Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Head Impact Protection |
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Topics: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
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Ricardo Martinez
2 January 1998
[Federal Register: 2 January 1998 (Volume 63, Number 1)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 27-28]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02ja98-9]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
49 CFR Part 571
[Docket No. NHTSA-97-3145]
RIN No. 2127-AB85
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Head Impact Protection
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Correcting amendments.
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SUMMARY: On April 8, 1997, (62 FR 16718) NHTSA published a final rule
amending Standard No. 201, ``Occupant Protection in Interior Impact,''
to include another phase-in option, allow manufacturers to carry
forward credits for vehicles certified to the free-motion headform
impact requirements prior to the beginning of the phase-in period,
exclude buses with a GVWR of more than 3,860 kilograms (8,500 pounds),
specify that all attachments to the vehicle upper interior components
are to remain in place during compliance testing, and make other
changes to the test procedure to clarify some areas of confusion. This
document corrects minor errors in S2 and S8.12(a)(1) of Standard No.
201 (49 CFR 571.201).
DATES: The amendments are effective on 2 January 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The following persons at the NHTSA,
400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590.
For non-legal issues: Dr. William Fan, Office of Crashworthiness,
NPS-11, telephone (202) 366-4922, facsimile (202) 366-4329, electronic
mail ``bfan@nhtsa.dot.gov''.
For legal issues: Steve Wood, Office of the Chief Counsel, NCC-20,
telephone (202) 366-2992, facsimile (202) 366-3820, electronic mail
``swood@nhtsa.dot.gov''.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 201 ``Occupant Protection
in Interior Impact,'' is intended to reduce deaths and injuries
resulting from occupant impacts with vehicle interiors. On April 8,
1997, NHTSA published a final rule (62 FR 16718) amending Standard No.
201 to (1) include another phase-in option, (2) allow manufacturers to
carry forward credits for vehicles certified to the free-motion
headform impact requirements prior to the beginning of the phase-in
[[Page 28]]
period, (3) exclude buses with a GVWR of more than 3,860 kilograms
(8,500 pounds), (4) specify that all attachments to the vehicle upper
interior components are to remain in place during compliance testing,
and (5) make other changes to the test procedure to clarify some areas
of confusion. This rule corrects minor errors in the previous final
rule.
Since the publication of the April 1997 final rule, NHTSA received
two petitions for reconsideration from: (1) The American Automobile
Manufacturers Association (AAMA) and (2) ASC, Incorporated. NHTSA will
respond to those petitions through a notice to be published in the
Federal Register later this year.
II. Summary of the Corrections
NHTSA has discovered a few discrepancies between the preamble and
the regulatory text of the April 1997 final rule that require
corrections. NHTSA is making those corrections through this notice.
The corrections are not substantive. The first correction is in the
wording of 49 CFR 571.201, S2. ``Application'' to make the section to
be consistent with the statement in the preamble of the final rule. It
is clearly stated in the preamble that requirements of S6 do not apply
to buses with a GVWR of more than 3,860 kilograms (8,500 pounds). The
regulatory text incorrectly indicates, however, that the requirements
of S6 do not apply to buses with a GVWR of 3,860 kilograms (8,500
pounds) or less. As indicated by the preamble, NHTSA intended that
buses with a GVWR greater than 3,860 kilograms (8,500 pounds) be
excluded from the requirements of S6. The second correction amends 49
CFR 571.201, S8.12(a)(1) to clarify the location of the rearmost head
center of gravity for the front outboard seating position (CG-F2) and
make the regulatory text consistent with the definition of the seating
reference point. As published, S8.12(a)(1) called for locating the head
center of gravity with the seat in its rearmost adjustment position.
NHTSA notes that a seat may be capable of adjustment to positions both
forward and rearward of the normal design positions used for driving or
riding. The agency did not intend that an extreme rearward adjustment,
which is outside the range of adjustment for normal use by drivers or
passengers, be used for locating the head center of gravity.
Accordingly, S8.12(a)(1) is being corrected so that location of the
head center of gravity may be based on the seat being adjusted to its
rearmost normal design position.
As stated above, these amendments are effective upon publication of
this notice. These amendments are merely technical corrections of the
final rule that was published on April 8, 1997. They impose no new
substantive requirements. Therefore, NHTSA finds for good cause that
any notice of proposed rulemaking and opportunity for comment on these
amendments are not necessary. Because of the non-substantive nature of
the amendments, NHTSA also finds for good cause that making the rule
effective upon publication is in the public interest.
List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 571
Imports, Incorporation by reference, Motor vehicle safety, Motor
vehicles.
Accordingly, 49 CFR Part 571 is corrected by making the following
correcting amendments:
PART 571--[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 571 of title 49 continues to
read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115, 30117, and 30166;
delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.
2. S2 and S8.12(a)(1) of 49 CFR 571.201 are corrected to read as
follows:
Sec. 571.201 Standard No. 201; Occupant protection in interior impact.
* * * * *
S2. Application. This standard applies to passenger cars and to
multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses with a GVWR of 4,536
kilograms or less, except that the requirements of S6 do not apply to
buses with a GVWR of more than 3,860 kilograms.
* * * * *
S8.12 * * *
(a) * * *
(1) Location of rearmost CG-F (CG-F2). For front outboard
designated seating positions, the head center of gravity with the seat
in its rearmost normal design driving or riding position (CG-F2) is
located 160 mm rearward and 660 mm upward from the seating reference
point.
* * * * *
Issued on December 4, 1997.
Ricardo Martinez,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-34052 Filed 12-31-97; 8:45 am]
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