With respect to vehicle fires and fuel system integrity, the NHTSA has been conducting accident data analysis and collision research starting in the mid 1990's to increase the performance requirements of the current FMVSS 301 regulation. NHTSA's analysis of 1993 to 2001 National Automotive Sampling System (NASS) data indicates that about 15,820 occupants of vehicles were exposed to post crash fires in passenger cars and light trucks. NHTSA's analysis of the Fatal Accident reporting System (FARS) for 2001, reported that 1,449 (3.5%) occupant fatalities of light vehicles occurred in crashes involving fire.
NHTSA published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) in 1995 and also a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in 2000. Based on the research conducted and the comments received, NHTSA has decided to increase the performance requirements of the FMVSS 301 Fuel Systems Integrity regulation. A brief summary of that revised rule is as follows:
Instead of impacting the full width of the rear of the test vehicle with a rigid moving barrier at 48 kph, this new final rule requires that the test vehicle be rear impacted with a moving deformable barrier (MDB) at 80 kph with a 70% overlap with the test vehicle. This revised rear impact test procedure will be phased in over a 3 year period, beginning on September 1, 2006 according to the following percentages of production: 40%, 70%, and 100%, with out carry forward credits for early compliance.
The side impact test in FMVSS 301 is being replaced with the side impact test procedure specified in FMVSS 214. NHTSA has specified that there will be approximately a 1 year lead time, without a phase-in period. All vehicles manufactured on or after September 1, 2004 will have to comply.