The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) has too many outdated regulations, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The agency plans to fix that.
NHTSA proposed changing FMVSS regulations for multiple key vehicle safety components on May 30. Four of these regulations involve auto glass or structures connected with auto glass.
- FMVSS No. 205(a) regulates glazing equipment made before Sept. 1, 2006 and glazing materials in vehicles made before Nov. 1, 2006. The proposed changes eliminate references to outdated safety codes, such as two codes dictating the safety rules for cars operating on the highway approved on Jan. 26, 1977, and July 3, 1980, respectively. They would also eliminate references to redundant regulations.
- FMVSS No. 217 regulates bus emergency exits, window tension and window release. The changes would only affect a subsection on school bus emergency doors and windows. This subsection currently references an exemption for buses made before Sept. 1, 1994, but the NHTSA wants to remove that reference.
- FMVSS 214 regulates side impact protection. One proposed change to this section would include the definition of a raised roof in the text instead of referring to another section. According to the NHTSA, “[The term] raised roof means, with respect to a roof which includes an area that protrudes above the surrounding exterior roof structure, that protruding area of the roof.” Also, several subsections would no longer specifically regulate vehicles made over a decade ago. They would apply broadly.
- FMVSS No. 216 and 216(a) regulate roof crush resistance. The NHTSA wants to remove 216 entirely and defer to the “upgraded” standard in 216(a).
NHTSA invites public comment on these changes until the deadline date published on each proposed change. The agency also proposed revising several FMVSS standards that don’t directly relate to auto glass, including regulations for door locks and retention components, fuel systems, seat belt assembly anchorages, school bus passenger seating and steering control.
