Archive
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.
Apr 2008
Australia Updates Fuel Consumption Labelling Requirements.
In March 2008, the Australian Government published Australian Design Rule (ADR) 81/02 on fuel consumption labelling, which updates the label format and requires additional information on the label. As well as including the combined fuel consumption and combined CO2 emissions figures, the fuel consumption label must now also show figures for urban fuel consumption and extra-urban fuel consumption.
Mar 2008
NHTSA Proposes Supplement to Vehicle Roof Crush Regulation.
On January 30, 2008 NHTSA issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) for FMVSS 216. The SNPRM releases results on additional single-sided and two-sided tests through a link to the agency's internet vehicle crash test database as well as access to the recently completed agency's analysis of estimated benefits based on the relationship between roof intrusion and the probability of injury.
Feb 2008
EU Proposal on Mandatory Fuel Consumption Limits.
After much consultation, on 19th December 2007, the European Commission finally published its proposal for a Regulation on mandatory CO2 emissions limits for passenger cars, which specifies that, from 2012, each vehicle manufacturer must achieve an average CO2 emissions limit equivalent to 130 g/km for all of the passenger cars it registers in the European Union or face hefty fines.
Jan 2008
USA Proposes New Occupant Protection Requirements for School Buses.
On November 21, 2007, NHTSA issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes to upgrade the school bus occupant protection requirements of the FMVSS No. 222, "School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection" and by other amendments to FMVSS No's 207, 208, and 210.