In an NPRM published in the Federal Register on April 16, 2012, NHTSA has proposed to revise the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard for accelerator control systems (ACS) in two ways. First, they have proposed to amend the Standard to address more fully the failure modes of electronic throttle control (ETC) systems and also to include test procedures for hybrid vehicles and certain other vehicles. These amendments would apply to light vehicles, trucks and buses. Second, they have proposed to add a new provision for a brake-throttle override (BTO) system, which would require that input to the brake pedal in a vehicle must have the capability ofoverriding input to the accelerator pedal. The BTO requirements would apply to new passenger cars, MPVs, trucks and buses < 10k lbs GVWR equipped with ETC.
NHTSA is proposing to amend FMVSS 124 in two ways. First, they are proposing to update the normal operation and fail-safe operation requirements. This would apply to passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks and buses, regardless of weight. Second, they propose to add a new Brake-Throttle Override (BTO) system requirement for vehicles ≤ 10k lbs that have electronic throttle control (ETC).
Proposed mandatory compliance dates are as follows:
For the disconnection requirements: first September 1 after the final rule publication in the Federal Register (most likely 9/1/13)
For the BTO requirements: second September 1 after the final rule publication in the Fed Register (most likely 9/1/14)
Comment deadline: June 15, 2012.
Docket reference: Docket No. NHTSA-2012-0038.