Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

Document ID: NHTSA-2000-7967-0001
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:	On June 17, 1996, NHTSA published a notice requesting comments on a petition for rulemaking asking us to require convex cross-view mirrors on the rear of the cargo box of stepvan and walk-in style delivery and service trucks to allow drivers to see children behind the trucks. In addition to reviewing the six public comments on our notice, we have also gathered and evaluated data to quantify the size of this safety problem. If off-road fatalities by vehicle type occurred in the same proportion as on-road fatalities, an estimated 114 of these deaths annually would involve straight trucks over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). These vehicles' on-road backup fatality death rate per vehicle mile traveled is eight times the backup fatality rate of the second highest vehicle type. In addition, we have conducted research on the feasibility of improving visibility to the rear of these vehicles. This research shows that a substantial area directly behind straight trucks can be made visible for the driver with rear cross-view mirrors. Based on comments we receive on this notice, we plan to develop a proposal for a performance requirement for straight trucks to detect objects directly behind the vehicle to prevent pedestrian deaths when the vehicle backs up. Comments must be received on or before January 26, 2001.
Document Subtype:	Federal Register Publication
Received Date:	November 27 2000, at 12:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
Page Count:	7
Comment Due Date:	November 27 2000, at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time