation, and shall generally work and cooperate with the officials in charge of these departments and all public officials in all matters relating to motor vehicle safety.

All supplies and equipment of the public safety division of the department of transportation are hereby transferred to the public safety division of the highway patrol created by section 39-03-16.