95-26498. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment  

  • [Federal Register Volume 60, Number 207 (Thursday, October 26, 1995)]
    [Proposed Rules]
    [Pages 54833-54838]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 95-26498]
    
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
    
    National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
    
    49 CFR Part 571
    
    [Docket No. 95-72; Notice 1]
    RIN 2127-AF75
    
    
    Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Lamps, Reflective Devices 
    and Associated Equipment
    
    AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.
    
    ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
    
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    SUMMARY: This notice proposes amendments to Standard No. 108, the 
    Federal motor vehicle standard on lighting, which are intended to 
    harmonize the Standard's geometric visibility requirements for signal 
    lamps, and rear side marker color, with those of the ECE. With 
    harmonization of international standards in mind, the notice also seeks 
    comments on whether the performance and installation of front and rear 
    fog lamps ought to be regulated by Standard No. 108. Harmonization of 
    motor vehicle safety regulations worldwide, without reducing safety, 
    would allow manufacturers to reduce costs by producing to a single 
    world vehicle standard rather than several, thus reducing costs and 
    improving the flow of trade. These actions implement the grant of a 
    petition for rulemaking submitted by the Groupe de Travail Bruxelles.
    
    DATES: Comments are due December 26, 1995.
    
    ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to Docket No. 95-72; Notice 1 and be 
    submitted to: Docket Section, room 5109, 400 Seventh Street SW., 
    Washington, DC 20590. (Docket hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rich Van Iderstine, Office of Safety 
    Performance Standards, NHTSA (Phone: 202-366-5275; FAX: 202-366-4329).
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    Harmonization of Geometric Visibility Requirements
    
        The Groupe de Travail Bruxelles 1952 (``GTB'') is composed of 
    vehicle and lamp manufacturers from Europe, Japan, and the United 
    States. GTB is an advisory group for the two organizations operating 
    under the United Nations' Economic Commission for Europe that are 
    involved in establishing motor vehicle lighting standards: The Meeting 
    of Experts on Lighting and Light Signalling (GRE) and the Working Party 
    on the Construction of Motor Vehicles (WP29).
        GTB is seeking to ``harmonize'' the geometric visibility 
    requirements of the United States and Europe through petitioning NHTSA 
    for an amendment to Standard No. 108, and GRE and WP29 for amendments 
    to ECE Regulation No.48 Uniform Provisions Concerning the Approval of 
    Vehicles With Regard to the Installation of Lighting and Light-
    Signalling Devices (``ECE R48''), specifically ECE R48.01. Under 
    present lighting regulations, motor vehicle manufacturers must produce 
    four different lighting packages for the same vehicle in order for it 
    to be sold in the United States, the United Kingdom, continental 
    Europe, and Japan. Harmonization of lighting requirements, without 
    reducing safety, would reduce costs to manufacturers and purchasers, 
    and improve the flow of trade.
        In its petition of June 15, 1994, GTB asked NHTSA to amend or 
    introduce geometric visibility requirements for the following lamps and 
    reflectors: backup lamp, front and rear turn signal lamps, stop lamps 
    including the center highmounted stop lamp, parking lamps, taillamps, 
    rear fog lamp, reflectors (front, intermediate, side, and rear), marker 
    lamps (front, intermediate, and side), and daytime running lamps. The 
    petition noted that rear fog lamps are not presently included in 
    Standard No. 108, and that many items of lighting equipment are not 
    presently subject to geometric visibility requirements.
        By way of explanation, ``geometric visibility'' is not a defined 
    term in Standard No. 108. It refers to the visibility of a lamp or 
    reflector mounted on a vehicle through a range of angles from left to 
    right, and from up to down, with reference to the lens centerpoint 
    (e.g., from 45 degrees left to 45 degrees right). With the exception of 
    the center highmounted stop lamp (S5.1.1.27), the geometric visibility 
    requirements for motor vehicle lamps are not set out in full in the 
    text of Standard No. 108, but are contained in related SAE Standards 
    that have been incorporated by reference in Standard No. 108. SAE 
    requirements are not uniform and were adopted on an ad hoc basis.
        The changes that GTB requested would affect passenger cars only, 
    and would expand the range of visibility requirements for many lamps, 
    especially turn signal lamps and parking lamps. GTB believes that a 
    majority of vehicles being sold in the United States already meet the 
    requirements. For those that do not, the petitioner suggests that ``the 
    necessary design changes should not be difficult to implement, assuming 
    that adequate lead time is provided.''
        The requested rulemaking would add a fifth table to Standard No. 
    108 of lamps covered by geometric visibility requirements and a new 
    paragraph in S5.1.1 which would apply to the vehicles presently subject 
    to tables III and IV, i.e., not only passenger cars, but also 
    multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, trailers, and buses whose 
    overall width is less than 80 inches (2032 mm). This section would 
    allow manufacturers the option of providing geometric visibility of at 
    least 12.5 sq. cm. or ``meeting ECE Reg 48.01 paragraph 6.'' This would 
    result in imposing geometric visibility requirements on five lamps and 
    four reflectors not currently subject to geometric visibility 
    specifications.
    
    Options Presented by the Petition
    
        NHTSA has examined the possibility of incorporating ECE R48 into 
    Standard No. 108, and decided that it is unnecessarily complex and 
    could be confusing. For example, a turn signal lamp is allowable under 
    R48:
    
    as meeting ECE Reg. 48.01 Addendum 47 paragraph 6, dated March 22, 
    1994, and meeting the geometric visibility requirements specified 
    in: * * * ECE Regulation, R-6 Revision 2, 9 Aug. 1993 Front and Rear 
    Turn Signals.
    
     
    [[Page 54834]]
    
        Geometric visibility requirements appear in both ECE R48 and in ECE 
    R6. According to the text cited above, turn signal lamps shall meet all 
    requirements of ECE R48 other than geometric visibility which would be 
    those of R6. Thus, it seems unnecessary to reference ECE R48 when the 
    geometric requirements appear to be those of ECE R-6. Further, there 
    are numerous references beyond R48 and R-6 incorporated in those 
    regulations. These are automatically updated, unlike Standard No. 108, 
    where the SAE materials incorporated by reference are not automatically 
    changed by updates.
        There is also the matter of terminology. SAE J222 refers to parking 
    lamps also as front position lamps. Yet there are separate categories 
    for these in ECE R48 (6.9 Front Position Lamp, p. 37; Parking Lamp, 
    6.12, p. 41). NHTSA could not recommend incorporating ECE R48 without 
    modifying some of its provisions in the text of Standard No. 108. At 
    the very least, the new Table requested by the petitioner ought to 
    cross reference the appropriate geometric visibility sections of that 
    regulation with the lamps to which they apply.
        Further, there needs to be language that more clearly defines the 
    lamp categories and the vehicles to which they apply.
        Annex 1 of R6 is far more preferable for incorporation into 
    Standard No. 108. The geometric visibility provisions of R6 are not 
    termed as such but appear to be the ``minimum angles required for light 
    distribution in space of * * * categories of direction indicators'' in 
    Annex 1 to R6. They are expressed in a series of diagrams. This is much 
    clearer. Presumably, NHTSA could adopt text defining the 6 categories 
    of turn signal lamps.
        By far, the more preferable amendment would be the incorporation of 
    the requested new Table. However, this raises a further issue: whether 
    the Table should comprise only those items or equipment currently 
    subject to geometric visibility requirements, or whether all lamps and 
    reflectors requested by GTB should be included?
        With respect to the option of restricted coverage, Standard No. 108 
    does not prohibit a manufacturer of vehicles for sale in the United 
    States from meeting European geometric visibility requirements with 
    respect to any of the nine equipment items not now covered. The lack of 
    geometric visibility requirements for these nine items means that 
    European and Japanese manufacturers need not concern themselves with 
    this aspect of performance in designing vehicles for the American 
    market. On the other hand, an American manufacturer must design its 
    vehicles to comply with geometric visibility requirements for these 
    nine items if it wishes to sell in European markets.
        Although the silence of Standard No. 108 on geometric visibility 
    requirements for the nine items in no way disadvantages foreign 
    manufacturers, in many minds it may not be synonymous with 
    ``harmonization.'' To some members of GTB, ``harmonization'' often 
    means identicality of regulations while, to NHTSA, a harmonized 
    regulation is not necessarily identical but one that is broad enough to 
    encompass ``windows of harmony.'' This allows a common vehicle to be 
    manufactured and sold in many countries having different regulations. 
    Thus, to encourage the ECE bodies to harmonize their lighting 
    regulations and to forestall any questions of preemption by the 
    individual States in America, NHTSA has tentatively decided that it is 
    in the interest of motor vehicle safety to make the list inclusive and 
    to regulate the aspect of performance of lighting equipment called 
    ``geometric visibility'' for the lighting equipment requested. As 
    previously noted, the geometric visibility of some lighting equipment 
    is already covered by Standard No. 108. NHTSA believes that a geometric 
    visibility requirement for all lamps and reflectors is already either 
    explicit or implicit in paragraph S5.3.1.1. Under this paragraph, each 
    lamp shall be located so that it meets the visibility requirements in 
    any applicable SAE Standard or Recommended Practice.
        Additionally, under this paragraph, no part of the vehicle shall 
    prevent any lamp from meeting the photometric output at any test point 
    specified in Standard No. 108. However, if motor vehicle equipment does 
    prevent compliance with photometrics by any required lamp or reflective 
    device, an auxiliary lamp or reflector shall be provided that does meet 
    the photometric requirements. In NHTSA's opinion, the effect of a final 
    rule will make explicit what has always been implied.
        To accomplish this, NHTSA is proposing a new paragraph S5.1.1.30, 
    applicable to the vehicles covered by Tables III and IV (i.e., those 
    less than 80 inches in overall width). The new paragraph would allow 
    continued conformance to the existing requirements or to the 
    ``geometric visibility of at least 12.5 square centimeters of the 
    light-emitting surface through a field of view as indicated in Table V, 
    except for side marker lamps and reflex reflectors which have no area 
    requirement.'' Although the petitioner did not request it, as part of 
    NHTSA's good faith effort towards compatibility of standards worldwide, 
    the agency is proposing that the existing requirements be phased out in 
    favor of the harmonized ones after two years (comment is especially 
    requested on lead time). The definition of ``Light-emitting Surface'' 
    that appears in SAE Standard J387 ``Terminology, Motor Vehicle 
    Lighting'' would be added and defined to mean ``that part of the 
    exterior surface of the lens that encloses the light source and is 
    required for conformance with photometric and colorimetric 
    requirements.'' This definition is necessary because the term appears 
    in the proposed requirement.
        Table V would be added to cover 15 items of lighting equipment 
    (lamps and reflectors), including the rear fog lamp. While a rear fog 
    lamp is not required motor vehicle equipment, if a manufacturer chooses 
    to provide one, it would then be required to meet the geometric 
    visibility requirements (but no other requirements would apply at the 
    present time).
        The visibility requirements are expressed with relation to the 
    Horizontal (H) and Vertical (V) axes of the lamp or reflector. As an 
    example, the geometric visibility requirement for a front turn signal 
    lamp would be minus 45 degrees to plus 45 degrees at Horizontal, and 
    minus 15 degrees to plus 15 degrees at Vertical.
        NHTSA, however, is not proposing to adopt ECE's backup lamp 
    geometric visibility requirements because of its possibly adverse 
    effect on safety. Standard No. 108 requires that the center of the 
    backup lamp lens be seen from anywhere on a vertical transverse plane 
    located three feet behind the vehicle and extending to three feet on 
    either side of the vehicle, starting from two feet and ending at six 
    feet above the road surface. For a minivan whose backup lamps are about 
    33 inches above the ground, Standard No. 108's requirement creates 
    upward visibility angles greater than 45 degrees. For passenger cars 
    with lower lamp heights, the angles are even larger. Allowing these 
    angles to be as small as ECE's 15 degrees upward would allow a 
    significant reduction in the ability of a pedestrian to see the lamp's 
    signal.
    
    Rear Side Marker Color
    
        In its good faith efforts towards worldwide compatibility of 
    standards, NHTSA itself has tentatively decided that a further area 
    where harmonization might be achieved is the color of rear side marker 
    lamps and reflectors. These are not mandatory items of equipment 
    
    [[Page 54835]]
    in the ECE, unlike the United States. However, if rear side marker 
    lamps and reflectors are provided, under ECE regulations, they must be 
    amber with a few exceptions. In the United States, the required color 
    is red, with no exceptions.
        Allowance of amber as an optional color for rear side marker 
    equipment could improve harmony of requirements world wide without, in 
    the opinion of the agency, derogating from safety. Therefore, the 
    agency is proposing amendments to Tables I and III that would allow 
    amber as an optional color for rear side marker equipment. If there are 
    any safety concerns, NHTSA anticipates that commenters will bring them 
    to the agency's attention.
    
    Regulation of Fog Lamps
    
        Another aspect of motor vehicle lighting that might be appropriate 
    for harmonization is the regulation of front and rear fog lamps. These 
    are not items of motor vehicle equipment mandated by Standard No. 108. 
    They are regulated by the States as each jurisdiction deems 
    appropriate. NHTSA has no information as to the extent that European 
    and Japanese manufacturers must modify the fog lamps and their 
    installations on their vehicles in order to meet the regulations of the 
    States. Should NHTSA assert its jurisdiction over that aspect of motor 
    vehicle equipment performance and specify performance requirements (in 
    addition to geometric visibility) for front and rear fog lamps as 
    optional equipment, that would preempt State regulations and could 
    afford windows of harmonization with standards of the ECE. With respect 
    to this issue, NHTSA is especially desirous of receiving comments from 
    European and Japanese manufacturers and State motor vehicle officials.
        The performance requirements that appear appropriate to NHTSA would 
    be SAE Standard J583 JUN93 ``Front Fog Lamps'' and SAE Standard J1319 
    JUN93 ``Fog Tail Lamp''.
        NHTSA is taking this action on its own initiative to demonstrate 
    its good faith in exploring possible areas of harmonization of 
    standards.
    
    Proposed Effective Date
    
        The amendments would be effective 30 days after publication of the 
    final rule in the Federal Register. At that time, manufacturers would 
    have the option for the succeeding two years to conform to either the 
    present or the harmonized geometric visibility requirements. After two 
    years, the harmonized specifications would be the sole geometric 
    visibility requirements. As noted previously, it is likely that many of 
    the proposed requirements are already being met by manufacturers 
    selling in world markets.
        However, when compliance with the final rule becomes mandatory, it 
    will affect U.S. vehicle lines that are not sold in world markets. 
    NHTSA therefore seeks comments on the appropriateness of a two-year 
    leadtime for mandatory compliance with the final rule, and a discussion 
    of related costs or other impacts upon the commenter.
        Finally, the proposal would reinstate the lighting item 
    ``Headlamps'' and headlamp mounting requirements of SAE J566 in Table 
    I, which were mistakenly omitted when Table I was amended to reflect 
    the addition of section S7 Headlighting requirements to the standard. 
    References to S7 would also be added under the vehicle-type columns, in 
    the manner set forth in Table III.
    
    Rulemaking Analyses and Notices
    
        Executive Order 12866 and DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures. 
    This rulemaking action was not reviewed under Executive Order 12866. 
    Further, it has been determined that the rulemaking action is not 
    significant under Department of Transportation regulatory policies and 
    procedures. The purpose of the rulemaking action is to make an existing 
    requirement clearer and to harmonize regulations. It is anticipated 
    that the costs of the final rule would be so minimal as not to warrant 
    preparation of a full regulatory evaluation. Vehicles presently selling 
    in world markets are presumed to comply with the proposed rule. NHTSA 
    has asked for comments on the costs and other impacts associated with a 
    two-year leadtime for mandatory compliance of those vehicles not 
    presently complying. This could involve relocation of certain lamps and 
    reflectors and associated sheet metal changes, or redesign of lamps or 
    reflectors. These could be easily accommodated within the present or 
    next design cycle. If the comments received indicate that the imparts 
    are more than minimal NHTSA will prepare a full regulatory evaluation 
    before issuing a final rule.
        National Environmental Policy Act. NHTSA has analyzed this 
    rulemaking action for the purposes of the National Environmental Policy 
    Act. It is not anticipated that a final rule based on this proposal 
    would have a significant effect upon the environment. The composition 
    of lighting equipment would not change from those presently in 
    production.
        Regulatory Flexibility Act. The agency has also considered the 
    impacts of this rulemaking action in relation to the Regulatory 
    Flexibility Act. For the reasons stated above and below, I certify that 
    this rulemaking action would not have a significant economic impact 
    upon a substantial number of small entities. Accordingly, no regulatory 
    flexibility analysis has been prepared. Manufacturers of motor vehicles 
    and motor vehicle equipment, those affected by the rulemaking action, 
    are generally not small businesses within the meaning of the Regulatory 
    Flexibility Act.
        Executive Order 12612 (Federalism). This rulemaking action has also 
    been analyzed in accordance with the principles and criteria contained 
    in Executive Order 12612, and NHTSA has determined that this rulemaking 
    action does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the 
    preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
        Civil Justice. A final rule based on this proposal would not have 
    any retroactive effect. Under 49 U.S.C. 30103, whenever a Federal motor 
    vehicle safety standard is in effect, a state may not adopt or maintain 
    a safety standard applicable to the same aspect of performance which is 
    not identical to the Federal standard. 49 U.S.C. 30161 sets forth a 
    procedure for judicial review of final rules establishing, amending or 
    revoking Federal motor vehicle safety standards. That section does not 
    require submission of a petition for reconsideration or other 
    administrative proceedings before parties may file suit in court.
    
    Request for Comments
    
        Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the proposal. 
    It is requested but not required that 10 copies be submitted.
        All comments must not exceed 15 pages in length. (49 CFR 553.21). 
    Necessary attachments may be appended to these submissions without 
    regard to the 15-page limit. This limitation is intended to encourage 
    commenters to detail their primary arguments in a concise fashion.
        If a commenter wishes to submit certain information under a claim 
    of confidentiality, three copies of the complete submission, including 
    purportedly confidential business information, should be submitted to 
    the Chief Counsel, NHTSA, at the street address given above, and seven 
    copies from which the purportedly confidential information has been 
    deleted should be submitted to the Docket Section. A request for 
    confidentiality should be accompanied by a cover letter setting forth 
    the information specified in the 
    
    [[Page 54836]]
    agency's confidential business information regulation. 49 CFR Part 512.
        All comments received before the close of business on the comment 
    closing date indicated above for the proposal will be considered, and 
    will be available for examination in the docket at the above address 
    both before and after that date. To the extent possible, comments filed 
    after the closing date will also be considered. Comments received too 
    late for consideration in regard to the final rule will be considered 
    as suggestions for further rulemaking action. Comments on the proposal 
    will be available for inspection in the docket. The NHTSA will continue 
    to file relevant information as it becomes available in the docket 
    after the closing date, and it is recommended that interested persons 
    continue to examine the docket for new material.
        Those persons desiring to be notified upon receipt of their 
    comments in the rules docket should enclose a self-addressed, stamped 
    postcard in the envelope with their comments. Upon receiving the 
    comments, the docket supervisor will return the postcard by mail.
    
    List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 571
    
        Imports, Motor vehicle safety, Motor vehicles.
    
        In consideration of the foregoing, 49 CFR Part 571 would be amended 
    as follows:
    
    PART 571--FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS
    
        1. The authority citation for Part 571 would continue to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115, 30117 and 30166; 
    delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.
    
        2. Section 571.108 would be amended by:
        a. adding to paragraph S4, in alphabetical order, a new definition 
    ``Light-emitting Surface'',
        b. adding a new paragraph S5.1.1.30,
        c. revising the heading of Table I, revising the text preceding the 
    table, and adding Headlamps as the first entry,
        d. revising the text preceding the table and the entries for Reflex 
    reflectors and Side marker lamps in Tables I, II, III and IV, and
        e. adding a new Table V to follow Table IV and to precede the Note 
    to the standard, to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 571.108  Standard No. 108; Lamps, reflective devices, and 
    associated equipment.
    
    * * * * *
        S4  Definitions.
    * * * * *
        Light-emitting Surface means all or part of the exterior surface of 
    the transparent or translucent lens that encloses the lighting or 
    light-signalling device and allows conformance with photometric and 
    colorimetric requirements.
    * * * * *
        S5.1.1.30. (a) Each passenger car, multipurpose passenger vehicle, 
    truck, or bus, of less than 80 inches overall width, manufactured 
    before [two years after the effective date of the final rule], when 
    equipped with any item of lighting equipment listed in Table V, may 
    provide geometric visibility of at least 12.5 square centimeters of the 
    projected light-emitting surface perpendicular to the axis of viewing 
    through a field of view as indicated in Table V, except for side marker 
    and reflex reflectors which have no area requirement.
        (b) Each passenger car, multipurpose passenger vehicle, truck, or 
    bus, of less than 80 inches overall width manufactured on or after [two 
    years after the effective date of the final rule], when equipped with 
    any item of lighting equipment listed in Table V, shall provide 
    geometric visibility of at least 12.5 square centimeters of the 
    projected light-emitting surface perpendicular to the axis of viewing 
    through a field of view as indicated in Table V, except for side marker 
    and reflex reflectors which have no area requirement.
    * * * * *
    
                                   Table I.--Required Motor Vehicle Lighting Equipment                              
      [Multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, trailers, and buses of 80 (2032) or more inches (MM) overall width] 
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             Applicable SAE standard
                                            Multipurpose passenger                           or recommended practice
                     Item                   vehicles, trucks, and           Trailers               (See S6 for      
                                                    buses                                       subreferenced SAE   
                                                                                                    materials)      
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Headlamps............................  See S7.................  None...................  J566, January 1960.    
                                                                                                                    
    *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                
                                                            *                                                       
    Reflex reflectors....................  4 red; 2 amber; or 2     4 red; 2 amber; or 2     J594f, January 1977.   
                                            red; 4 amber.            red; 4 amber.                                  
    Side marker lamps....................  2 red; 2 amber; or 4     2 red; 2 amber; or 4     J592e, July 1972.      
                                            amber.                   amber.                                         
                                                                                                                    
    *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                
                                                            *                                                       
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
                                                                                                                    
    
    [[Page 54837]]
                                        Table II.--Location of Required Equipment                                   
      [Multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, trailers, and buses of 80 (2032) or more inches (MM) overall width] 
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Location on--                                          
                                          --------------------------------------------------    Height above road   
                     Item                   Multipurpose passenger                            surface measured from 
                                            vehicles, trucks, and           Trailers            center of item on   
                                                    buses                                     vehicle at curb weight
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                    
    *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                
    Reflex reflectors....................  On the rear--1 red on    On the rear--1 red on        Do.                
                                            each side of the         each side of the                               
                                            vertical centerline,     vertical centerline,                           
                                            as far apart as          as far apart as                                
                                            practicable, and at      practicable, and at                            
                                            the same height. On      the same height. On                            
                                            each side--1 red or      each side--1 red or                            
                                            amber as far to the      amber as far to the                            
                                            rear as practicable,     rear as practicable,                           
                                            and 1 amber as far to    and 1 amber as far to                          
                                            the front as             the front as                                   
                                            practicable.             practicable.                                   
    Side marker lamps....................  ......do...............  ......do...............  Not less than 15       
                                                                                              inches, and on the    
                                                                                              rear of trailers not  
                                                                                              more than 60 inches.  
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
    
                                  Table III.--Required Motor Vehicle Lighting Equipment                             
     [All passenger cars and motorcycles, and multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, buses, and trailers, of less 
                                        than 80 (2032) inches (MM) overall width]                                   
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Applicable SAE  
                                        Passenger cars,                                               standard or   
                                         multipurpose                                                 recommended   
                  Item                     passenger           Trailers           Motorcycles      practice (See S6 
                                       vehicles, trucks,                                           for subreferenced
                                           and buses                                                SAE materials)  
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                    
    *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                
                                                            *                                                       
    Reflex reflectors...............  4 red; 2 amber; or  4 red; 2 amber; or  3 red; 2 amber; or  J594f, January    
                                       2 red; 4 amber.     2 red; 4 amber.     1 red; 4 amber.     1977.            
                                                                                                                    
    *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                
                                                            *                                                       
    Side marker lamps...............  2 red; 2 amber; or  2 red; 2 amber; or  None..............  J592e, July 1972. 
                                       4 amber.            4 amber.                                                 
                                                                                                                    
    *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                
                                                            *                                                       
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
                                        Table IV.--Location of Required Equipment                                   
      [All passenger cars and motorcycles, and multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, trailers, and buses of less 
                                        than 80 (2032) inches (MM) overall width]                                   
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Location on--                                          
                                          --------------------------------------------------    Height above road   
                                               Passenger cars,                                surface measured from 
                     Item                   multipurpose passenger                              center of item on   
                                              vehicles, trucks,           Motorcycles         vehicle at curb weight
                                             trailers, and buses                                                    
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                    
    *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                
                                                            *                                                       
    Reflex reflectors....................  On the rear--1 red on    On the rear--1 red on    Not less than 15       
                                            each side of the         the vertical             inches, nor more than 
                                            vertical centerline,     centerline, except       60 inches.            
                                            at the same height,      that, if two are used                          
                                            and as far apart as      on the rear, they                              
                                            practicable. On each     shall be symmetrically                         
                                            side--1 red as far to    disposed about the                             
                                            the rear as              vertical centerline.                           
                                            practicable, and 1       On each side--1 red or                         
                                            amber as far to the      amber as far to the                            
                                            front as practicable.    rear as practicable,                           
                                            On each side--1 red or   and 1 amber as far to                          
                                            amber as far to the      the front as                                   
                                            rear as practicable,     practicable.                                   
                                            and 1 amber as far to                                                   
                                            the front as                                                            
                                            practicable.                                                            
                                                                                                                    
    *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                
                                                            *                                                       
    Side marker lamps....................  On each side--1 red or   Not required...........  Not less than 15       
                                            amber as far to the                               inches.               
                                            rear as practicable,                                                    
                                            and 1 amber as far to                                                   
                                            the front as                                                            
                                            practicable.                                                            
                                                                                                                    
    *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                
                                                            *                                                       
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
                                                                                                                    
    
    [[Page 54838]]
     Table V.--Specifications for Geometric Visibility of Installed Lighting
                                     Devices                                
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Geometric visibility   
           Lighting device              Axis              requirement       
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Front Turn Signal Lamp.......  H              -45 deg. to +45 deg..     
                                   V              -15 deg. to +15 deg..\1\  
    Rear Turn Signal Lamp........  H              -15 deg. to +45 deg..     
                                   V              -15 deg. to +15 deg..\1\  
    Stop Lamp....................  H              -45 deg. to +45 deg..     
                                   V              -15 deg. to +15 deg..\1\  
    Front Parking Lamp...........  H              -45 deg. to +45 deg..     
                                   V              -15 deg. to +15 deg..\1\  
    Tail Lamp....................  H              -45 deg. to +45 deg..     
                                   V              -15 deg. to +15 deg..\1\  
    Rear Fog Lamp................  H              -10 deg. to +10 deg..     
                                   V              -5 deg. to +5 deg..       
    Rear Reflex Reflector........  H              -30 deg. to +30 deg..     
                                   V              -10 deg. to +10 deg..\1\  
    Front Side Reflex Reflector..  H              -45 deg. to +45 deg..     
                                   V              -10 deg. to +10 deg..\1\  
    Intermediate Side Reflex       H              -45 deg. to +45 deg..     
     Reflector.                    V              -10 deg. to +10 deg..\1\  
    Rear Side Reflex Reflector...  H              -45 deg. to +45 deg..     
                                   V              -10 deg. to +10 deg..\1\  
    Front Side Marker Lamp.......  H              -45 deg. to +45 deg..     
                                   V              -10 deg. to +10 deg..\1\  
    Intermediate Side Marker Lamp  H              -45 deg. to +45 deg..     
                                   V              -10 deg. to +10 deg..\1\  
    Rear Side Marker Lamp........  H              -45 deg. to +45 deg..     
                                   V              -10 deg. to +10 deg..     
    High Mounted Stop Lamp.......  H              -10 deg. to +10 deg..     
                                   V              -5 deg. to +10 deg..      
    Daytime Running Lamp.........  H              -20 deg. to +20 deg..     
                                   V              -10 deg. to +10 deg..     
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ Angle below horizontal may be reduced to 5 deg. if the lamp is less 
      than 750 mm. above the ground.                                        
    
    
    * * * * *
        Issued on October 17, 1995.
    Barry Felrice,
    Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
    [FR Doc. 95-26498 Filed 10-25-95; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
    
    

Document Information

Published:
10/26/1995
Department:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Entry Type:
Proposed Rule
Action:
Notice of proposed rulemaking.
Document Number:
95-26498
Dates:
Comments are due December 26, 1995.
Pages:
54833-54838 (6 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 95-72, Notice 1
RINs:
2127-AF75: Alternative Geometric Visibility Requirements for Lamps
RIN Links:
https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/2127-AF75/alternative-geometric-visibility-requirements-for-lamps
PDF File:
95-26498.pdf
CFR: (1)
49 CFR 571.108