U.S. DOT/NHTSA - Final Rule; Response to Petitions for Reconsideration

Document ID: NHTSA-1999-6160-0001
Document Type: Rule
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Topics: No Topics associated with this document
CFR Citation: 49 CFR 571
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Abstract:	This document responds to some of the issues raised by petitions for reconsideration of a March 1999 final rule establishing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 225, Child Restraint Anchorage Systems. The standard requires vehicle manufacturers to install the upper (tether) anchorages of universal child restraint anchorage systems, beginning September 1, 1999, and lower anchorages of those systems beginning September 1, 2000. This fall, we plan to publish a second document responding further to the petitions. In response to concerns of several petitioners about leadtime for and the stringency of the anchorage strength and other requirements in the March 1999 final rule, this document permits vehicle manufacturers to meet alternative requirements during an initial several year period. During this period, manufacturers have the alternative of meeting either the requirements in the March 1999 final rule or the less stringent Canadian requirements for tether anchorages, and those set forth in a draft standard being developed by a working group of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for lower anchorages. The temporary alternative for tether anchorages lasts until September 1, 2001, and that for lower anchorages until September 1, 2002. This document also clarifies the test procedures used to test tether anchorages and the lower child restraint anchorage systems; excludes shuttle buses from the standard; denies petitions from the Coalition of Small Volume Automobile Manufacturers and Indiana Mills and Manufacturing; and makes technical amendments to correct some of the figures and other portions of the March 1999 final rule, including amendments to Standard No. 213. DATES: The amendments made in this rule are effective September 1, 1999. Petitions for reconsideration of this rule must be received by October 15, 1999.
Document Subtype:	Final Rule
Received Date:	August 31 1999, at 12:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Page Count:	43
Comment Due Date:	September 3 1999, at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time