MotorVehicleRegs.COM

Truck and Bus ESC

On May 16, 2012, NHTSA announced a proposal to establish a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 136 to require ESC systems on truck tractors and certain buses with a GVWR greater than 11,793 kilograms (26,000 pounds). 

According to NHTSA, about 26 percent of new truck tractors and 80 percent of new buses affected by this proposed rule will be equipped with ESC systems.  NHTSA believes that ESC systems could prevent 40 to 56 percent of untripped rollover crashes and 14 percent of loss-of-control crashes. This would translate into preventing 1,807 to 2,329 crashes, 649 to 858 injuries, and 49 to 60 fatalities at less than $3 million per equivalent life saved, while generating positive net benefits. 

As proposed, compliance with the new requirements would be required two years after the final rule is published, however, some products will have an additional two years before compliance is required. 

Comments on the notice will be due 90 days after the rule is published in the Federal Register.

A public hearing will be held in the summer and NHTSA will announce the date for the hearing in a forthcoming Federal Register notice. 

NHTSA Contacts: For technical issues, George Soodoo, Office of Crash Avoidance Standards, (202) 366-4931. For legal issues, David Jasinski, Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-2992.

Congressional Budget Office Issues Study on the Effect of Proposed Light Duty Vehicle Fuel Economy Standards on the Highway Trust Fund

According to a May 2, 2012 study released by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the proposed light duty vehicle fuel economy standards would reduce revenues going into the Highway Trust Fund by 21 percent. Specifically, the CBO estimates a $57 billion drop in revenues credited to the trust fund for the period 2012 – 2022. 

To address the possible shortfall, the CBO provides several possible solutions.  One solution is to transfer more money from the general fund to the Highway Trust Fund which is the action Congress took to address the shortfall each year from 2008 to 2010.  An alternative would be increasing the gasoline tax by 5 cents per gallon.  CBO further notes that a combination of fuel taxes and VMT taxes might be an even better idea. 

For a copy of the study, click here.