Purpose and policy
The purpose of this chapter is to reduce traffic accidents and deaths and injuries resulting from traffic accidents. Therefore it is necessary—
to prescribe motor vehicle safety standards for motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment in interstate commerce; and
to carry out needed safety research and development.
Notes
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Historical and Revision Notes |
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Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
30101 | 15:1381. | Sept. 9, 1966, Pub. L. 89–563, § 1, 80 Stat. 718. |
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Short Title of 2020 Amendment
Short Title of 2018 Amendment
Short Title of 2015 Amendment
Short Title of 2012 Amendment
Short Title of 2007 Amendment
Short Title of 2005 Amendment
Short Title of 2000 Amendment
Short Title of 1998 Amendment
Short Title of 1996 Amendment
Global Harmonization
Driver Privacy
SHORT TITLE.
LIMITATIONS ON DATA RETRIEVAL FROM VEHICLE EVENT DATA RECORDERS.
Ownership of Data.—
Any data retained by an event data recorder (as defined in section 563.5 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations), regardless of when the motor vehicle in which it is installed was manufactured, is the property of the owner, or, in the case of a leased vehicle, the lessee of the motor vehicle in which the event data recorder is installed.
Privacy.—
Data recorded or transmitted by an event data recorder described in subsection (a) may not be accessed by a person other than an owner or a lessee of the motor vehicle in which the event data recorder is installed unless—
a court or other judicial or administrative authority having jurisdiction—
authorizes the retrieval of the data; and
to the extent that there is retrieved data, the data is subject to the standards for admission into evidence required by that court or other administrative authority;
an owner or a lessee of the motor vehicle provides written, electronic, or recorded audio consent to the retrieval of the data for any purpose, including the purpose of diagnosing, servicing, or repairing the motor vehicle, or by agreeing to a subscription that describes how data will be retrieved and used;
the data is retrieved pursuant to an investigation or inspection authorized under section 1131(a) or 30166 of title 49, United States Code, and the personally identifiable information of an owner or a lessee of the vehicle and the vehicle identification number is not disclosed in connection with the retrieved data, except that the vehicle identification number may be disclosed to the certifying manufacturer;
the data is retrieved for the purpose of determining the need for, or facilitating, emergency medical response in response to a motor vehicle crash; or
the data is retrieved for traffic safety research, and the personally identifiable information of an owner or a lessee of the vehicle and the vehicle identification number is not disclosed in connection with the retrieved data.
VEHICLE EVENT DATA RECORDER STUDY.
In General.—
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [
Rulemaking.—
Not later than 2 years after submitting the report required under subsection (a), the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shall promulgate regulations to establish the appropriate period during which event data recorders installed in passenger motor vehicles may capture and record for retrieval vehicle-related data to the time necessary to provide accident investigators with vehicle-related information pertinent to crashes involving such motor vehicles.”
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Outreach to Manufacturer, Dealer, and Mechanic Personnel
Side-Impact Crash Protection Rulemaking
Rulemaking.—
The Secretary [of Transportation] shall complete a rulemaking proceeding under chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code, to establish a standard designed to enhance passenger motor vehicle occupant protection, in all seating positions, in side impact crashes. The Secretary shall issue a final rule by
Deadlines.—
If the Secretary determines that the deadline for a final rule under this section cannot be met, the Secretary shall—
notify the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce and explain why that deadline cannot be met; and
establish a new deadline.”
Vehicle Backover Avoidance Technology Study; Nontraffic Incident Data Collection
VEHICLE BACKOVER AVOIDANCE TECHNOLOGY STUDY.
In General.—
The Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shall conduct a study of effective methods for reducing the incidence of injury and death outside of parked passenger motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of not more than 10,000 pounds attributable to movement of such vehicles. The Administrator shall complete the study within 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [
Specific Issues To Be Covered.—
The study required by subsection (a) shall—
include an analysis of backover prevention technology;
identify, evaluate, and compare the available technologies for detecting people or objects behind a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of not more than 10,000 pounds for their accuracy, effectiveness, cost, and feasibility for installation; and
provide an estimate of cost savings that would result from widespread use of backover prevention devices and technologies in motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of not more than 10,000 pounds, including savings attributable to the prevention of—
injuries and fatalities; and
damage to bumpers and other motor vehicle parts and damage to other objects.
NONTRAFFIC INCIDENT DATA COLLECTION.
In General.—
In conjunction with the study required in section 10304, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shall establish a method to collect and maintain data on the number and types of injuries and deaths involving motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of not more than 10,000 pounds in non-traffic incidents.
Data Collection and Publication.—
The Secretary of Transportation shall publish the data collected under subsection (a) no less frequently than biennially.”
Study on Interior Device To Release Trunk Lid
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Authorization Act of 1991
SHORT TITLE.
GENERAL PROVISIONS.
Definitions.—
As used in this part—
the term ‘bus’ means a motor vehicle with motive power, except a trailer, designed for carrying more than 10 persons;
the term ‘multipurpose passenger vehicle’ means a motor vehicle with motive power (except a trailer), designed to carry 10 persons or fewer, which is constructed either on a truck chassis or with special features for occasional off-road operation;
the term ‘passenger car’ means a motor vehicle with motive power (except a multipurpose passenger vehicle, motorcycle, or trailer), designed for carrying 10 persons or fewer;
the term ‘truck’ means a motor vehicle with motive power, except a trailer, designed primarily for the transportation of property or special purpose equipment; and
the term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of Transportation.
Procedure.—
In general.—
Except as provided in paragraph (2), any action taken under section 2503 shall be taken in accordance with the applicable provisions of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 ([formerly] 15 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.).
Specific procedure.—
Initiation.—
To initiate an action under section 2503, the Secretary shall, not later than
Completion.—
Period.—
Action under paragraphs (1) through (4) of section 2503 which was begun under subparagraph (A) shall be completed within 26 months of the date of publication of an advance notice of proposed rulemaking or 18 months of the date of publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking. The Secretary may extend for any reason the period for completion of a rulemaking initiated by the issuance of a notice of proposed rulemaking for not more than 6 months if the Secretary publishes the reasons for such extension. The extension of such period shall not be considered agency action subject to judicial review.
Action.—
A rulemaking under paragraphs (1) through (4) of section 2503 shall be considered completed when the Secretary promulgates a final rule or when the Secretary decides not to promulgate a rule (which decision may include deferral of the action or reinitiation of the action). The Secretary may not decide against promulgation of a final rule because of lack of time to complete rulemaking. Any such rulemaking actions shall be published in the Federal Register, together with the reasons for such decisions, consistent with chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code, and the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 [formerly 15 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.].
Special rule.—
Period.—
Action under paragraph (5) of section 2503 which was begun under subparagraph (A) shall be completed within 24 months of the date of publication of an advance notice of proposed rulemaking or a notice of proposed rulemaking. If the Secretary determines that there is a need for delay and if the public comment period is closed, the Secretary may extend the date for completion for not more than 6 months and shall publish in the Federal Register a notice stating the reasons for the extension and setting a date certain for completion of the action. The extension of the completion date shall not be considered agency action subject to judicial review.
Action.—
A rulemaking under paragraph (5) of section 2503 shall be considered completed when the Secretary promulgates a final rule with standards on improved head injury protection.
Standard.—
The Secretary may, as part of any action taken under section 2503, amend any motor vehicle safety standard or establish a new standard under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 ([formerly] 15 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.).
MATTERS BEFORE THE SECRETARY.
“The Secretary shall address the following matters in accordance with section 2502:
Protection against unreasonable risk of rollovers of passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, and trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating of 8,500 pounds or less and an unloaded vehicle weight of 5,500 pounds or less.
Extension of passenger car side impact protection to multipurpose passenger vehicles and trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating of 8,500 pounds or less and an unloaded vehicle weight of 5,500 pounds or less.
Safety of child booster seats used in passenger cars and other appropriate motor vehicles.
Improved design for safety belts.
Improved head impact protection from interior components of passenger cars (i.e. roof rails, pillars, and front headers).
REAR SEATBELTS.
BRAKE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR PASSENGER CARS.
HEAD INJURY IMPACT STUDY.
Fuel System Integrity Standard
Ratification of Standard.—
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number 301 (49 CFR 571.301–75; Docket No. 73–20, Notice 2) as published on
Amendment or Repeal of Standard.—
The Secretary may amend the standard described in subsection (a) in order to correct technical errors in the standard, and may amend or repeal such standard if he determines such amendment or repeal will not diminish the level of motor vehicle safety.”