National Highway Traffic Safety Administration February 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This final rule denies most aspects of a petition for reconsideration of a February 27, 2012, final rule that expanded the applicability of the Federal motor vehicle safety standard for child restraint systems to child restraints sold for children weighing up to 36 kilograms (kg) (80 pounds (lb)). The petition stated, among other things, that a label that was required by the 2012 rule for certain child restraints was unclear and could be misunderstood. In response, NHTSA is making minor adjustments to the labeling requirement to make it clearer and more reader-friendly. For a year, manufacturers have the option of meeting the requirements of the February 27, 2012 rule or the rule as modified today. All other requests for substantive changes to the 2012 rule are denied.

NHTSA is proposing to require badges, labels and owner's manual information for new passenger cars, low speed vehicles (LSVs) and light-duty trucks rated at not more than 8,500 pounds gross vehicle weight in order to increase consumer awareness regarding the use and benefits of alternative fuels. In the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), Congress directed the Secretary of Transportation to develop and implement varied and wide-ranging consumer information and education initiatives related to fuel economy, greenhouse gas, alternative fuels and thermal management technologies. NHTSA is implementing these new information and education initiatives through several different rulemakings. This proposed rule would implement specific statutory mandates that manufacturers be required to: Identify each vehicle capable of running on an alternative fuel by means of a permanent and prominent display affixed to the exterior of the vehicle; add proposed text describing the capabilities and benefits of using alternative fuels to the owners' manuals provided for alternative fuel vehicles; and identify each vehicle that is capable of running on an alternative fuel by means of a label in the fuel filler compartment.

General Motors, LLC (GM), has determined that certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Captiva and Buick Verano passenger cars manufactured between April 6, 2011 and June 4, 2011, do not fully comply with paragraph S5.2.1 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 101, Controls and Displays and paragraph S5.5.5 of FMVSS No. 135, Light Vehicle Brake Systems. GM has filed an appropriate report dated June 13, 2012 pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports.

Through this notice, NHTSA is announcing a public meeting to bring together vehicle manufacturers and suppliers, portable and aftermarket device manufacturers, portable and aftermarket device operating system providers, cellular service providers, industry associations, ``app'' developers, researchers, and consumer groups to discuss technical issues regarding the agency's development of Phase 2 Driver Distraction Guidelines for portable and aftermarket devices.

Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatements of previously approved collections. This document describes the collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

This document publishes the final data on thefts of model year (MY) 2011 passenger motor vehicles that occurred in calendar year (CY) 2011. The 2011 final theft data shows a decrease in the vehicle theft rate experienced in CY/MY 2011 compared to CY/MY 2010. The final theft rate for MY 2011 passenger vehicles stolen in CY 2011 is 0.99 thefts per thousand vehicles, a decrease of 15.38 percent from the rate of 1.17 thefts per thousand in 2010. Publication of these data fulfills NHTSA's statutory obligation to periodically obtain accurate and timely theft data and publish the information for review and comment.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently finalizing its 2014-2018 strategic plan, and announces that it will hold a public listening session to solicit public comment on emerging or potential traffic safety problems and solutions. Public feedback will assist the agency in preparing to meet the challenges it faces in the next 5 years on improving motor vehicle and traffic safety in the United States. This notice invites comments, suggestions and recommendations from all individuals and organizations that have an interest in motor vehicle and highway safety, consumer programs (e.g., fuel economy, vehicle theft, odometer fraud, tire performance) administered by the agency, and/or other NHTSA activities. NHTSA will give a brief overview of the plan, and then interested organizations will be provided 10 minutes to present comments to the agency. Alternately, organizations and individuals may provide comments to the docket.