[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 225 (Wednesday, November 22, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57846-57847]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28463]



=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 571


Denial of Petition for Rulemaking; Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standards

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Denial of Petition for Rulemaking.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice denies Mr. Dennis G. Moore's petition for reducing 
the lens area requirement of amber turn signal lamps for large motor 
vehicles (motor vehicles whose overall width is 2032 mm or more). 
NHTSA's analysis of the petition concludes that this action could 
reduce safety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jere Medlin, Office of Crash 
Avoidance Standards, NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 
20590. Mr. Medlin's telephone number is: (202) 366-5276. His facsimile 
number is (202) 366- 4329.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: By letter dated July 31, 1995, Mr. Dennis G. 
Moore of Livermore, California wrote the NHTSA Chief Counsel asking 
that a situation in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108 be 
corrected in order to promote a better international trade policy. He 
claimed that Europeans require significantly less area for lenses on 
rear amber turn signals and requested that the 12 square inch minimum 
lens area requirement of FMVSS No. 108 be reduced to 8 or 6 square 
inches. This, he stated, would give more practical rules for U. S. 
exports at no expense to safety. Mr. Moore stated that companies such 
as his, when asked to help balance the Nation's trade deficit are at a 
price disadvantage simply because of size of the lamp. The Acting Chief 
Counsel notified Mr. Moore in a letter dated September 20, 1995, that 
his request would be considered as a petition for rulemaking and it was 
so considered.
    NHTSA adopted a requirement in 1990 that increased the minimum lens 
area for turn signal and stop lamps to 75 mm. (12 square inches) on 
vehicles 2032 mm. (80 inches) and wider. This was done in response to a 
petition from the Truck Safety Equipment Institute. The petition argued 
that the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) had determined that it 
was desirable to adopt separate standards for certain devices when used 
on wider vehicles, which because of their size should be more 
conspicuous and better delineated with larger lighting devices than 
small vehicles. Also of importance was SAE's rationale that the 
increased lens area for wider vehicles is necessary because of buildup 
of grime on signal lamps. The increase in lens area is necessary to 
offset the dimming effect of dirt. The agency concurred that the 
increase in lens area would enhance vehicle conspicuity and contribute 
to safety.
    The area requirement was a part of SAE Standard J1395 APR85--Turn 
Signal Lamps for Use on Motor Vehicles 2032 mm or More in Overall 
Width, and thus, already a consensus industry standard. NHTSA 
incorporated SAE 

[[Page 57847]]
J1395 by reference through a normal rulemaking proceeding with little 
opposition by vehicle or lighting manufacturers.
    Mr. Moore did not present any justification, test results, or data 
to substantiate his assertion that no reduction in safety would occur 
if the lens area on turn signals for large motor vehicles were to be 
reduced. NHTSA has no basis for deciding that safety would remain 
unchanged with Mr. Moore's proposal. Harmonization of standards, as 
requested by Mr. Moore, at the possible expense of safety, is not an 
alternative available to NHTSA.
    In accordance with 49 CFR part 552, this completes the agency's 
review of the petition. The agency has concluded that there is no 
reasonable possibility that the amendment requested by the petitioner 
would be issued at the conclusion of the rulemaking proceeding. 
Accordingly, it denies Mr. Moore's petition.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115, 30117, and 30166; 
delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.

    Issued on: November 14, 1995.
Barry Felrice,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 95-28463 Filed 11-21-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P