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

On April 23, 2012, NHTSA inadvertently republished, at 77 FR 24265, a notice that the agency had received a petition for a decision of inconsequential noncompliance from Toyota Motor Corporation, Inc., on behalf of Toyota Corporation and Toyota Manufacturing, Indiana, Inc. NHTSA has withdrawn that notice. The notice of receipt of the petition was originally published on June 16, 2011 (76 FR 35271), and the comment period closed on July 18, 2011. NHTSA will soon publish the notice of the agency's decision on the petition.

This document grants in full the petition of General Motors Corporation (GM) for an exemption of the Buick Verano vehicle line in accordance with 49 CFR part 543, Exemption from the 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 the Theft Prevention Standard (49 CFR part 541).

On February 24, 2012, NHTSA published proposed voluntary NHTSA Driver Distraction Guidelines for in-vehicle electronic devices. The agency provided a 60-day comment period. We received a petition from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers requesting an extension of the comment period. The petitioner argued that additional time was needed to review information that was not placed in the docket when the proposed NHTSA Guidelines were published. After considering the petition, we are extending the comment period by 24 days, from April 24, 2012, to May 18, 2012.

This document announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that left-hand drive (LHD) 2006 Land Rover Range Rover multi-purpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) manufactured prior to September 1, 2006 for sale in the United Kingdom and other foreign markets 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 are substantially similar to vehicles that were originally manufactured for sale in the United States and that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety standards (the U.S.-certified version of the 2006 Land Rover Range Rover MPV) and they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

This notice announces publication by NHTSA of the annual insurer report on motor vehicle theft for the 2006 reporting year. Section 33112(h) of Title 49 of the U.S. Code, requires this information to be compiled periodically and published by the agency in a form that will be helpful to the public, the law enforcement community and Congress. As required by section 33112(c), this report provides information on theft and recovery of vehicles; rating rules and plans used by motor vehicle insurers to reduce premiums due to a reduction in motor vehicle thefts; and actions taken by insurers to assist in deterring thefts.

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 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 20, 2011 (Federal Register/Vol. 76, No. 182/pp. 58341-58342).

Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc., on behalf of Hyundai Motor Company (collectively referred to as ``Hyundai'') \1\ has determined that certain model year 2011 and 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid passenger cars, do not fully comply with paragraph S4.1.5.5.2 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, Occupant Crash Protection. Hyundai has filed an appropriate report dated March 8, 2012, pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports.

On December 22, 1995, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) granted in full, Porsche Cars North America, Inc.'s (Porsche) petition for an exemption in accordance with Sec. 543.9(c)(2) of 49 CFR part 543, Exemption from the Theft Prevention Standard for the Porsche Boxster vehicle line, beginning with model year (MY) 1997. On February 1, 2012, Porsche submitted a petition to modify its previously approved exemption for the Porsche Boxster vehicle line and notified the agency that all new successor models within the Boxster line will be installed with the proposed antitheft device beginning with MY 2013. NHTSA is granting Porsche's petition to modify the exemption in full, because it has determined that the modified device is also likely to be as effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as compliance with the parts-marking requirements of the Theft Prevention Standard.

This document adopts amendments to the Federal motor vehicle safety standards on platform lift systems for motor vehicles. The purpose of these standards is to prevent injuries and fatalities during lift operation. NHTSA believes it is necessary to revise the lighting requirements for lift controls; the location requirements, performance requirements, and test specifications for threshold warning signals; the wheelchair retention device and inner roll stop tests; and the lighting requirements for public use lifts. This notice also discusses a November 3, 2005 interpretation clarifying specific procedures that are performed as part of the threshold warning signal test.

Michelin North America, Inc.\1\ (MNA) has determined that certain Michelin brand passenger car replacement tires, do not fully comply with paragraph S5.5 \2\ of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 139, New pneumatic radial tires for light vehicles. MNA has filed an appropriate report pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports (dated June 2, 2011).

This document grants in full the Mitsubishi Motors R&D of America, Inc.'s (Mitsubishi) petition for exemption of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV vehicle line in accordance with 49 CFR part 543, Exemption From the 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 the 49 CFR part 541, Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard. Mitsubishi requested confidential treatment for specific information in its petition. The agency addressed Mitsubishi's request for confidential treatment by letter dated February 14, 2012.

North American Trucks (NAT) on behalf of Volvo Trucks North America (VTN) and Mack Trucks, Inc. (MTI) \1\ has determined that certain 2008 through 2010 Volvo VHD model, 2008 and 2009 Volvo VHL model, 2008 and 2009 Volvo VNL model, 2008 Volvo VT model, and 2008 through 2010 Mack CHU, CXU and GU model trucks that were built with certain Meritor WABCO Vehicle Control Systems (Meritor WABCO) ABS Modulator valves fail to meet the requirements of paragraph S5.3.4.1(a) of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 121, Air Brake Systems. VTN and MTI filed appropriate reports pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports; the original submissions were dated April 30, 2010, and corrected versions were dated May 28, 2010.

This NPRM proposes to amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 210, ``Seat belt assembly anchorages,'' to specify a new force application device for use as a testing interface to transfer loads onto the seat belt anchorage system during compliance tests of anchorage strength. The device represents a human torso and pelvis. The new device comes in two sizes, one representative of a mid-size adult male, and the other of a small occupant. We propose both sizes be used in FMVSS No. 210. We believe that the devices provide a consistent test configuration and load path to the seat belt assembly anchorages. We are proposing this amendment because the devices are significantly easier to use than the current body blocks.

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.

This document announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that right-hand drive (RHD) 2000-2003 Jeep Wrangler multi-purpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) 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.

This document grants in full Nissan North America, Inc.'s (Nissan) petition for exemption of the Juke 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 the Theft Prevention Standard (49 CFR part 541). Nissan requested confidential treatment of specific information in its petition by letter dated November 29, 2011. The agency addressed Nissan's request for confidential treatment by letter dated December 29, 2011.

Graco Children's Products Inc. (Graco), has determined that certain warning labels attached to detachable accessory pillows that it sold with MyRide\TM\ 65 line child restraint systems produced between April, 2009, and October, 2009, failed to meet the flammability requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) No. 213 \1\. Graco estimates that about 90,000 child restraint systems may be affected. Graco filed an appropriate report pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573 Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports on November 13, 2009.

NHTSA is soliciting applications for appointment or reappointment to DOT's NEMSAC. The purpose of NEMSAC is to serve as a nationally recognized council of emergency medical services (EMS) representatives and consumers to provide advice and recommendations regarding EMS to DOT and its modal administration, NHTSA, and through NHTSA to the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS (FICEMS).

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 extension, reinstatement and consolidation of previously approved collections. This document describes a new collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval concerning recommendations from vehicle manufacturers regarding child restraint systems (CRS) that fit in their individual vehicles. Furthermore, NHTSA plans to combine the new information collection with an existing collection for obtaining vehicle information for consumer information purposes (OMB Control number 2127-0629).

This final rule establishes regulations setting forth specifications and qualification requirements for a Hybrid III 10-year- old size child test dummy (HIII-10C). In a companion document published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, NHTSA is adopting use of the dummy to test child restraints recommended for children weighing more than 65 pounds (lb) for compliance with the Federal motor vehicle safety standard for child restraint systems. The HIII-10C dummy enables NHTSA to assess the performance of child restraint systems in restraining children in the 8- to 12-year-old age range.

Yokohama Tire Corporation, (YTC),\1\ replacement tires for passenger cars, manufactured between December 2, 2007, and September 19, 2009, failed to comply with paragraph S5.5.1(b) of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 139, New Pneumatic Radial Tires for Light Vehicles. YTC has filed an appropriate report pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports (dated January 19, 2010).

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is concerned about the effects of distraction due to drivers' use of electronic devices on motor vehicle safety. Consequently, NHTSA is issuing nonbinding, voluntary NHTSA Driver Distraction Guidelines (NHTSA Guidelines) to promote safety by discouraging the introduction of excessively distracting devices in vehicles. This notice details the contents of the first phase of the NHTSA Driver Distraction Guidelines. These NHTSA Guidelines cover original equipment in-vehicle device secondary tasks (communications, entertainment, information gathering, and navigation tasks not required to drive are considered secondary tasks) performed by the driver through visual-manual means (meaning the driver looking at a device, manipulating a device-related control with the driver's hand, and watching for visual feedback). The proposed NHTSA Guidelines list certain secondary, non-driving related tasks that, based on NHTSA's research, are believed by the agency to interfere inherently with a driver's ability to safely control the vehicle. The Guidelines recommend that those in-vehicle devices be designed so that they cannot be used by the driver to perform such tasks while the driver is driving. For all other secondary, non-driving-related visual-manual tasks, the NHTSA Guidelines specify a test method for measuring the impact of task performance on driving safety while driving and time-based acceptance criteria for assessing whether a task interferes too much with driver attention to be suitable to perform while driving. If a task does not meet the acceptance criteria, the NHTSA Guidelines recommend that in- vehicle devices be designed so that the task cannot be performed by the driver while driving. In addition to identifying inherently distracting tasks and providing a means for measuring and evaluating the level of distraction associated with other non-driving-related tasks, the NHTSA Guidelines contain several design recommendations for in-vehicle devices in order to minimize their potential for distraction. NHTSA seeks comments on these NHTSA Guidelines and any suggestions for how to improve them so as to better enhance motor vehicle safety.

Utilimaster Corporation (Utilimaster) \1\ has determined that certain model year 2009-2011 Utilimaster walk-in van-type trucks manufactured between September 1, 2009, and December 22, 2011, do not fully comply with paragraph S4.2.1 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 206, Door Locks and Door Retention Components. Utilimaster has filed an appropriate report dated December 30, 2011, pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports.

The NHTSA announces a meeting of NEMSAC to be held in the Metropolitan Washington, DC area. This notice announces the date, time, and location of the meeting, which will be open to the public. This meeting will include a special roundtable event, hosted by the NEMSAC, regarding the EMS Education Agenda for the Future. The purpose of NEMSAC is to provide a nationally recognized council of emergency medical services (EMS) representatives and consumers to provide advice and recommendations regarding EMS to DOT's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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 an existing collection of information for motor vehicle tire and rim labeling requirements for which NHTSA intends to seek renewed OMB approval. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period was published on December 1, 2011 (76 FR 74846).