97-4940. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 8883]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4940]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 571

[Docket No. 95-72; Notice 2]
RIN 2127-AF75


Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Lamps, Reflective Devices 
and Associated Equipment

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, (NHTSA), DOT.

ACTION: Termination of rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This document terminates rulemaking under which NHTSA had 
asked for comments on whether the performance and installation of front 
and rear fog lamps should be regulated by Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 
No. 108. Although commenters supported a rule in principle, they 
pointed out the lack of an acceptable and harmonized reference upon 
which Federal requirements could be based. In response to these 
comments, the SAE has established a Fog Lamp Task Force to develop an 
internationally-acceptable fog lamp standard, on which a Federal 
standard could be based. NHTSA is terminating rulemaking so that the 
agency can actively participate in a cooperative effort to develop a 
fog lamp standard.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rich Van Iderstine, Office of Safety 
Performance Standards, NHTSA, (Phone: [phone]; FAX [phone]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 26, 1995, NHTSA proposed 
amendments to Standard No. 108, the Federal motor vehicle safety 
standard on lighting, which were intended to harmonize the Standard's 
geometric visibility requirements for signal lamps and rear side marker 
color with those of the United Nation's Economic Commission for Europe 
(ECE) (60 FR 54833). With the international harmonization of standards 
in mind, the agency also sought comments on whether the performance and 
installation of front and rear fog lamps ought to be regulated by 
Standard No. 108.
    Twenty-four comments were received in response to the notice, 12 of 
which commented specifically on the issue of fog lamps. These 
commenters were Truck Safety Equipment Institute, Chrysler Corporation, 
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Mercedes-Benz of North America, 
Porsche Cars North America, Ichikoh Industries, Groupe de Travail 
Bruxelles (GTB), Hella, Volvo Cars of North America, Volkswagen of 
America, Wisconsin Department of Transportation, and American 
Automobile Manufacturers Association. All supported Federal regulation 
of fog lamps. Some American commenters pointed out the existence of 
vastly differing State laws, and the benefit of simplicity that a 
Federal pre-emptive standard would bring. Several European commenters 
recommended that NHTSA adopt the provisions of ECE R48 governing fog 
lamps. However, others cautioned that there is no generally 
satisfactory industry standard nor government regulation anywhere that 
could form the basis of a suitable Federal motor vehicle safety 
standard.
    Many urged that any Federal standard for fog lamps should be one 
that is harmonized with the standards of Japan and the ECE. Vehicle and 
lighting manufacturers, concerned about the lack of an acceptable 
standard, recommended that the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), 
in conjunction with GTB and interested participants from around the 
world, develop a harmonized standard that could be used by national 
governments. In the aftermath of these comments, in April 1996, SAE 
established a Fog Lamp Task Force that will undertake this effort, 
recognizing that its existing requirements need to be modified to 
adequately address all fog lamp issues.
    NHTSA has decided to terminate its rulemaking on fog lamps. The 
agency believes that it is appropriate for it to actively participate 
in the cooperative effort to develop fog lamp standards. Future agency 
rulemaking in this area will be based on NHTSA's assessment of the 
success of this cooperative effort.
    The agency's termination covers fog lamps only. NHTSA is continuing 
its analysis of the comments on geometric visibility and rear side 
marker lamp color.

    Issued on: February 24, 1997.
L. Robert Shelton,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 97-4940 Filed 2-26-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P