Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Stoneridge, Inc. Application for an Exemption

Topics:  Stoneridge

Larry W. Minor
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
5 April 2018

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 66 (Thursday, April 5, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14716-14718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06964]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2018-0141]


Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Stoneridge, 
Inc. Application for an Exemption

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of application for exemption; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) 
requests public comment on an exemption application from Stoneridge, 
Inc. (Stoneridge) to allow motor carriers to operate commercial motor 
vehicles (CMVs) with the company's MirrorEyeTM Camera 
Monitor System (CMS) installed as an alternative to the two rear-vision 
mirrors required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations 
(FMCSRs). Stoneridge

[[Page 14717]]

explained that it has developed, tested and manufactured the CMS to 
improve CMV safety by providing driver with an enhanced field of view 
around the cab of the truck. The company states that its 
MirrorEyeTM CMS meets the performance requirements provided 
for conventional mirrors under the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration (NHTSA)'s standards which are cross-referenced by the 
FMCSRs. Stoneridge believes the exemption would maintain a level of 
safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety 
achieved without the exemption because CMS meets or exceeds the 
performance requirements for traditional mirrors.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 7, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments bearing the Federal Docket 
Management System (FDMS) Docket ID FMCSA-2018-0141 using any of the 
following methods:
     Website: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments on the Federal electronic docket 
site.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 
20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: Ground Floor, Room W12-140, DOT Building, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. 
e.t., Monday-Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the Agency name and 
docket number for this notice. For detailed instructions on submitting 
comments and additional information on the exemption process, see the 
``Public Participation'' heading below. Note that all comments received 
will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including 
any personal information provided. Please see the ``Privacy Act'' 
heading for further information.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov or to Room W12-140, 
DOT Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Privacy Act: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits 
comments from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT 
posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information 
the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the 
system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
www.dot.gov/privacy.
    Public participation: The http://www.regulations.gov website is 
generally available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. You may find 
electronic submission and retrieval help and guidelines under the 
``help'' section of the http://www.regulations.gov website as well as 
the DOT's http://docketsinfo.dot.gov website. If you would like 
notification that we received your comments, please include a self-
addressed, stamped envelope or postcard or print the acknowledgment 
page that appears after submitting comments online.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Luke W. Loy, Vehicle and Roadside 
Operations Division, Office of Carrier, Driver, and Vehicle Safety, MC-
PSV, (202) 366-0676, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Under Agency regulations, FMCSA must publish a notice of each 
exemption request in the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(a)). The 
Agency must provide the public with an opportunity to inspect the 
information relevant to the application, including any safety analyses 
that have been conducted. The Agency must also provide an opportunity 
for public comment on the request.
    The Agency reviews the safety analyses and the public comments and 
determines whether granting the exemption would likely achieve a level 
of safety equivalent to or greater than the level that would be 
achieved by the current regulation (49 CFR 381.305). The decision of 
the Agency must be published in the Federal Register (49 CFR 
381.315(b)). If the Agency denies the request, it must state the reason 
for doing so. If the decision is to grant the exemption, the notice 
must specify the person or class of persons receiving the exemption and 
the regulatory provision or provisions from which an exemption is 
granted. The notice must specify the effective period of the exemption 
(up to 5 years) and explain the terms and conditions of the exemption. 
The exemption may be renewed (49 CFR 381.315(c) and 49 CFR 381.300(b)).

Stoneridge Application for Exemption

    Stoneridge has applied for an exemption from 49 CFR 393.80(a) to 
allow its MirrorEyeTM CMS to be installed as an alternative 
to the two rear-vision mirrors required on CMVs. A copy of the 
application is included in the docket referenced at the beginning of 
this notice.
    Section 393.80(a) of the FMCSRs requires that each bus, truck, and 
truck-tractor be equipped with two rear-vision mirrors, one at each 
side. The mirrors must be positioned to reflect to the driver a view of 
the highway to the rear, and the area along both sides of the CMV. 
Section 393.80(a) cross-references NTHSA's standards for mirrors on 
motor vehicles (49 CFR 571.111, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 
[FMVSS] No. 111). Paragraph S7.1 of FMVSS No. 111 provides requirements 
for mirrors on multipurpose passenger vehicles and trucks with a gross 
vehicle weight rating (GVWR) greater than 4,536 kg and less than 11,340 
kg and each bus, other than a school bus, with a GVWR of more than 
4,536 kg. Paragraph S8.1 provides requirements for mirrors on 
multipurpose passenger vehicles and trucks with a GVWR of 11,340 kg or 
more.
    The MirrorEyeTM CMS consists of multiple digital cameras 
mounted on the exterior of the CMV and enclosed in an aerodynamic 
package that provides both environmental protection for the cameras and 
a mounting location for optimal visibility. Each camera has video 
processing software that presents a clear, high-definition image to the 
driver by means of a monitor mounted to each A-pillar of the CMV, i.e., 
the structural member between the windshield and door of the cab. The 
company explains that attaching the monitors to the A-pillars avoids 
the creation of incremental blind spots while eliminating the blind 
spots associated with conventional mirrors. Stoneridge states that its 
CMS meets or exceeds the visibility requirements provided in FMVSS No. 
111 based on several factors:
     Greater field of view (FOV) than conventional mirrors--
Mirrors are replaced by wide angle, narrow angle and look-down cameras 
expanding the FOV by an estimated 25%.
     Fail-safe design--The CMS has independent video processing 
of multiple camera images so that in the unlikely event of an 
individual camera failure, the other camera images continue to be 
displayed. This ensures that real-time images are continuously 
displayed without interruption.
     Augmented and enhanced vision quality--The use of high-
definition digital cameras provides for color night vision, low light 
sensitivity and trailer panning capabilities. This assists with night 
driving, operating under other low lighting conditions, and provides 
for glare reduction.

[[Page 14718]]

     Trailer panning--The CMS automatically tracks the end of 
the trailer to keep it in view while the vehicle is moving forward. 
Stoneridge believes this feature could eliminate collisions associated 
with the CMV driver making a right-hand turn, and incidents where the 
CMV strikes a pedestrian or bicyclist while making right hand turns.
    Stoneridge also believes use of its CMS may help to reduce driver 
fatigue by requiring less head movement by drivers compared to the 
number of head movement needed to use conventional mirrors. The company 
claims that use of its CMS provides improved fuel economy because the 
housing for the system is more aerodynamic than the conventional 
mirrors required by Sec.  393.80(a).
    The exemption would apply to all CMV operators driving vehicles 
with the MirrorEyeTM CMS. Stoneridge believes that mounting 
the system as described would maintain a level of safety that is 
equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety achieved without 
the exemption.

Request for Comments

    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e), FMCSA requests 
public comment from all interested persons on Stoneridge's application 
for an exemption from 49 CFR 393.80(a). All comments received before 
the close of business on the comment closing date indicated at the 
beginning of this notice will be considered and will be available for 
examination in the docket at the location listed under the ADDRESSES 
section of this notice. Comments received after the comment closing 
date will be filed in the public docket and will be considered to the 
extent practicable. In addition to late comments, FMCSA will also 
continue to file, in the public docket, relevant information that 
becomes available after the comment closing date. Interested persons 
should continue to examine the public docket for new material.

    Issued on: March 29, 2018.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2018-06964 Filed 4-4-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P