Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Application for an Exemption From Netradyne, Inc., 82575-82576 [2020-27967]
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 244 / Friday, December 18, 2020 / Notices
within which driving would be
completed, in lieu of taking 10
consecutive hours off duty. If granted,
the exemption would cover MBR
Helicopters’ commercial motor vehicle
(CMV) operators only when they are
responding to or returning from an
active incident as requested by an
officer of a safety agency or public
utility commission or service. A copy of
the application is included in the docket
referenced at the beginning of this
notice.
Request for Comments
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315,
FMCSA requests public comment from
all interested persons on MBR’s
application for an exemption. All
comments received before the close of
business on the comment closing date
indicated at the beginning of this notice
will be considered and will be available
for examination in the docket at the
location listed under the ADDRESSES
section of this notice. Comments
received after the comment closing date
will be filed in the public docket and
will be considered to the extent
practicable. In addition to late
comments, FMCSA will also continue to
file, in the public docket, relevant
information that becomes available after
the comment closing date. Interested
persons should continue to examine the
public docket for new material.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2020–27966 Filed 12–17–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration
[Docket No. FMCSA–2020–0173]
Parts and Accessories Necessary for
Safe Operation; Application for an
Exemption From Netradyne, Inc.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of final disposition; grant
of exemption.
AGENCY:
The Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration (FMCSA)
announces its decision to grant
Netradyne, Inc’s. (Netradyne)
application for a limited 5-year
exemption to allow its Driveri® Dash
Cam to be mounted lower in the
windshield on commercial motor
vehicles (CMV) than is currently
permitted. The Agency has determined
that lower placement of the Driveri®
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
22:22 Dec 17, 2020
Jkt 253001
Dash Cam would not have an adverse
impact on safety and that adherence to
the terms and conditions of the
exemption would likely achieve a level
of safety equivalent to, or greater than,
the level of safety provided by the
regulation.
DATES: This exemption is effective
December 18, 2020. The exemption
expires December 15, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Jose´ R. Cestero, Vehicle and Roadside
Operations Division, Office of Carrier,
Driver, and Vehicle Safety, MC–PSV,
(202) 366–5541, Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, Washington, DC, 20590–
0001. If you have questions regarding
viewing or submitting material to the
docket, contact Docket Operations, (202)
366–9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
FMCSA has authority under 49 U.S.C.
31136(e) and 31315 to grant exemptions
from certain parts of the Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs).
FMCSA must publish a notice of each
exemption request in the Federal
Register (49 CFR 381.315(a)). The
Agency must provide the public an
opportunity to inspect the information
relevant to the application, including
any safety analyses that have been
conducted. The Agency must also
provide an opportunity for public
comment on the request. The Agency
reviews safety analyses and public
comments submitted, and determines
whether granting the exemption would
likely achieve a level of safety
equivalent to, or greater than, the level
that would be achieved by the current
regulation (49 CFR 381.305).
The decision of the Agency must be
published in the Federal Register (49
CFR 381.315(b)) with the reasons for
denying or granting the application and,
if granted, the name of the person or
class of persons receiving the
exemption, and the regulatory provision
from which the exemption is granted.
The notice must also specify the
effective period (up to 5 years) and
explain the terms and conditions of the
exemption. The exemption may be
renewed (49 CFR 381.300(b)).
Netradyne’s Application for Exemption
Netradyne applied for an exemption
from 49 CFR 393.60(e)(1) to allow its
Driveri® Dash Cam to be mounted lower
in the windshield than is currently
permitted by the Agency’s regulations to
utilize a mounting location that allows
optimal functionality of the advance
safety system supported by the device.
PO 00000
Frm 00150
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
82575
A copy of the application is included in
the docket referenced at the beginning
of this notice. Section 393.60(e)(1)(i) of
the FMCSRs prohibits obstruction of the
driver’s field of view by devices
mounted at the top of the windshield.
Antennas and similar devices must not
be mounted more than 152 mm (6
inches) below the upper edge of the
windshield, and must be outside the
driver’s sight lines to the road and
highway signs and signals. However,
§ 393.60(e)(1)(i) does not apply to
vehicle safety technologies, as defined
in § 390.5, that include ‘‘a fleet related
incident management system,
performance or behavior management
system, speed management system,
forward collision warning or mitigation
system, active cruise control system,
and transponder.’’
Section 393.60(e)(1)(ii) requires
devices with vehicle safety technologies
to be mounted (1) not more than 100
mm (4 inches) below the upper edge of
the area swept by the windshield
wipers, or (2) not more than 175 mm (7
inches) above the lower edge of the area
swept by the windshield wipers, and (3)
outside the driver’s sight lines to the
road and highway signs and signals.
Netradyne states that the functionality
of its Driveri® Dash Cam includes the
ability to capture and analyze distracted
driving events along with providing incab audio alerts, following distance
management, and detection of stop signs
and traffic signals. Netradyne states that
the proposed exemption will increase
safety by providing these advance safety
features on its customers’ CMVs.
Netradyne notes that it conducted pilot
tests of the devices’ functionality and
found that there was no noticeable
obstruction to the driver’s normal
sightlines to the road ahead, highway
signs and, signals, or any mirrors.
The Driveri® Dash Cam, four-camera
version housing, is approximately 190
mm (7.4 inches) wide by 118 mm (4.6
inches) tall and the two-camera version
housing is 126 mm (4.9 inches) wide by
71 mm (2.8 inches) tall. The devices
will be mounted in the approximate
center of the top of the windshield such
that the bottom edge of the camera
housing is approximately 204 mm (8
inches) below the upper edge of the
windshield wipers, outside of the
driver’s and passenger’s normal sight
lines to the road ahead, highway signs
and signals, and all mirrors. This
location will allow for optimal
functionality of the advanced safety
systems supported by the device.
Without the proposed exemption,
Netradyne states that its customers will
not be able to install these devices in an
optimal location on the windshield to
E:\FR\FM\18DEN1.SGM
18DEN1
82576
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 244 / Friday, December 18, 2020 / Notices
maximize the effectiveness of the safety
features of the technology. The
exemption would apply to all CMVs
equipped with Netradyne’s Driveri®
Dash Cam mounted on the windshield.
Netradyne believes that mounting the
system as described will maintain a
level of safety that is equivalent to, or
greater than, the level of safety achieved
without the exemption.
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Comments
FMCSA published a notice
announcing receipt of the exemption
application in the Federal Register on
August 20, 2020, and requested public
comment on the application (85 FR
51545).
The Agency received no comments
addressing the exemption application.
FMCSA Decision
FMCSA has evaluated the Netradyne
exemption application. The Driveri®
Dash Cam, four-camera housing version,
is approximately 4.6 inches tall while
the two-camera housing version is 2.8
inches tall. Both camera versions are
mounted near the top of the center of
the windshield, with the bottom of the
camera housing located approximately 8
inches below the top of the area swept
by the windshield wipers. The Driveri®
Dash Cam needs to be mounted in this
location for optimal functionality of the
advance safety system. The size of the
Driveri® Dash Cam precludes mounting
it (1) higher in the windshield, and (2)
within 4 inches from the top of the area
swept by the windshield wipers to
comply with § 393.60(e)(1)(ii)(A).
The Agency believes that granting the
temporary exemption to allow
placement of the Driveri® Dash Cam
lower than currently permitted by
Agency regulations will provide a level
of safety that is equivalent to, or greater
than, the level of safety achieved
without the exemption because (1)
based on the technical information
available, there is no indication that the
Driveri® Dash Cam would obstruct
drivers’ views of the roadway, highway
signs and signals surrounding traffic; (2)
generally, trucks and buses have an
elevated seating position that greatly
improves the forward visual field of the
driver, and any impairment of available
sight lines would be minimal; and (3)
the mounting location 8 inches below
the upper edge of the windshield and
out of the driver’s normal sightline will
be reasonable and enforceable at
roadside. In addition, the Agency
believes that use of Driveri® Dash Cam
by fleets is likely to improve the overall
level of safety for the motoring public.
This action is consistent with previous
Agency action permitting the placement
VerDate Sep<11>2014
22:22 Dec 17, 2020
Jkt 253001
of similarly-sized devices on CMVs
outside the driver’s sight lines to the
road, and highway signs and signals.
FMCSA is not aware of any evidence
showing that installation of other
vehicle safety technologies mounted on
the interior of the windshield has
resulted in any degradation in safety.
James W. Deck,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2020–27967 Filed 12–17–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA–2020–0027–N–28]
Proposed Agency Information
Collection Activities; Comment
Request
Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
request for comment.
AGENCY:
Under the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its
implementing regulations, this notice
announces that FRA is forwarding the
Information Collection Request (ICR)
abstracted below to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and comment. The ICR describes
the information collection and its
expected burden. On July 22, 2020, FRA
published a notice providing a 60-day
period for public comment on the ICR.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before January
19, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed ICR
should be sent within 30 days of
publication of this notice to
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
Find the particular ICR by selecting
‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open
for Public Comments’’ or by using the
search function.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Hodan Wells, Information Collection
Clearance Officer, Office of Railroad
Safety, Regulatory Analysis Division,
Federal Railroad Administration,
telephone (202) 493–0440, email:
Hodan.wells@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PRA,
44 U.S.C. 3501–3520, and its
implementing regulations, 5 CFR part
1320, require Federal agencies to issue
two notices seeking public comment on
information collection activities before
OMB may approve paperwork packages.
See 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.8
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00151
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
through 1320.12. On July 22, 2020, FRA
published a 60-day notice in the Federal
Register soliciting comment on the ICR
for which it is now seeking OMB
approval. See 85 FR 44359. FRA
received no comments in response to
this notice.
Before OMB decides whether to
approve the proposed collection of
information, it must provide 30 days for
public comment. Federal law requires
OMB to approve or disapprove
paperwork packages between 30 and 60
days after the 30-day notice is
published. 44 U.S.C. 3507(b)–(c); 5 CFR
1320.12(d); see also 60 FR 44978, 44983,
Aug. 29, 1995. OMB believes the 30-day
notice informs the regulated community
to file relevant comments and affords
the agency adequate time to digest
public comments before it renders a
decision. 60 FR 44983, Aug. 29, 1995.
Therefore, respondents should submit
their respective comments to OMB
within 30 days of publication to best
ensure having their full effect.
Comments are invited on the
following ICR regarding: (1) Whether the
information collection activities are
necessary for FRA to properly execute
its functions, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(2) the accuracy of FRA’s estimates of
the burden of the information collection
activities, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used to
determine the estimates; (3) ways for
FRA to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information being
collected; and (4) ways to minimize the
burden of information collection
activities on the public, including the
use of automated collection techniques
or other forms of information
technology.
The summaries below describe the
ICR that FRA will submit for OMB
clearance as the PRA requires:
Title: Safety Appliance Standards
Guidance Checklist Forms.
OMB Control Number: 2130–0565.
Abstract: Title 49 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) part 231, Railroad
Safety Appliance Standards, was
supplemented and expanded in 2013 to
include the industry standard
established by the Association of
American Railroads (AAR), Standard
2044 or S–2044, which prescribed safety
appliance arrangements for 11 new
types of cars. As a result of the
inclusion, FRA developed Forms FRA
F6180.161(a)–(k) as guidance checklist
forms to facilitate railroad, rail car
owner, and rail equipment manufacturer
compliance with S–2044 and 49 CFR
part 231.
AAR has since updated S–2044 to
include seven new types of cars. In
E:\FR\FM\18DEN1.SGM
18DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 244 (Friday, December 18, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 82575-82576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-27967]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
[Docket No. FMCSA-2020-0173]
Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Application
for an Exemption From Netradyne, Inc.
AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of final disposition; grant of exemption.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
announces its decision to grant Netradyne, Inc's. (Netradyne)
application for a limited 5-year exemption to allow its Driveri[supreg]
Dash Cam to be mounted lower in the windshield on commercial motor
vehicles (CMV) than is currently permitted. The Agency has determined
that lower placement of the Driveri[supreg] Dash Cam would not have an
adverse impact on safety and that adherence to the terms and conditions
of the exemption would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to,
or greater than, the level of safety provided by the regulation.
DATES: This exemption is effective December 18, 2020. The exemption
expires December 15, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jos[eacute] R. Cestero, Vehicle
and Roadside Operations Division, Office of Carrier, Driver, and
Vehicle Safety, MC-PSV, (202) 366-5541, Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, 20590-0001.
If you have questions regarding viewing or submitting material to the
docket, contact Docket Operations, (202) 366-9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
FMCSA has authority under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315 to grant
exemptions from certain parts of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Regulations (FMCSRs). FMCSA must publish a notice of each exemption
request in the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(a)). The Agency must
provide the public an opportunity to inspect the information relevant
to the application, including any safety analyses that have been
conducted. The Agency must also provide an opportunity for public
comment on the request. The Agency reviews safety analyses and public
comments submitted, and determines whether granting the exemption would
likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the
level that would be achieved by the current regulation (49 CFR
381.305).
The decision of the Agency must be published in the Federal
Register (49 CFR 381.315(b)) with the reasons for denying or granting
the application and, if granted, the name of the person or class of
persons receiving the exemption, and the regulatory provision from
which the exemption is granted. The notice must also specify the
effective period (up to 5 years) and explain the terms and conditions
of the exemption. The exemption may be renewed (49 CFR 381.300(b)).
Netradyne's Application for Exemption
Netradyne applied for an exemption from 49 CFR 393.60(e)(1) to
allow its Driveri[supreg] Dash Cam to be mounted lower in the
windshield than is currently permitted by the Agency's regulations to
utilize a mounting location that allows optimal functionality of the
advance safety system supported by the device. A copy of the
application is included in the docket referenced at the beginning of
this notice. Section 393.60(e)(1)(i) of the FMCSRs prohibits
obstruction of the driver's field of view by devices mounted at the top
of the windshield. Antennas and similar devices must not be mounted
more than 152 mm (6 inches) below the upper edge of the windshield, and
must be outside the driver's sight lines to the road and highway signs
and signals. However, Sec. 393.60(e)(1)(i) does not apply to vehicle
safety technologies, as defined in Sec. 390.5, that include ``a fleet
related incident management system, performance or behavior management
system, speed management system, forward collision warning or
mitigation system, active cruise control system, and transponder.''
Section 393.60(e)(1)(ii) requires devices with vehicle safety
technologies to be mounted (1) not more than 100 mm (4 inches) below
the upper edge of the area swept by the windshield wipers, or (2) not
more than 175 mm (7 inches) above the lower edge of the area swept by
the windshield wipers, and (3) outside the driver's sight lines to the
road and highway signs and signals.
Netradyne states that the functionality of its Driveri[supreg] Dash
Cam includes the ability to capture and analyze distracted driving
events along with providing in-cab audio alerts, following distance
management, and detection of stop signs and traffic signals. Netradyne
states that the proposed exemption will increase safety by providing
these advance safety features on its customers' CMVs. Netradyne notes
that it conducted pilot tests of the devices' functionality and found
that there was no noticeable obstruction to the driver's normal
sightlines to the road ahead, highway signs and, signals, or any
mirrors.
The Driveri[supreg] Dash Cam, four-camera version housing, is
approximately 190 mm (7.4 inches) wide by 118 mm (4.6 inches) tall and
the two-camera version housing is 126 mm (4.9 inches) wide by 71 mm
(2.8 inches) tall. The devices will be mounted in the approximate
center of the top of the windshield such that the bottom edge of the
camera housing is approximately 204 mm (8 inches) below the upper edge
of the windshield wipers, outside of the driver's and passenger's
normal sight lines to the road ahead, highway signs and signals, and
all mirrors. This location will allow for optimal functionality of the
advanced safety systems supported by the device. Without the proposed
exemption, Netradyne states that its customers will not be able to
install these devices in an optimal location on the windshield to
[[Page 82576]]
maximize the effectiveness of the safety features of the technology.
The exemption would apply to all CMVs equipped with Netradyne's
Driveri[supreg] Dash Cam mounted on the windshield. Netradyne believes
that mounting the system as described will maintain a level of safety
that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety achieved
without the exemption.
Comments
FMCSA published a notice announcing receipt of the exemption
application in the Federal Register on August 20, 2020, and requested
public comment on the application (85 FR 51545).
The Agency received no comments addressing the exemption
application.
FMCSA Decision
FMCSA has evaluated the Netradyne exemption application. The
Driveri[supreg] Dash Cam, four-camera housing version, is approximately
4.6 inches tall while the two-camera housing version is 2.8 inches
tall. Both camera versions are mounted near the top of the center of
the windshield, with the bottom of the camera housing located
approximately 8 inches below the top of the area swept by the
windshield wipers. The Driveri[supreg] Dash Cam needs to be mounted in
this location for optimal functionality of the advance safety system.
The size of the Driveri[supreg] Dash Cam precludes mounting it (1)
higher in the windshield, and (2) within 4 inches from the top of the
area swept by the windshield wipers to comply with Sec.
393.60(e)(1)(ii)(A).
The Agency believes that granting the temporary exemption to allow
placement of the Driveri[supreg] Dash Cam lower than currently
permitted by Agency regulations will provide a level of safety that is
equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety achieved without
the exemption because (1) based on the technical information available,
there is no indication that the Driveri[supreg] Dash Cam would obstruct
drivers' views of the roadway, highway signs and signals surrounding
traffic; (2) generally, trucks and buses have an elevated seating
position that greatly improves the forward visual field of the driver,
and any impairment of available sight lines would be minimal; and (3)
the mounting location 8 inches below the upper edge of the windshield
and out of the driver's normal sightline will be reasonable and
enforceable at roadside. In addition, the Agency believes that use of
Driveri[supreg] Dash Cam by fleets is likely to improve the overall
level of safety for the motoring public. This action is consistent with
previous Agency action permitting the placement of similarly-sized
devices on CMVs outside the driver's sight lines to the road, and
highway signs and signals. FMCSA is not aware of any evidence showing
that installation of other vehicle safety technologies mounted on the
interior of the windshield has resulted in any degradation in safety.
James W. Deck,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2020-27967 Filed 12-17-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P
