[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 95 (Tuesday, May 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 27034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12466]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-99-5056; Notice 1]
Application for Determination of Inconsequential Noncompliance to
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108--Lamps, Reflective Devices
and Associated Equipment
General Motors Corporation (GM), has determined 1997 GM S10
Electric Trucks (S10 trucks equipped with an electric propulsion
system) fail to meet the turn signal bulb outage requirements found in
S5.5.6 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 108--Lamps,
Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment. Pursuant to Title 49 of
the United States Code, Sections 30118 and 30120, GM has petitioned the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for a decision
that the noncompliance is inconsequential as its relates to motor
vehicle safety. In accordance with 49 CFR 556.4(b)(6), GM has also
submitted a 49 CFR 573.5 noncompliance notification to the agency .
This notice of receipt of an application is published under 49
U.S.C. 30118 and 30120 and does not represent an agency decision or
other exercise of judgement concerning the merits of the application.
FMVSS 108 S5.5.6 requires:
S5.5.6 Each vehicle equipped with a turn signal operating unit
shall also have an illuminated pilot indicator. Failure of one or
more turn signal lamps to operate shall be indicated in accordance
with SAE Standard J588e, Turn Signal Lamps, September 1970, except
when a variable-load turn signal flasher is used on a truck, bus, or
multipurpose passenger vehicle 80 or more inches in overall width,
on a truck that is capable of accommodating a slide-in camper, or on
any vehicle equipped to tow trailers.
The design of the S10 Electric Truck is based on the design of
conventional S10 trucks powered by internal combustion engines, with
modifications to accommodate the electric propulsion system. The
conventional S10 trucks are capable of towing, have a variable load
flasher, and, therefore, are not required by the Standard to provide
bulb outage indication. The use of an S10 Electric Truck for towing is
not practical and is not recommended. The impact of that fact was
overlooked in the process of carrying over the design of the turn
signal system from the conventional S10 to the S10 Electric and,
therefore, the non complying vehicles were not equipped to indicate
bulb outage and do not meet that requirement of FMVSS 108 S5.5.6. This
was corrected in the 1998 model year production of the S10 Electric.
GM believes that this noncompliance is inconsequential to motor
vehicle safety for these reasons:
The S10 Electric Trucks are identical in appearance to the
normal production vehicles. Except for the lack of towing
capability, the subject vehicles are functionally the same as fully
compliant S10 trucks.
There were only 209 vehicles produced and, therefore, the
exposure is extremely small.
Most of the subject vehicles are part of commercial and
government fleets (they have been purchased by electric utility
companies and state and municipal government agencies). As such,
they will be exposed to routine maintenance schedules that are more
rigorous than the average consumer practices.
Most trucks currently produced are capable of trailer towing
and, thus, are not required to detect bulb outage. As a result,
individuals and fleets who are accustomed to truck operation do not
necessarily have an expectation that turn signal bulb outage will be
indicated. In addition, other lamps required by FMVSS 108 are not
required to provide bulb outage indication. As a result, the lack of
that feature on these vehicles is not likely to be noticed by the
vehicle operators, and they will continue to discover turn signal
bulb outage the way they would on other trucks that are capable of
towing.
GM is not aware of field complaints due to the subject
condition.
GM asserts that the noncomplying trucks present the same level of
safety as the millions of other vehicles with variable load flashers
currently on the roads and highways. GM thus argues that this
noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety.
In consideration of the foregoing, GM petitions that it be exempted
from the notification and remedy provisions of the Safety Act for this
specific noncompliance with FMVSS No. 108.
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and
arguments on the application described above. Comments should refer to
the docket number and be submitted to: Docket Management, Room PL-401,
400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590. It is requested but not
required that six copies be submitted. Docket hours are 10:00 A.M. to
5:00 P.M.
All comments received before the close of business on the closing
date indicated below will be considered. The application and supporting
materials, and all comments received after the closing date, will also
be filed and will be considered to the extent possible. When the
application is granted or denied, the notice will be published in the
Federal Register pursuant to the authority indicated below.
Comment closing date: June 17, 1999.
(49 U.S.C. 30118 and 30120; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50
and 501.8)
Issued on: May 12, 1999.
L. Robert Shelton,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 99-12466 Filed 5-17-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
