National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – 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.

This NPRM proposes to amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 213, ``Child restraint systems,'' to adopt side impact performance requirements for all child restraint systems designed to seat children in a weight range that includes weights up to 18 kilograms (kg) (40 pounds (lb)). NHTSA is issuing this NPRM to ensure that child restraints provide a minimum level of protection in side impacts by effectively restraining the child, preventing harmful head contact with an intruding vehicle door or child restraint structure, and by attenuating crash forces to the child's head and chest. This NPRM is also issued toward fulfillment of a statutory mandate set forth in the ``Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act'' (July 6, 2012), directing the Secretary of Transportation to issue a final rule amending FMVSS No. 213 to improve the protection of children seated in child restraint systems during side impacts.

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.

General Motors, LLC (GM) has determined that certain model year (MY) 2011, 2012 and 2013 Chevrolet Volt passenger cars sold with windshield sunshades as a ``Limited Personalization Option,'' do not fully comply with paragraph S4.3 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. FMVSS 302, Flammability of Interior Materials. GM has filed an appropriate report dated August 27, 2013, pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports.

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 extension of 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 a renewal of existing information collections for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

This document announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 2006-2013 Honda NT700V (Deauville) motorcycles that were not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) are eligible for importation into the United States because they have safety features that comply with, or are capable of being altered to comply with, all such standards.

The U.S.-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC) was created on February 4, 2011. After private sector consultations and bilateral negotiations, the RCC released the Joint Action Plan on Regulatory Cooperation on December 7, 2011. The Joint Action Plan is a practical first step to increased regulatory cooperation between the United States and Canada. In order to implement the initiatives identified in the Joint Action Plan, bilateral working groups led by senior officials from regulatory agencies have developed work plans with concrete objectives, deliverables and milestones for tangible progress within the RCC's two- year mandate. This notice announces a public meeting of the RCC Motor Vehicles Working Group.

This notice announces NHTSA's publication of a technical report evaluating the effectiveness of pretensioners and load limiters for seat belts in the front seats of passenger cars and LTVs. The report's title is: Effectiveness of Pretensioners and Load Limiters for Enhancing Fatality Reduction by Seat Belts.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), 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. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting public comments on the following information collection was published on September 5, 2013 (FR/Vol. 78, No. 172/pp. 54727-54729).

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 grants in full General Motors Corporation's (GM) petition for an exemption of the Cadillac SRX vehicle line in accordance with 49 CFR part 543, Exemption from Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard. This petition is granted because the agency has determined that the antitheft device to be placed on the line as standard equipment is likely to be as effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as compliance with the parts-marking requirements of 49 CFR Part 541, Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard (Theft Prevention Standard).

BMW North America, LLC,\1\ a subsidiary of BMW AG (collectively referred to as BMW),\2\ has determined that certain model year (MY) 2012 BMW X3 SAV multipurpose passenger vehicles (MPV) manufactured between April 1, 2011 and March 14, 2012, do not fully comply with paragraph S4.3.3 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 110, Tire selection and rims and motor home/recreation vehicle trailer load carrying capacity information for motor vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less. BMW has filed an appropriate report dated March 28, 2012, pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports.

This document announces decisions by NHTSA that certain motor vehicles not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) are eligible for importation into the United States because they are substantially similar to vehicles originally manufactured for sale in the United States and certified by their manufacturers as complying with the safety standards, and they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards or because they have safety features that comply with, or are capable of being altered to comply with, all applicable FMVSS.

Morgan 3 Wheeler Limited \1\ (Morgan) has determined that certain model year (MY) 2012 and 2013 Morgan model M3W three-wheeled motorcycles do not fully comply with either paragraph S7.9.6.2(b) or paragraph S10.7.1.2.2 (depending on the vehicles date of manufacture) of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment. Morgan has filed an appropriate report dated August 6, 2013, pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports.

This document proposes to clarify NHTSA regulations on registered importers (``RIs'') of motor vehicles not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards. The proposal would require RIs to certify to NHTSA, as appropriate, that an imported vehicle either is not required to comply with the parts marking requirements of the Theft Prevention Standard or that the vehicle complies with those requirements as manufactured, or as modified prior to importation. The proposal would replace text that was inadvertently omitted when the regulations were last revised.

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 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collections and their expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on September 16, 2013 [Volume 78, No. 179, Page 57000].

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is seeking comment on the most useful data, format and method for reporting simple and understandable motor vehicle damage susceptibility information to consumers. NHTSA plans to use this information to meet a requirement by Congress that it study and report its findings, including the possibility that no damage susceptibility data is useful to consumers or that no useful format or method exists for reporting damage susceptibility information to consumers.