Archive
Feb 2009
European Parliament Adopts Regulation on CO2 Emissions Limits.
After many months of negotiation, the European Parliament and the European Council finally agreed a set of amendments to the draft EC Regulation on mandatory CO2 emissions limits for new passenger cars in December 2008 and the revised draft EC Regulation, incorporating the agreed amendments, was formally adopted by the European Parliament on 17th December 2008.
Jan 2009
NHTSA Delays Revised FMVSS 216 Final Rule Until April 30, 2009.
As required by the provisions of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters notified the appropriate Senate and House Committees that due to the regulatory analysis not being completed, publication of the revised FMVSS 216 Roof Crush Resistance final rule is now anticipated by April 30, 2009.
Dec 2008
NHTSA Final Rule Amends List of Selected Child Restraint Systems.
On November 12, 2008, NHTSA published a Final Rule in Docket No. NHTSA-08-0168 amending FMVSS No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection". These amendments update many of the child restraint systems (CRSs) currently listed in Appendix A of this standard and replaces these CRSs with those that are more available and more representative of the CRS fleet currently on the market.
Nov 2008
Europe Mandates Daytime Running Lamps.
After many years of discussion and negotiation within the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) and the European Union, amendments to both the ECE Regulation and the EC Directive on lighting installation were published on 24th September 2008 which mandate the fitment of daytime running lamps to all categories of motor vehicle.
Oct 2008
NHTSA Delays FMVSS 108 Re-write Until December 1, 2009.
The USA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced a Final Rule that states that it is delaying the effective date for the reorganization of FMVSS 108 - Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment and Part 564 - Replacement Light Source Information, from September 1, 2008 to December 1, 2009.
Sep 2008
ECE Mandates Electronic Stability Control Systems.
The number of vehicles available with electronic stability control (ESC) systems has increased significantly over the past 10 years, but the fitment of electronic stability control systems will become even more widespread following the issue of two recent regulations by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) which will mandate their fitment to virtually all types of motor vehicle and some types of trailer.
Aug 2008
NHTSA Ratches Up NCAP Tests Requirements and Rating Systems.
The USA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced its "Final Decision Notice" [Docket No. NHTSA-2006-26555], that stated that it will be making changes to its Consumer Information New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) effective for the 2010 Model Year.
Jul 2008
Proposed New EU Regulation on General Safety.
On 23rd May 2008, the European Commission published a proposal for a new European Regulation on the general safety of road vehicles which would radically change the structure and format of the European Union's type approval legislation and introduce numerous significant amendments to the technical requirements applicable to vehicles and their equipment.
Jun 2008
The US Government Proposes Significant Increases to CAFE Requirements.
On May 2, 2008, NHTSA issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in response to a Congressional mandate which directed them to establish new regulations for regulating Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE). NHTSA says that under this NPRM, the fuel economy on a fleet-wide basis would increase by an average of four-and-a-half percent annually through 2015 - a 25 percent improvement over five years.
May 2008
ECE Mandates Safety Belt Reminders.
The United Nations ECE have recently published the 05 series of amendments to ECE 16 on safety belts and restraint systems, which requires the mandatory fitment of a safety belt reminder to the driver's seating position in all M1 category vehicles.