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NHTSA

Jul 2025

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Publish Significant Number of Notices of Proposed Rulemaking

On May 30, 2025, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published in the Federal Register (Vol. 90 No. 103) 24 Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs). They have requested comments addressing all related issues. These NPRMs cover many regulated topics and varying aspects of regulatory actions that have been in force for a number of years. These proposals are intended to minimize confusion, remove unnecessary requirements and may assist in introducing new technology.

Nov 2024

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding Pedestrian Protection

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the September 19, 2024 Federal Register (F.R. Vol. 89, No. 182; NHTSA-2024-0057). Data indicates pedestrian fatalities increasing substantially in recent years. This NPRM would ensure that passenger vehicles are designed to reduce the risk of serious to fatal child and adult head injury in pedestrian crashes. The new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 228, Pedestrian Head Protection, would apply to passenger cars, light trucks (including pickups), Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles (MPVs) (MPVs include Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), crossover vehicles and vans) and buses with a GVWR of 4,536kg (10,000lb) or less. The standard would require vehicles to meet a Head Injury Criterion (HIC) when subjected to testing simulating a head-to-hood impact. The vehicles would have to reduce the risk of serious to fatal head injury to child and adult pedestrians in impacts at vehicle speeds up to 40km/h (25mph), which encompass about 70% of pedestrian injuries from vehicle impacts. It is expected the standard would be beneficial even at higher speeds.

Sep 2024

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Issues Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Revise Federal Motor Vehicle Standard 207 for Seating

On July 16, 2024 NHTSA issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) in the Federal Register addressing direction to the Secretary of Transportation to initiate rulemaking to update FMVSS 207 Seating Systems. The NHTSA partially granted rulemaking petitions which sought changes to improve the safety of children during rear-end crashes. NHTSA denied a petition which sought to require additional warnings instructing adults regarding which rear seating position to place children in. Comments must be received no later than September 16, 2024.