Transportation Secretary Slater Announces Proposed Rules for Modifying Vehicles For People with Disabilities |
|---|
Topics: Rodney E. Slater
|
NHTSA
September 22, 1998
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHTSA 64-98
September 22, 1998
Contact: Tim Hurd
Tel. No. (202) 366-9550
To promote safety and preserve the mobility of people with disabilities, U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater today announced proposed modification rules for cars, trucks and vans that are altered to meet the needs of the physically disabled.
"Our transportation system for the 21st century must be inclusive in service," Secretary Slater said. "This proposal balances the safety and mobility goals for people with disabilities."
Today's proposal by the department's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) identifies features that can be altered, if needed, when vehicles are modified for people with disabilities. These features were chosen after carefully balancing their safety significance against the types of modifications needed to allow persons with disabilities to use the motor vehicles.
"For most of us, mobility is a given," said NHTSA Administrator Ricardo Martinez, M.D. "These proposed vehicle modification rules will ensure all Americans enjoy the same mobility."
The following are examples of exemptions from standards that would be allowed:
* Some occupant crash protection requirements if other seat belt and anchorage requirements are met.
* The dynamic test requirement for side impact protection, in cases where the seat belt position must be changed.
* Steering control rearward displacement, in cases where the modification requires a structural change to or removal of the original steering shaft.
Federal law currently prohibits businesses from removing or altering any original equipment that was installed in vehicles by the manufacturer to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. According to NHTSA, this prohibition sometimes interferes with the appropriate modification of vehicles for people with disabilities.
NHTSA estimates that there are about 383,000 vehicles on the road today that are modified for use by people with disabilities. That number is expected to increase as the population ages and as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) increases travel and employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
This is the latest in a series of initiatives by the department to accommodate the needs of disabled Americans. Other steps include:
* Federal Transit Administration grants to help purchase accessible buses, rail cars and vans and a requirement that all new and used public buses be wheelchair accessible by the year 2003.
* Federal Aviation Administration requirements that airport operators make facilities accessible.
* Amtrak currently has many intercity stations in compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements and all others must comply by 2010. Now, one car per train meets ADA standards but all new Amtrak passenger rail cars will meet requirements for accessibility.
Public comments are sought for the proposed rule for the next 90 days. Comments should refer to Docket Number 98-4332 and be submitted in duplicate to Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 7th Street, S.W., Room 5219, Washington, D.C. 20590.
###