[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 13 (Tuesday, January 21, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2977-2978]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-1301]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 571

[Docket No. 1-21, Notice 14]
RIN 2127-AE99


Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Theft Protection

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

ACTION: Technical amendment.

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SUMMARY: This document amends the automatic transmission park position 
test procedure described in Standard No. 114, ``Theft Protection,'' to 
clarify an ambiguity. The test procedure is unclear in that it requires 
the service brakes to be applied once in the beginning of the test and 
once near the end of the test, but does not specify that they should be 
released anywhere in between these instructions. In addition, outdated 
sections, i.e., for vehicle manufactured before September 1, 1996, will 
be removed.

DATES: Effective date: This rule is effective February 20, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical issues: Mr. Chris 
Flanigan, Office of Safety Performance Standards, NPS-21, the National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St., SW., 
Washington, DC, 20590. (202) 366-4918. For legal issues: Mr. Paul 
Atelsek, Office of Chief Counsel, NCC-20, the National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St., SW., Washington, DC, 20590. 
(202) 366-2992.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 22, 1995, Toyota Motor Corporate 
Services of North America, Inc. (Toyota) requested an interpretation 
regarding the automatic transmission park position test procedure 
outlined in Standard No. 114. The test procedure involves these steps: 
(1) Drive the subject vehicle forward up a ten percent grade, (2) stop 
the vehicle with the service brakes, (3) apply the parking brake, (4) 
move the shift lever to the ``park'' position, (5) apply the service 
brakes, (6) release the parking brake, (7) release the service brakes, 
(8) remove the key, (9) verify that the transmission is locked in the 
``park'' position, and (10) verify that the vehicle has moved no more 
than 150 millimeters (mm) from its original position.
    The standard currently has a test procedure in S5.2 for vehicles 
manufactured prior to September 1, 1996 and a test procedure in S5.3 
for vehicles manufactured on or after September 1, 1996. The only 
difference between the two test procedures is that for vehicles 
manufactured on or after September 1, 1996, the third step (apply the 
parking brake) is only required if there is a parking brake present. 
The purpose of using the parking brake is for the safety of those 
conducting the test. If the parking brake is used in conjunction with 
the service brakes, there is a backup in case the vehicle operator's 
foot slips off of the service brakes during the test. This could be 
hazardous if there is someone in close proximity to the wheels perhaps 
measuring the vehicle's position.
    Toyota states that the unclear part of the test procedure concerns 
the application of the service brakes. The second step in the procedure 
is to stop the vehicle on the ten percent grade with the service 
brakes. The fifth step in the procedure is to apply the service brakes. 
However, the test procedure does not require the service brakes to be 
released anywhere in between the second and fifth steps. It is, 
therefore, unclear whether the service brakes should have been released 
at any point between the two steps.
    In its letter requesting an interpretation of the test procedure, 
Toyota offers two ways to rectify this ambiguity. First, the fifth step 
(apply the service brakes) could be removed. In this instance, there 
would only be one instruction in the procedure (the second step) to 
apply the service brakes. In this case, the service brakes would remain 
applied until the seventh step, just before the measurement of vehicle 
movement is taken.
    Second, Toyota proposed inserting an additional step after the 
third step (apply the parking brake) to release the service brakes. In 
this case, the service brakes would be applied and then released once 
the vehicle is on the ten percent grade and the parking brake has been 
set. Then, once the vehicle's shift mechanism has been placed in the 
``park'' position, the service brakes would be applied again while the 
parking brake is released. Once the parking brake is released, the 
service brakes would then be released. The measurement of vehicle 
movement could then be made.
    NHTSA believes that, rather than adding more steps to the test 
procedure, the best way to eliminate this ambiguity is to remove the 
fifth step. Because the second step in the procedure requires 
application of the service brakes and there is no direction to release 
the service brakes until the seventh step, there is no need to require 
that they be applied again in the fifth step.
    Regarding the removal of dated sections, the standard makes 
reference

[[Page 2978]]

to vehicles manufactured after September 1, 1983, to vehicles 
manufactured before September 1, 1996, and to vehicles manufactured on 
or after September 1, 1996. Since these dates are all in the past, 
these references will be removed, as there is no need to differentiate 
between them.
    NHTSA finds good cause to make this amendment effective 30 days 
after publication of this document. This amendment makes minor changes 
to Standard No. 114 that clarify the standard without affecting its 
requirements.
    NHTSA also finds for good cause that notice and an opportunity for 
comment on this document are unnecessary. This document does not impose 
any additional responsibilities on any manufacturer. Instead, this 
document simply clarifies a test procedure and removes outdated 
sections in the standard.

Rulemaking Analyses and Notices

Executive Order 12866 and DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures

    This rulemaking document was not reviewed under E.O. 12866, 
``Regulatory Planning and Review.'' Further, this action has been 
determined to be not ``significant'' under the Department of 
Transportation's regulatory policies and procedures. This rule 
clarifies a test procedure and eliminates outdated sections in Standard 
No. 114 without changing any of the requirements in the standard. 
Because this rule does not affect any substantive requirement of the 
theft prevention standard, its impacts are so minimal as not to warrant 
preparation of a full regulatory evaluation.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    NHTSA has also considered the impacts of this rule under the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act. I hereby certify that this rule will not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. As noted above, this rule simply clarifies a test procedure 
and eliminates outdated sections in Standard No. 114. It has no effect 
on the manufacture or sale of vehicles or motor vehicle equipment.

National Environmental Policy Act

    NHTSA has also analyzed this rule under the National Environmental 
Policy Act and determined that it will not have a significant impact on 
the human environment.

Executive Order 12612 (Federalism)

    NHTSA has analyzed this rule in accordance with the principles and 
criteria contained in E.O. 12612, and has determined that this rule 
will not have significant federalism implications to warrant the 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Civil Justice Reform

    This rule will not have any retroactive effect. Under 49 U.S.C. 
30103, whenever a Federal motor vehicle safety standard is in effect, a 
State may not adopt or maintain a safety standard applicable to the 
same aspect of performance which is not identical to the Federal 
standard, except to the extent that the State requirement imposes a 
higher level of performance and applies only to vehicles procured for 
the State's use. 49 U.S.C. 30161 sets forth a procedure for judicial 
review of final rules establishing, amending, or revoking Federal motor 
vehicle safety standards. That section does not require submission of a 
petition for reconsideration or other administrative proceedings before 
parties may file suit in court.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 571

    Imports, Motor vehicle safety, Motor vehicles.

    In consideration of the foregoing, parts 571 of title 49 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations are amended as follows:

PART 571--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for part 571 continues to read as 
follows:

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

    2. Section 571.114 is amended as follows:
    a. S4.1 is revised.
    b. S4.2 is revised.
    c. S5.2 is revised.
    d. S5.3 is removed.
    The revisions will read as follows:


Sec. 571.114  Standard No. 114; theft protection.

* * * * *
    S4.1  Each truck and multipurpose passenger vehicle having a GVWR 
of 4536 kilograms or less and each passenger car shall meet the 
requirements of S4.2, S4.3, S4.4, and S4.5. However, open-body type 
vehicles that are manufactured for operation without doors and that 
either have no doors or have doors that are designed to be easily 
attached to and removed from the vehicle by the vehicle owner are not 
required to comply with S4.5.
    S4.2  Each vehicle shall have a key-locking system which, whenever 
the key is removed, prevents:
    (a) The normal activation of the vehicle's engine or motor; and
    (b) Either steering or forward self-mobility of the vehicle or 
both.
    S4.2.1  (a) Except as provided in S4.2.2 (a) and (b), the key-
locking system required by S4.2 in each vehicle which has an automatic 
transmission with a ``park'' position shall, when tested under the 
procedures in S5.2, prevent removal of the key unless the transmission 
or transmission shift lever is locked in ``park'' or becomes locked in 
``park'' as the direct result of removing the key.
    (b) Each vehicle shall not move more than 150 mm on a 10 percent 
grade when the transmission or transmission shift lever is locked in 
``park.''
* * * * *
    S5.2  Test procedure. (a) Move the transmission shift lever to any 
position where it will remain without assistance, including a position 
between the detent positions, except for the ``park'' position. Try to 
remove the key from each possible key position in each such shift 
position.
    (b) Drive the vehicle forward up a 10 percent grade and stop it 
with the service brakes. Apply the parking brake (if present). Move the 
shift mechanism to the ``park'' position. Note the vehicle position. 
Release the parking brake. Release the service brakes. Remove the key. 
Verify that the transmission shift lever or transmission is locked in 
``park.'' Verify that the vehicle, at rest, has moved no more than 150 
mm from the position noted prior to release of the brakes.

    Issued on: January 14, 1997.
L. Robert Shelton,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 97-1301 Filed 1-17-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P