National Highway Traffic Safety Administration September 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NHTSA is issuing this final rule to amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 305, ``Electric-powered vehicles: Electrolyte spillage and electrical shock protection,'' to adopt various electrical safety requirements found in Global Technical Regulation (GTR) No. 13, ``Hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles,'' and other sources. This final rule updates FMVSS No. 305 using modern and harmonized safety requirements and facilitates the introduction of new technologies, including hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) and 48-volt mild hybrid technologies. This final rule is a deregulatory action. It imposes no costs and adjusts FMVSS No. 305 to give more flexibility to manufacturers not only to use modern electrical safety designs to produce electric vehicles, but also to introduce new technologies to the U.S. market. To expand FMVSS No. 305's performance requirements beyond post-crash conditions, NHTSA adopts electrical safety requirements to protect against direct and indirect contact of high voltage sources during everyday operation of electric-powered vehicles. Also, NHTSA adopts an optional method of meeting post-crash electrical safety requirements, consistent with that in GTR No. 13, involving use of physical barriers to prevent direct or indirect contact (by occupants, emergency services personnel and others) with high voltage sources.

This action proposes revised implementing regulations for the 911 Grant Program, as a result of the enactment of the Next Generation 911 (NG911) Advancement Act of 2012. The 911 Grant Program provides grants to improve 911 services, E-911 services, and NG911 services and applications. NTIA and NHTSA (the Agencies) request comments on this proposed rule.

NHTSA is releasing new voluntary guidance on automated driving systemsAutomated Driving Systems: A Vision for Safety. The new voluntary guidance is based on public comments received on the Federal Automated Vehicles Policy (FAVP) released in September 2016. The purpose of this new voluntary guidance is to support industry innovators, States and other key stakeholders as they consider and design best practices relative to the testing and deployment of automated vehicle technologies, while informing and educating the public and improving roadway safety. NHTSA invites public comment on the voluntary guidance and additional ways to improve its usefulness. This new voluntary guidance is an important part of DOT's multi- modal efforts to support the introduction of automation technologies that hold the promise of fulfilling NHTSA's mission of reducing the number of injuries and fatalities on our roads. As an update to the FAVP this new voluntary guidance serves as NHTSA's current operating guidance for Automated Driving Systems (ADSsSAE International Automation Levels 3-5). NHTSA intends to continue to revise and refine the guidance periodically to reflect continued public input, experience, research, and innovation, and will address significant comments in preparing future iterations of the guidance. This guidance supports that effort.

On January 3, 2017, TK Holdings Inc. (Takata) filed a defect information report (DIR), in which it determined that a defect existed in certain passenger-side air bag inflators that it manufactured, including passenger inflators that it supplied to General Motors, LLC (GM) for use in certain GMT900 vehicles. GM has petitioned the Agency for a decision that, because of differences in inflator design and vehicle integration, the equipment defect determined to exist by Takata is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety in the GMT900 vehicles, and that GM should therefore be relieved of its notification and remedy obligations.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) renewed approval for an existing information collection. The collection involves labeling information from manufacturers of brake hoses, end fittings, and brake hose assemblies. The information to be collected will be used to and/or is necessary to satisfy the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 106, Brake Hoses. Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatement of previously approved collections.

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 reinstatement of previously approved collections. This document describes one collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

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 reinstatement of previously approved collections. This document describes one collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden.

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (JLR), on behalf of Jaguar Land Rover Limited, has determined that certain model year (MY) 2012-2018 Jaguar motor vehicles do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, Light Vehicle Brake Systems. JLR filed a noncompliance report dated June 22, 2017. JLR also petitioned NHTSA on July 20, 2017, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety.