Archive
Oct 2011
USA Department of Transportation Takes Two Actions Relating to FMVSS 126 - Electronic Stability Control Systems (ESC)
Recently the USA Department of Transportation (DOT) has taken two actions relative to FMVSS 126 - Electronic Stability Control Systems (ESC). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a Final Rule responding to a Petition for Reconsideration regarding the harmonization of FMVSS 126 with Global Technical Regulation (GTR) 8 - Electronic Stability Control Systems, and they have issued a Request for Comments regarding their latest Technical Report on the Effectiveness of Electronic Stability Control Systems for Car and Light Trucks & Vans (LTVs).
Sep 2011
USA Final Rule Amending the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) Safety Information on the Monroney (automobile price sticker) Label.
On July 29, 2011 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Department of Transportation (DOT), published a Final Rule (Vol. 76, Number 146 Docket No. NHTSA-2010-0025) which amended 49CFR Part 575 - Consumer Information by adding and clarifying safety information appearing on the Monroney label. This activity is part of the larger effort to improve consumer understanding of safety and environmental information for new car buyers. (Reference: NHTSA and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also published a Final Rule modifying the fuel economy and environmental impact information in Part 575 (Vol. 76, Number 129 Docket No. NHTSA-2010-0087; July 6, 2011.)
Aug 2011
The USA issues a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010 Rulemaking (Pedestrian Safety Act) and requests comments.
On July 12, 2011, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Department of Transportation (DOT), published a Notice of Intent / Request for Scoping Comments (Docket No. NHTSA-2011-0100). NHTSA seeks public comment on a range of alternatives and the impacts to be considered in the Environmental Assessment (EA). They also want to identify the most important issues for an in-depth analysis involving the NHTSA pedestrian safety (PEDSAFE) standard for systems that emit a sound during certain operating conditions of electric and hybrid vehicles. The intent of the system is to aid visually-impaired and other pedestrians to detect the presence and operating conditions of the equipped vehicles.
Jul 2011
EU Regulation on Mandatory CO2 Emissions Limits for Light Commercial Vehicles Published
Since the publication of EC Regulation No. 443/2009, which introduced mandatory carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions limits for new passenger cars, negotiations have been ongoing within Europe to create an equivalent Regulation covering light commercial vehicles. These negotiations finally reached their conclusion on 31st May 2011 with the publication of EU Regulation No. 510/2011 which introduces mandatory carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions limits for new light commercial vehicles (i.e. vans, pick-ups, etc with a GVW not exceeding 3500 kg).
Jun 2011
EC Regulation on General Safety Updated to Include Compulsory UN ECE Regulations
When EC Regulation No. 661/2009 concerning "type approval requirements for the general safety of motor vehicles, their trailers and systems, components and separate technical units intended therefor" (often referred to as the General Safety Regulation or GSR) was published, one of its stated aims was to "simplify" the type approval legislation. This "legislative simplification" was achieved by repealing 50 of the "separate" EC Directives and replacing them with references to the corresponding Regulations of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE). However, within (EC) No. 661/2009, the Annex specifying the list of UN ECE Regulations which would apply on a compulsory basis (Annex IV) was intentionally left blank so that it could be populated at a later date.
May 2011
ECE Regulation on Electric Vehicles Updated
The final 01 series of amendments to ECE 100, which are effectively a complete rewrite of the Regulation and extend the scope of the Regulation to include all vehicles equipped with an electric traction motor, were officially published on 24th March 2011. Compliance with the requirements of ECE 100.01 becomes mandatory for new types of vehicle from 4th December 2012.
Apr 2011
Europe Introduces Harmonised Individual Vehicle Approval Requirements
After much negotiation, harmonised technical and administrative requirements for the "European" Individual Vehicle Approval of M1 and N1 category vehicles "produced in large series in or for third countries" were agreed and an amendment to the European type approval framework Directive 2007/46/EC to incorporate these new requirements was published on 26th February 2011. The new harmonised requirements are contained in Commission Regulation (EU) No. 183/2012 and enter into force on 26th February 2012.
Mar 2011
ECE Clarifies Conspicuity Marking Installation Requirements
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) has recently published a Supplement 5 to ECE Regulation No. 48.03 to clarify and more accurately define the installation requirements for conspicuity markings on heavy trucks and their trailers.
Feb 2011
USA Issues FMVSS 226 to Help Reduce Occupant Ejection During Crashes and Rollover Events
On January 19, 2011, the USA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published a Final Rule establishing FMVSS 226 - Ejection Mitigation to reduce partial and complete occupant ejection. This new regulation applies to the side windows next to the first three rows of seats, and to a portion of the cargo area behind the first or second rows.
Jan 2011
USA Issues Proposal to Expand Rear Visibility Requirements
USA DOT issues Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that modifies FMVSS 111 Rearview Mirrors, FMVSS 500 Low-Speed Vehicles and Part 585 Phase-in Reporting Requirements to expand the current rear visibility requirements for passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, buses, and low-speed vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,000 pounds or less.