Summary

GAO reviewed the Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) new rule on Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) specifically occupant protection in interior impact, side impact protection, fuel system integrity, electric-powered vehicles, electrolyte spillage and electrical shock protection, and side impact phase-in reporting requirements. GAO found that (1) the final rule does so by incorporating a dynamic pole test into FMVSS No. 214 requiring manufacturers to improve head and thorax protection to occupants of vehicles that crash into poles and trees, or that are laterally struck by a higher-riding vehicle, and to reduce fatalities and injuries caused by partial ejections through side windows. Additionally, the final rule enhances the moving deformable barrier test by adding a second dummy to better represent the at-risk population in vehicle-to-vehicle side crashes; and (2) the NHTSA complied with applicable requirements in promulgating the rule.