MotorVehicleRegs.COM

Cameron-Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007

On February 14, 2008, the Cameron-Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007 cleared the Senate and is now set to be forwarded to the President for signature and enactment into law. The legislation addresses the following areas:

Rearward Visibility

Within 12 months of enactment, NHTSA is required to revise and expand the FMVSS 111 field of view requirements to enhance reward visibility. Final standards must be promulgated within 36 months of enactment and be phased in over the 48 months following issuance of the final rule.

Power Window Safety

Eighteen months after enactment, DOT is required to initiate a rulemaking to consider requiring auto-reversing systems on windows and closure. If DOT finds that a standard is reasonable, practicable, and appropriate then the standards shall be released 30 months after enactment of this bill. Otherwise, DOT shall issue a report to Congress explaining why a standard is not reasonable, practicable and appropriate.

Preventing Motor Vehicles from Rolling Away

The Act states that vehicles manufactured after Sep. 1, 2010 equipped with an automatic transmission that includes a ”park” position must be equipped with a system that requires the service brake to be depressed before the transmission can be shifted out of “park.” Prior to that date, manufacturers must provide NHTSA with a list of vehicles that do not meet the standard so that NHTSA can inform the public.

Database on Injuries and Deaths in Non-traffic, Non-crash Events.

Within 12 months of enactment, the Act requires NHTSA to establish and maintain a database of injuries and deaths in non-traffic, non-crash events involving motor vehicles.

Child Safety Information Program

Within 9 months of enactment, the Act requires NHTSA to initiate/supplement information program(s) about hazards to children in non-traffic, non-crash incidents.

Motor Coach Safety

On December 13, 2007, Representative Shuster introduced legislation (H.R. 4690) to direct NHTSA to issue motor vehicle safety standards for motorcoaches, and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax credit for associated expenses incurred by motorcoach operators complying with such standards. The bill was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and to the Committees on Ways and Means, Small Business, and Transportation and Infrastructure.

Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007 (HR 1216)

On December 19, 2007, the House passed HR 1216, a bill that does the following:

• Power window safety – NHTSA shall initiate a rulemaking to consider prescribing standards to require power windows and panels on motor vehicles to automatically reverse direction when such power windows and panels detect an obstruction to prevent children and others from being trapped, injured, or killed. The NPRM shall be issued within 18 months of enactment. If deemed appropriate, a final rule is to be issued within 30 months of enactment.
• Rearward visibility – NHTSA shall initiate a rulemaking within 12 months of enactment to revise FMVSS 111 to expand the required field of view to enable the driver of a motor vehicle to detect areas behind the vehicle to reduce death and injury resulting from backing incidents, particularly incidents involving small children and disabled persons. The legislation states that the standard may be met by the provision of additional mirrors, sensors, cameras, or other technology to expand the driver’s field of view. A final rule must be issued within 36 months of enactment and the requirements must be phased-in within 48 months of the final rule being published.
• Brake shift interlock – By September 1, 2010, all vehicles having an automatic transmission that includes a “park” position shall be equipped with a system that requires the service brake to be depressed before the transmission can be shifted out of “park”.

The bill was sent to the Senate on Dec. 19th. In the Senate, identical legislation passed earlier in the year (see S.694 – May 16, 2007).

Aspheric Outside Rearview Mirrors

On November 5, 2007, Representative Hoekstra (R-MI) introduced HR 4095, the Aspheric Outside Rearview Mirror Timely Assessment Act of 2007. As drafted, HR 4095 would require NHTSA to conduct a rulemaking to determine whether to permit the use of aspheric mirrors as outside rearview mirrors on passenger cars. The bill would require an NPRM and a final rule to be issued within 115 and 225 days of the date of enactment with a final rule, respectively. The bill also states that the Administrator may issue an ANPRM within 30 days of the date of enactment. For purposes of the rulemaking required by the legislation, the term “aspheric mirror” means a mirror in which the outermost edge, comprising not more than one-third of the surface of the mirror, is aspherical, that is, having a surface which has a constant radius only in one plane, and such mirror contains a line of demarcation marking the transition of the reflecting surface from the convex portion to the aspherical portion. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy & Commerce.

Motorcoach Safety Legislation Proposed

On November 8, 2007, Senator Brown (D-OH) introduced the Motorcoach Enhanced Safety Act of 2007 (S2326).

Within one year of enactment, the bill would mandate that the Secretary of Transportation issue regulations:

-    requiring seat belts in motorcoaches at each designated seating position;

-    requiring motorcoaches to be equipped with advanced glazing to prevent partial or complete ejection of passengers;

-    requiring installation of improved onboard fire fighting equipment.

Within two years of enactment, the bill would mandate that the Secretary of Transportation issue regulations:

-    requiring enhanced compartmentalization safety countermeasures (enhanced seating designs);

-    establishing enhanced occupant impact protection standards for motorcoach interiors;

-    requiring motorcoaches be equipped with enhanced stability control (e.g., ESC, roll stability, etc);

-    requiring enhanced conspicuity of motorcoaches;

-    establishing improved flammability test procedures;

-    establishing enhanced motorcoach fuel system integrity standards;

-    requiring enhanced emergency evacuation designs and enhanced emergency lighting.

Within three years of enactment, the bill would mandate that the Secretary of Transportation issue regulations:

-    requiring adaptive cruise control;

-    requiring automatic fire suppression systems.

The Act directs the Secretary to complete a study on the above issues by Sep. 1, 2008.

The Act also sets out numerous driver safety measures and additionally requires that motorcoaches be equipped with onboard recording devices linked with engine functions and electronic control modules that record driver hours of service.

The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.