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

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. This ICR is a new information collection by NHTSA for the purpose of researching limousine crash safety. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the information collection was published on October 7, 2024. One comment was received expressing support; thus, there are no changes to the planned collection from that proposed in the previous notice.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for extension with modification of a currently approved information collection. Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from 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 collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval on NHTSA's Investigation-Based Crash Data Studies: Crash Investigation Sampling System (CISS), Special Crash Investigation (SCI) and Special Study Data Collection.

The NHTSA invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an extension of a currently-approved information collection. Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from OMB. Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) 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 collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval on the National Survey of the Use of Booster Seats (NSUBS).

The Department of Transportation (DOT) invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an extension of a currently approved information collection. 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 and reinstatement of previously approved collections. This document describes a collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval titled "National Driver Register (NDR)."

This notice announces that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will not enforce the requirements of the final rule titled "Implementing the Whistleblower Provisions of the Vehicle Safety Act" until March 20, 2025.

This document corrects a January 7, 2025 final rule that amended Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 225; "Child restraint anchorage systems," and FMVSS No. 213b; "Child restraint systems," to improve ease-of-use of the lower and tether anchorages, improve correct use of child restraint systems in vehicles, and maintain or improve the correct use and effectiveness of child restraint systems (CRSs) in motor vehicles. The final rule fulfilled a mandate of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP- 21) requiring that NHTSA improve the ease-of-use for lower anchorages and tethers in all rear seat positions.

Michelin North America, Inc. (MNA) has determined that certain Uniroyal Laredo AT and Laredo HT replacement tires do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 139, New Pneumatic Radial Tires for Light Vehicles. MNA filed a noncompliance report dated November 3, 2023, and subsequently petitioned NHTSA (the "Agency") on November 28, 2023, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of MNA's petition.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. This is an extension without change of a currently approved information collection on the reporting of information and documents about potential defects, "Reporting of Information And Communications About Potential Defects".

This document delays until March 20, 2025, the effective date of the January 3, 2025, final rule that amended Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, "Occupant crash protection," to require a seat belt use warning system for rear seats and enhance the seat belt warning requirements for the front outboard seats.

This document delays until March 20, 2025, the effective date of the December 20, 2024, final rule that adopted Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 305a to replace FMVSS No. 305, "Electric- powered vehicles: Electrolyte spillage and electrical shock protection." FMVSS No. 305a applies to light and heavy vehicles and includes performance requirements for the propulsion battery. The final rule also established a part entitled, "Documentation for Electric- powered Vehicles," that requires manufacturers to compile risk mitigation documentation and submit standardized emergency response information to assist first and second responders handling electric vehicles.

In accordance with our regulations, NHTSA is granting a petition from Legacy Limousines and Luxury Coaches for a temporary exemption from the requirement to install Type 2 seat belts (i.e., shoulder belts) at side-facing locations in the company's motorcoaches. The petitioner is a final-stage manufacturer of entertainer-type motorcoaches, seeking temporary exemption from the shoulder belt requirement of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, "Occupant crash protection," for side-facing seats on motorcoaches. The granted exemption permits the petitioner to install Type 1 seat belts (lap belt only) at side-facing seating positions, instead of the Type 2 seat belts (lap and shoulder belts) required by FMVSS No. 208. After reviewing the petition and the comments received, the agency has determined that the requested exemption is warranted to enable the petitioner to sell a vehicle whose overall level of safety or impact protection is at least equal to that of a nonexempted vehicle.

This notice sets forth the reasons for the denial of a defect petition, DP23-003, submitted on July 2, 2023, by Aldelberto A. Cordova (the "Petitioner") to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). The petition requests that NHTSA (the "Agency") investigate an alleged defect in the "ISG 48-volt on-board electrical system," which resulted in a warning light illumination and an inability to start the Petitioner's 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. The Petitioner further requested a recall for 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 vehicles based on this issue. After conducting a technical review of the Petitioner's submissions, reviewing complaints related to MY 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 warning light illumination as well as the inability to start a vehicle, and reviewing information provided by Mercedes-Benz regarding the ISG 48-volt system, NHTSA has concluded that the issues raised by the petition do not warrant a defect investigation at this time. Accordingly, the Agency has denied the petition.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new information collection. Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from 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 new collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval to gather information on the personal protective equipment (PPE) motorcyclists wear including helmets and riding jackets, pants, boots, and gloves, how well the PPE fits, and how comfortable riders find it to be.

This final rule amends Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 225; Child restraint systems, and FMVSS No. 213b; Child restraint systems, to improve ease-of-use of the lower and tether anchorages, improve correct use of child restraint systems in vehicles, and maintain or improve the correct use and effectiveness of child restraint systems (CRSs) in motor vehicles. This final rule fulfills a mandate of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP- 21) requiring that NHTSA improve the ease-of-use for lower anchorages and tethers in all rear seat positions.

Gillig LLC, determined that certain model year (MY) 2013-2019 Gillig Low Floor buses do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 102, Transmission Shift Position Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect. Gillig filed a noncompliance report dated April 1, 2019, and later amended the report on April 23, 2019. Gillig subsequently petitioned NHTSA on May 8, 2019, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This notice announces the grant of Gillig's petition.

This document amends Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, "Occupant crash protection," to require a seat belt use warning system for rear seats. The rule also updates and enhances the current seat belt warning requirements for the driver's seat belt and extends these requirements to the front outboard passenger seat. The final rule applies (with some exceptions) to passenger cars, trucks, most buses, and multipurpose passenger vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less. This document also makes related amendments to FMVSS No. 101, "Controls and displays."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) seeks public comment about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval on the revision of a currently approved information collection. Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from OMB. Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions, reinstatements, and renewals of previously approved collections. This document describes one collection of information concerning vehicle safety features for consumer information purposes for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval on Vehicle Information for the General Public (OMB Control number 2127-0629).

Hercules Tire & Rubber Company, (Hercules), has determined that certain Hercules Power ST2 radial trailer tires do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 119, New Pneumatic Tires for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of More Than 4,536 Kilograms (10,000 Pounds), Specialty Tires, and Tires for Motorcycles. Hercules filed an original noncompliance report dated December 9, 2021, and amended the report on December 14, 2021, and March 9, 2022. Hercules petitioned NHTSA on December 16, 2021, and amended the petition on March 9, 2022, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces the grant of Hercules's petition.

This document responds to the petitions for reconsideration of the February 22, 2022, final rule that amended Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment," to enable certification of adaptive driving beam (ADB) headlighting systems on vehicles sold in the United States. This document denies all petitions for reconsideration received in response to the final rule.

Consistent with a Global Technical Regulation on electric vehicle safety, NHTSA is establishing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 305a to replace FMVSS No. 305, "Electric-powered vehicles: Electrolyte spillage and electrical shock protection." Among other improvements, FMVSS No. 305a applies to light and heavy vehicles and includes performance requirements for the propulsion battery. NHTSA is also establishing a new regulation, part 561, "Documentation for Electric-powered Vehicles," that requires manufacturers to compile risk mitigation documentation and to submit standardized emergency response information to assist first and second responders handling electric vehicles.

This final rule addresses an important source of motor vehicle safety information and fulfills a requirement in the Motor Vehicle Safety Whistleblower Act (Whistleblower Act) that NHTSA promulgate regulations on the requirements of the Act, in complement to NHTSA's existing whistleblower program. The Whistleblower Act authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to pay an award, subject to certain limitations, to eligible whistleblowers who voluntarily provide original information relating to any motor vehicle defect, noncompliance, or any violation or alleged violation of any notification or reporting requirement, which is likely to cause unreasonable risk of death or serious physical injury, if the information provided leads to the successful resolution of a covered action. This final rule defines certain terms important to the operation of the whistleblower program, outlines the procedures for submitting original information to NHTSA and applying for awards, discusses NHTSA's procedures for making decisions on award applications, and generally explains the scope of the whistleblower program to the public and potential whistleblowers.

NHTSA is extending the comment period for the notice NHTSA published on October 29, 2024, seeking public comment on draft test procedure (TP) number TP-523-00, which is intended to assess vehicles for compliance with certain off-road capabilities requirements for vehicle classification within the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program. The comment period for the RFC notice was scheduled to end on November 30, 2024. NHTSA is extending the comment period for the notice to February 28, 2025, to allow for additional time to submit comments.

On October 9, 2024, NHTSA issued a final rule responding to petitions for reconsideration of a June 2022 final rule establishing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 213a and the December 2023 final rule establishing FMVSS No. 213b. That rule contained an amendatory instruction to amend a section of text that did not exist. This document provides the correct amendatory instruction. It does not change the regulatory text set forth in the October 9, 2024 final rule.

Daimler Truck North America, LLC (DTNA) has determined that a model year (MY) 2022 Western Star 4900 truck tractor does not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 136, Electronic Stability Control Systems for Heavy Vehicles. DTNA filed a noncompliance report dated February 28, 2024, and subsequently petitioned NHTSA (the "Agency") on March 22, 2024, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of DTNA's petition.