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Report on DOT Significant Rulemakings

Table of Contents

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

57. Rear Convex Cross-View Mirrors

58. Roof Crush Resistance

59. Upgrade Door Retention Performance

60. Event Data Recorders

61. 5th Percentile Dummy Belted Barrier Crash Test Requirements -- Standard 208

62. Side Impact Protection Upgrade - FMVSS No. 214

63. Reforming the Automobile Fuel Economy Standards Program

64. Reduced Stopping Distance Requirements for Truck Tractors

65. Light Truck Average Fuel Economy Standards, Model Year 2008 and possibly beyond

66. Tire Safety

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
57. 
Rear Convex Cross-View Mirrors Green
Popular Title: Convex Mirrors
RIN 2127-AG41
Stage: Final Rule
Previous Stage: NPRM: Publication Date 09/12/2005; End of Comment Period 11/14/2005.
Abstract: This rulemaking would upgrade the rearward visibility of commercial straight trucks. The agency believes that requiring a rear detection system will reduce fatalities, injuries, and property damage by giving truck operators the ability to detect objects behind the truck. Two possible counter-measures are being considered: cross-view mirror systems or camera systems.
Effects:
  None
Prompting action: None
Legal Deadline:  None
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 06/28/1996
Dates for Final Rule:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
Date		 New
Projected
Date		 Actual
Date
To OST 07/10/2006     
To OMB 08/25/2006     
OMB Clearance 11/24/2006     
Publication Date 11/30/2006     
Explanation for any delay: N/A
Federal Register Citation for Final Rule: None


National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
58. 
Roof Crush Resistance Green
Popular Title: Roof Crush Resistance
RIN 2127-AG51
Stage: Final Rule
Previous Stage: Request for Comments: Publication Date 10/22/01; End of Comment Period 12/06/01.
Abstract: Mitigation of rollover fatal and serious injuries is one of the agency's highest priorities. Rollover crashes constitute about 3% of passenger vehicle crashes, but about 1/3 of the fatalities. Since light trucks are more prone to rollover, and as their percentage of the U.S. fleet continues to increase, this crash mode continues to constitute a disproportionate segment of the Nation's highway safety problem. As part of the agency's comprehensive approach to rollover, and in response to a petition for rulemaking, the agency is considering whether an upgrade to the roof crush requirements is warranted. This rulemaking is significant because of public interest in vehicle safety.
Effects:
  None
Prompting action: Statute
Legal Deadline:  Publish by : 07/01/2008
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 07/13/1996
Dates for Final Rule:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
Date		 New
Projected
Date		 Actual
Date
To OST 03/30/2007     
To OMB 05/18/2007     
OMB Clearance 08/20/2007     
Publication Date 08/31/2007     
Explanation for any delay: N/A
Federal Register Citation for Final Rule: None


National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
59. 
Upgrade Door Retention Performance Red
Popular Title: Retention Performance
RIN 2127-AH34
Stage: Final Rule
Previous Stage: NPRM: Publication Date 12/15/2004; End of Comment Period 02/14/2005.
Abstract: As part of the agency's comprehensive approach to rollover, and to harmonize with the first global technical regulation, this rulemaking would upgrade the door retention requirements, add test requirements for sliding doors, add secondary latch requirements for doors other than hinged side doors and back doors, and provide a new test procedure for assessing inertial forces. This rulemaking would also respond to the requirements mandated in Title X, Subtitle C, Sec. 10301, ยง 30128 (c) (2) of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2005: Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).
Effects:
  None
Prompting action: Statute
Legal Deadline:  Publish by : 02/01/2008
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 07/07/1998
Dates for Final Rule:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
Date		 New
Projected
Date		 Actual
Date
To OST 08/31/2005  02/01/2006   
To OMB 10/14/2005  03/24/2006   
OMB Clearance 01/13/2006  06/26/2006   
Publication Date 01/16/2006  07/03/2006   
Explanation for any delay: Additional coordination necessary
Federal Register Citation for Final Rule: None


National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
60. 
Event Data Recorders Red
Popular Title: Event Data Recorders
RIN 2127-AI72
Stage: Final Rule
Previous Stage: Request for Comments: Publication Date 10/11/2002; End of Comment Period 01/09/2003. NPRM: Publication Date 06/14/04; End of Comment Period 08/13/04. NPRM: Publication Date 06/14/2004; End of Comment Period 08/13/2004.
Abstract: In the past several years, there has been considerable interest from the safety community in establishing requirements for event data recorders (EDRs). The agency is considering what role NHTSA should take in implementing EDRs in motor vehicles. This rulemaking would establish requirements for EDRs in new vehicles if an EDR is in the vehicle. The requirement would include a minimum set of data to be collected and enhanced survivability in crashes. This rule is significant because of public interest.
Effects:
  None
Prompting action: None
Legal Deadline:  None
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 01/17/2002
Dates for Final Rule:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
Date		 New
Projected
Date		 Actual
Date
To OST 03/22/2005  06/06/2005  06/03/2005 
To OMB 04/21/2005  10/12/2005   
OMB Clearance 07/21/2005  01/13/2006   
Publication Date 07/28/2005  01/20/2006   
Explanation for any delay: Additional coordination necessary
Federal Register Citation for Final Rule: None


National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
61. 
5th Percentile Dummy Belted Barrier Crash Test Requirements -- Standard 208 Red
Popular Title: 5th Percentile Dummy Belted Barrier
RIN 2127-AI98
Stage: Final Rule
Previous Stage: NPRM: Publication Date 08/06/03; End of Comment Period 10/05/03.
Abstract: This rulemaking would amend NHTSA's occupant protection standard, FMVSS No. 208, to improve high speed crash protection to belted occupants of small stature who may sit in the full forward seat position. Current crash test requirements for the 5th percentile adult female dummy include a 0-48 km/h belted rigid barrier crash test. The agency is considering increasing the maximum crash test speed from 48 km/h to 56 km/h to be consistent with the 50th percentile adult male requirements that will take effect according to the second phase of the FMVSS No. 208 Advanced Air Bag Final Rule (65 FR 30680).
Effects:
  None
Prompting action: None
Legal Deadline:  None
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 12/16/2002
Dates for Final Rule:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
Date		 New
Projected
Date		 Actual
Date
To OST 08/05/2005  08/31/2005  08/31/2005 
To OMB 09/06/2005  12/15/2005   
OMB Clearance 12/06/2005  03/15/2006   
Publication Date 12/13/2005  03/20/2006   
Explanation for any delay: Additional coordination necessary
Federal Register Citation for Final Rule: None


National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
62. 
Side Impact Protection Upgrade - FMVSS No. 214 Yellow
Popular Title: Side Impact Protection Upgrade
RIN 2127-AJ10
Stage: Final Rule
Previous Stage: NPRM: Publication Date 5/17/2004; End of Comment Period 10/14/2004; Reopening of Comment Period 1/2005; End of Reopened Comment Period 4/12/2005.
Abstract: Two Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) -- No. 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact" and No. 214, "Side Impact Protection" -- specify requirements for side impact protection. At present, FMVSS No. 214 specifies a moving deformable barrier (MDB) test addressing mainly the chest injury problem. The head injury reduction is partially addressed in FMVSS No. 201. This rulemaking would require in FMVSS No. 214 a vehicle-to-pole oblique impact test to reduce the number of fatal and serious head injuries, which are not addressed in FMVSS No. 201.
Effects:
  Economically Significant
Major
Unfunded Mandate
Regulatory Flexibility Act
Prompting action: Statute
Legal Deadline:  Publish by : 07/01/2008
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 05/05/2003
Dates for Final Rule:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
Date		 New
Projected
Date		 Actual
Date
To OST 10/13/2005  12/02/2005   
To OMB 11/25/2005  01/20/2006   
OMB Clearance 02/21/2006  04/21/2006   
Publication Date 02/28/2006  04/28/2006   
Explanation for any delay: Additional coordination necessary
Federal Register Citation for Final Rule: None


National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
63. 
Reforming the Automobile Fuel Economy Standards Program Black
Popular Title: Reforming CAFE
RIN 2127-AJ17
Stage: Undetermined
Previous Stage: ANPRM: Publication Date 12/29/03; End of Comment Period 4/27/04.
Abstract: Through this action, the agency intends to begin a public discussion on potential ways, within current statutory authority, to update the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Program and to make it more consistent with our public policy objectives. The agency will seek comments on a number of possible concepts and measures, and invite the public to present additional concepts not presented here. The discussion is not intended to address the stringency of proposed CAFE standards in the future, but rather the basic structure of the CAFE program. The agency is interested in any suggestions towards revamping the CAFE program in such a way as to enhance overall fuel economy while protecting occupant safety and American jobs. The potential changes range from modest changes to existing definitions separating passenger cars from light trucks (i.e., vans, pickup trucks and SUVs) to more significant structural changes to light truck fuel economy standards. The definitional changes could potentially expand the definition of light truck to include larger SUV's that are not currently subject to fuel economy standards, add criteria to existing definitions of light trucks and ensure that vehicles subject to the lower fuel economy standards applicable to trucks have sufficient functionality to be properly classified as trucks. The advance notice also requests comment on changing the existing approach to setting light truck fuel economy standards from one of setting a fixed standard applicable to all sizes of trucks in the light truck fleet to one of setting a standard that changes in relationship to a selected attribute of trucks in the fleet. Under such an attribute-based standard, the required fuel economy would change in relationship to either the weight of the vehicle, the size of the vehicle, or both. This action is being addressed via rulemaking 2127-AJ61.
Effects:
  Economically Significant
Major
Unfunded Mandate
Prompting action: None
Legal Deadline:  None
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 09/08/2003
Dates for Undetermined:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
Date		 New
Projected
Date		 Actual
Date
To OST      
To OMB      
OMB Clearance      
Publication Date      
End of Comment Period      
Explanation for any delay: N/A
Federal Register Citation for Undetermined: None


National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
64. 
Reduced Stopping Distance Requirements for Truck Tractors Red
Popular Title: Reduced Stopping Distance for Truck Tractors
RIN 2127-AJ37
Stage: NPRM
Previous Stage:None
Abstract: This rulemaking would reduce stopping distance requirements for truck tractors equipped with air brake systems. Advances in heavy vehicle braking systems show that improved stopping performance is attainable for these vehicles. Such improvements would reduce the stopping distance disparity with light vehicles, and would result in fewer deaths and injuries and reduce property damage due to fewer crashes between truck tractors and light vehicles.
Effects:
  None
Prompting action: None
Legal Deadline:  None
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 04/02/2004
Dates for NPRM:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
Date		 New
Projected
Date		 Actual
Date
To OST 04/08/2005  06/07/2005  06/10/2005 
To OMB 05/07/2005  08/30/2005  09/06/2005 
OMB Clearance 08/08/2005  11/30/2005   
Publication Date 08/15/2005  12/05/2005   
End of Comment Period 10/14/2005  02/06/2006   
Explanation for any delay: Additional coordination necessary
Federal Register Citation for NPRM: None


National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
65. 
Light Truck Average Fuel Economy Standards, Model Year 2008 and possibly beyond Green
Popular Title: Light Truck Average Fuel Economy
RIN 2127-AJ61
Stage: Final Rule
Previous Stage: NPRM: Publication Date 08/30/2005; End of Comment Period 11/22/2005.
Abstract: This rulemaking would address Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards for light trucks for model year 2008 and possibly beyond, as appropriate.
Effects:
  Economically Significant
Major
Unfunded Mandate
Prompting action: Statute
Legal Deadline:  CAFE standards must be set at least 18 months prior to the start of a model year : 04/01/2006
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 02/14/2005
Dates for Final Rule:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
Date		 New
Projected
Date		 Actual
Date
To OST 01/20/2006     
To OMB 02/15/2006     
OMB Clearance 03/30/2006     
Publication Date 04/01/2006     
Explanation for any delay: N/A
Federal Register Citation for Final Rule: None


National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
66. 
Tire Safety Green
Popular Title: Tire Safety
RIN 2127-AJ65
Stage: Reconsideration of Final Rule
Previous Stage:None
Abstract: This rulemaking would respond to petitions for reconsideration of a final rule establishing new and more stringent tire performance requirements. The final rule increased the stringency of the existing high speed and endurance tests and added a low pressure performance test. This rulemaking has been downgraded to nonsignificant under EO 12866, and therefore will not appear on the next monthly report.
Effects:
  None
Prompting action: None
Legal Deadline:  None
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 03/09/2005
Dates for Reconsideration of Final Rule:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
Date		 New
Projected
Date		 Actual
Date
To OST 09/01/2005  10/31/2005  10/31/2005 
To OMB 10/21/2005  12/12/2005   
OMB Clearance 01/20/2006  03/13/2006   
Publication Date 01/31/2006  03/17/2006   
Explanation for any delay: Additional coordination necessary
Federal Register Citation for Reconsideration of Final Rule: None