National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides notice to the public that the Conforming Products List (CPL) maintained and updated by NHTSA for Down The Road (DTR) radar speed measuring devices will be discontinued. A new industry-based product Verification Program has been developed to confirm that DTR radar speed measuring devices conform to certain minimum specifications. The new industry-based product Verification Program will provide manufacturers the flexibility to confirm conformance with any testing entity as long as the entity can fulfill the requirements for testing and verifying device compliance with the established performance specifications, testing protocols and laboratory accreditation requirements of the industry-based Verification Program. To afford manufacturers time to transition to the new program, NHTSA will maintain the CPL for one year after the date of this notice. Under the new Verification Program, a DTR radar speed measuring device manufacturer can use an accredited testing entity to verify that its speed measuring device conforms to an established performance standard and will be placed on a verified products list maintained by the Verification Program. Please refer to the NIST website for a list of available Verification Programs: https://www.nist.gov/mml/mmsd/ security-technologies-group/down-road-dtr-radar. The new Verification Program will provide manufacturers with a proven method of demonstrating compliance to the minimum performance specifications, will empower end-users to make better purchasing decisions, and benefit manufacturers as products can quickly gain market acceptance. Accordingly, as of the date of this publication, NHTSA will no longer perform CPL processing under the Interim Administrative Guide for the Traffic Enforcement Technologies Program.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new information collection. Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from 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 a collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval for a National Roadside Survey (NRS) of alcohol and other drug prevalence among drivers and other road users (ORUs; e.g., pedestrians, bicyclists, electric scooter riders, and those with mobility aids. NHTSA will conduct two studies. Study 1 will focus on drivers but include convenience sampling of ORUs passing by the driver data collection locations. Study 2 is a pilot test assessing the feasibility of an NRS specific to ORUs. Both will collect breath and oral fluid specimens, demographic information, and self-report questionnaire data on roads across the country. Participation will be voluntary and anonymous.

HOLON and HOLON U.S. Inc have petitioned NHTSA for a temporary exemption from certain requirements in seven Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) for its "automated electric bus," which is a vehicle equipped with an Automated Driving System (ADS). Specifically, HOLON seeks exemption from portions of FMVSS No. 101, Controls and displays; FMVSS No. 102, Transmission shift position sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect; FMVSS No. 104, Windshield wiping and washing systems; FMVSS No. 105, Windshield wiping and washing systems; FMVSS No. 108, Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment; FMVSS No. 111, Rear visibility; and FMVSS No. 208, Occupant crash protection. NHTSA is publishing this document in accordance with statutory and administrative provisions and seeks comment on the merits of HOLON's exemption petition and on potential terms and conditions that should be applied to a temporary exemption if granted. After receiving and considering public comments, NHTSA will assess the merits of the petition and will publish a notice in the Federal Register notice setting forth NHTSA's reasoning for either granting or denying the petition.

Legacy Limousines and Luxury Coaches has petitioned NHTSA for a temporary exemption from the requirement to install Type 2 seat belts (i.e., shoulder belts) at side-facing locations in the company's motorcoaches. The petitioner is a final-stage manufacturer of entertainer-type motorcoaches, seeking temporary exemption from the shoulder belt requirement of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, "Occupant crash protection," for side-facing seats on motorcoaches. The petitioner seeks to install Type 1 seat belts (lap belt only) at side-facing seating positions, instead of the Type 2 seat belts (lap and shoulder belts) required by FMVSS No. 208. The petitioner states that, absent the requested exemption, it will otherwise be unable to sell a vehicle whose overall level of safety or impact protection is at least equal to that of a nonexempted vehicle. NHTSA is publishing this document to notify the public of the receipt of the petition and to request comment on it, in accordance with statutory and administrative provisions.

NHTSA seeks public comment on draft test procedure (TP) number TP-523-00, which is intended to assess vehicles for compliance with certain off-road capabilities requirements for vehicle classification within the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program. This TP is prepared for the limited purpose of use by contracted independent laboratories conducting tests for NHTSA. The TP presents guidelines for a uniform testing and data recording format. TPs are not rules, regulations, or agency interpretations. NHTSA will host a demonstration of TP-523-00 to show how NHTSA intends to test vehicles to determine compliance with its regulations on vehicle classification.

This notice announces a meeting of the National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (NEMSAC).

This notice requests information from interested parties to assist the agency in researching property damage only (PDO) crash data collection practices across the United States. State statutes dictate that law enforcement should complete a crash report for PDO crashes meeting a set of criteria including when damage is above a certain dollar threshold that varies by State. When a crash is below the reportable threshold, States may allow civilians to complete a crash report designed specifically for them. In some cases, jurisdictions within States have stopped collecting PDO crashes in an effort to save officer time and/or money. Other jurisdictions have stopped sending sworn officers to respond to PDO crashes. However, the impacts of these changes on crash data collection are not well documented or understood. NHTSA is seeking to identify States and jurisdictions that have modified their PDO crash reporting threshold or are using citizen or non-sworn officers to report PDO crashes, and to determine the impacts of these practices on crash data analyses and agencies' budgets and time. NHTSA seeks comments from all interested parties, including State crash data owners, highway safety offices, law enforcement, and other stakeholders to help inform NHTSA's research into State PDO crash data collection practices.

This final rule responds to petitions for reconsideration of the June 2022 final rule establishing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 213a and the December 2023 final rule establishing FMVSS No. 213b. This final rule grants petitions to incorporate a dummy positioning procedure for shield-type child restraint systems (CRSs), clarify test procedure for CRSs with certain types of side impact technologies, remove testing CRSs installed with lap belt only in frontal sled tests, and correct inconsistencies in the regulatory text and figures in FMVSS Nos. 213a and 213b. This final rule also partially grants the petition to align compliance dates between the standards. All other requests are denied.

NHTSA invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new information collection. Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from 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 a collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval on a new information collection to research limousine crash safety.

Michelin North America, LLC (MNA), has determined that certain Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 replacement passenger car tires do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 139, New Pneumatic Radial Tires for Light Vehicles. MNA filed a noncompliance report dated September 14, 2021. MNA subsequently petitioned NHTSA on September 30, 2021, and later supplemented the petition on September 30, 2022, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces the grant of MNA's petition.

Tesla, Inc. ("Tesla") has determined that certain model year (MY) 2012-2023 Model S, MY 2016-2024 Model X, MY 2017-2023 Model 3, MY 2019-2024 Model Y, and MY 2024 Cybertruck Tesla vehicles do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 105, Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems, and FMVSS No. 135, Light Vehicle Brake Systems. Tesla filed a noncompliance report dated January 30, 2024, and subsequently petitioned NHTSA (the "Agency") on February 23, 2024, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of Tesla's petition.

NHTSA invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an extension without change of a currently approved information collection. Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from 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 a collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval on the reporting of information and documents about potential safety defects.

This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposes amendments to the requirements and processes for individuals to request that the agency permit them to have an air bag on-off switch installed in their vehicle. The proposed amendments would eliminate the sunset date, and would also narrow the population of people eligible to have an on-off switch installed. Furthermore, the agency also proposes amendments to several appendices, and proposes the addition of a new appendix. Lastly, this NPRM proposes that NHTSA codify its process for reviewing requests for air bag deactivations, which are currently granted or denied through the agency's enforcement discretion. In this document, NHTSA solicits feedback from the public to better inform the agency's decision-making on the proposed amendments.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) has determined that certain model year (MY) 2019-2024 Volkswagen and Audi motor vehicles do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, Occupant Crash Protection. Volkswagen filed a noncompliance report dated April 10, 2024, and subsequently petitioned NHTSA (the "Agency") on May 3, 2024, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of Volkswagen's petition.

This notice sets forth the reasons for the denial of a defect petition (DP22-003) jointly submitted by a consulting firm and four automotive associations requesting that the Agency initiate a safety defect investigation into the loss of motive power incidents attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005- 2021. After conducting a technical review of the petition and other information, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has concluded that the issues raised by the petition do not warrant a defect investigation at this time. Accordingly, the Agency has denied the petition.

NHTSA invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new information collection. Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from 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 a collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval titled "Examining the Effectiveness of Lateral Control Warnings (ADAS) for Improving Driver Response".

On August 7, 2024, NHTSA received a request to extend the period during which manufacturers and any interested person may submit written information in response to the agency's Supplemental Initial Decision published in the Federal Register on August 5, 2024. The original written submission deadline was September 4, 2024. NHTSA is extending the deadline to October 4, 2024.

Polaris Industries Inc. (Polaris) and Indian Motorcycle Company have determined that windscreens installed on certain model year (MY) 2015-2021 Slingshot three-wheeled motorcycles and MY 2019- 2022 Indian motorcycles do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 205, Glazing Materials and ANSI/SAE Z26.1- 1996. On September 29, 2021, Polaris and Indian Motorcycle Company each filed a noncompliance report. Polaris subsequently amended its noncompliance report on October 27, 2021, and on August 23, 2022. On October 29, 2021, Polaris (the parent company of Indian Motorcycle) petitioned NHTSA, on behalf of both companies, regarding the two noncompliance reports for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of Polaris' two petitions.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will hold a public meeting from October 28 to October 30, 2024, as a joint effort between the Agency's Vehicle Safety Research and Behavioral Safety Research offices to share information on activities within the Agency's research programs. The meeting will be held in a virtual format with representatives from across the two research offices presenting the information in panels. Questions from the audience will be addressed following presentations. Each presentation will include visual slides that will be available in a public docket after the public meeting. A recording of the panels will also be available on the NHTSA website.

This document denies a February 12, 2019 petition for rulemaking submitted by Mr. Stevan Panin ("petitioner") requesting that NHTSA amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 104 or create a new FMVSS to require the year-round use of a standardized winter specification windshield washer fluid to prevent accidents allegedly caused by obstructed visibility from frozen windshield washer fluid. NHTSA is denying this petition for rulemaking because the agency does not believe the petitioner has demonstrated there is an unmet safety need related to windshield washer fluid, or that a mandated standardized winter-specification windshield washer fluid would effectively decrease or prevent crashes and injuries or fatalities.

Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas, Inc. (Toyo Tire) has determined that certain Proxes ST III passenger tires do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 139, New Pneumatic Radial Tires for Light Vehicles. Toyo Tire filed a noncompliance report dated July 19, 2023, and subsequently petitioned NHTSA (the "Agency") on August 17, 2023, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of Toyo Tire's petition.

Ricon Corporation (Ricon), determined that certain Mirage, S- Series, and K-Series wheelchair lifts do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 403, Platform Lift Systems for Motor Vehicles. Because of Ricon's determination, various vehicle manufacturers who installed the S-Series, and K-Series wheelchair lifts in their motor vehicles determined that their motor vehicles do not comply with FMVSS No. 404, Platform Lift Installation in Motor Vehicles. Ricon and the various vehicle manufacturers, collectively referred to as the "the petitioners," filed the appropriate noncompliance reports and subsequently petitioned NHTSA for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces the grant of the petitioners' petitions.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposes to conduct a new information collection, the National Traffic Safety Survey, a national probability sample of approximately 6,001 adults aged 18 and older per survey administration. This information will be used to better understand the public's behavior and attitudes regarding traffic safety issues including seat belts, distracted driving, new and emerging vehicle technologies, and traffic safety and enforcement. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on May 17, 2024. NHTSA received one comment in support of the proposed information collection.

Hercules Tire & Rubber Company, (Hercules), has determined that certain Ironman iMove PT radial tires do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 139, New Pneumatic Radial Tires for Light Vehicles. Hercules filed an original noncompliance report on October 26, 2022, and amended the report on November 28, 2022. Hercules subsequently petitioned NHTSA on October 27, 2022, and amended its petition on December 1, 2022, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of Hercules' petition.

AROW Global Corp. (AROW) has determined that certain glass panes for use as original equipment and replacement service parts of side window assemblies on transit buses do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 205, Glazing Materials. AROW filed a noncompliance report dated September 19, 2022, and later amended the report on September 20, 2022. AROW subsequently petitioned NHTSA (the "Agency") on October 12, 2022, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of AROW's petition.