[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 146 (Thursday, July 30, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40781-40785]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20382]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-98-4008; Notice 1]


Application for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance

    General Motors Corporation (GM) has determined that certain 1998 
GMC Sonoma pickup trucks, GMC Jimmy and Oldsmobile Bravada sport 
utility vehicles are equipped with daytime running lamps (DRLs) that 
fail to meet the spacing requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard (FMVSS) 108--Lamps Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment. Pursuant to section 30118 and 30120 of Title 49 of the 
United States Code, GM applied to the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration (NHTSA) for a decision that the noncompliance is 
inconsequential to motor vehicle safety. Concurrently, in accordance 
with 49 CFR 556.4(b)(6), GM has submitted a 49 CFR 573.5 noncompliance 
notification to the agency.
    This notice of receipt of an application is published under 49 
U.S.C. 30118 and 30120 and does not represent any agency decision or 
other exercise of judgment concerning the merits of the application.
    The DRLs on the noncompliant vehicles are provided by the upper 
beam headlamps operating at reduced intensity, with a maximum output of 
approximately 6,700 candela per lamp. As such, FMVSS 108 requires the 
DRL be located ``so the distance from its lighted edge to the optical 
center of the nearest turn signal lamp is not less than 100 mm.'' (The 
DRLs on the noncompliant vehicles are not deactivated when the turn 
signal or hazard flashers are activated. If they were deactivated under 
those conditions, they would comply with the spacing requirements of 
FMVSS 108 (see S5.5.11(a)(4)(iv))). In this case, the 122,455 vehicles 
involved provide less than the requisite 100 mm clearance between the 
DRL and the turn signal. As a result, they fail to meet the 
requirements of FMVSS 108.
    GM believes that this noncompliance is inconsequential to motor 
vehicle safety for the following reasons:
    1. The subject vehicles meet all requirements of Canadian Motor 
Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108 (CMVSS108) and the identical DRL 
requirements found in FMVSS 108 prior to October 1, 1995.
    2. CMVSS 108 requires turn signals that are located less than 100 
mm from a DRL to have increased intensities of 2\1/2\ times the minimum 
photometric values to help assure the turn signals are readily visible. 
The subject vehicles have turn signals that are much brighter. When 
photometered, the turn signals on the noncompliant vehicles were 
actually more than four times brighter than the minimum required 
intensities. This increased brightness helps to assure the turn signals 
are not masked by the DRL.
    3. The method for determining the optical center of the turn signal 
is open to some interpretation. Traditionally, automobile manufacturers 
have used the filament axes as the determining factor. Transport Canada 
has supported this methodology. More recently, some manufacturers have 
used the centroid of the lamp as the optical center. Depending on the 
method used, the turn signal of the noncompliant vehicles is either 71 
mm (using centroid) or 85 mm (using filament axes) away from the DRL. 
Therefore the condition is within 15 percent, or using the more 
conservative figure, within 30 percent of the requirement. (For the 
purposes of the application all other references to optical center of 
the turn signal will be based on the centroid, which generates a more 
conservative estimate of the distance between the turn signal and 
lighted edge of the DRL.)
    4. Regardless of the whether the distance is within 15 percent or 
30 percent of the 100 mm requirement, the turn signal and the DRL 
diagonal to each other. Therefore, the closest lighted edge of the DRL 
is the corner of the lamp (see figure 1). This portion of the lamp does 
not significantly contribute to the DRL beam pattern, and therefore 
does not have a significant potential to mask the turn signal.
    5. Photometric values of the turn signal 71 mm from the DRL, are 
not significantly different than a turn signal 100 mm from the DRL. To 
demonstrate this, on-vehicle evaluations of the turn

[[Page 40782]]

signal output were made using a video-based photometer (digital CCD 
camera system). First, the photometric output of the turn signal was 
measured with the DRL activated. Then a portion of the DRL was blocked, 
as shown in Figure 2, and the output of the turn signal was re-measured 
with the modified DRL activated. The zonal values of the turn signal 
changed an average of just 12.7 percent. The largest difference in turn 
signal output was found in zone 5, closest to the DRL, and it only 
changed 17.5 percent.
    6. Subjective evaluations were run using GM personnel whose jobs do 
not involve vehicle lighting. They were asked to rate the relative 
visibility of turn signals on the subject vehicles and other vehicles 
that meet the FMVSS 108 spacing requirement. The results, shown in 
figure 3, indicate the visibility of subject turn signals is 
substantially better than vehicles that just meet the minimum 
requirement. In addition, the turn signals are rated nearly identical 
to vehicles modified to be fully compliant to the requirements, and 
preferred only slightly less than turn signals on the Chevrolet Blazer 
(which is a similar vehicle whose turn signal/DRL spacing meets the 
requirements of FMVSS 108). A copy of the report Subjective Evaluation 
by GM Truck Group Engineering Operations, Milford Proving Ground, 
Publication Date: 22 May 1998, has been placed in Docket No. NHTSA-98-
4008; Notice 1.
    7. The turn signals on the noncomplying vehicles are 116 square 
centimeters, which is larger than typical turn signals found on similar 
vehicles. FMVSS 108 requires the functional lighted area of a turn 
signal lamp to be a minimum of 22 square centimeters. (Table III of 
FMVSS 108 requires turn signals meet SAE J588 NOV'84--TURN SIGNAL LAMPS 
FOR USE ON MOTOR VEHICLES LESS THAN 2032 MM IN OVERALL WIDTH. SAE J588 
NOV84 S5.3.2 requires, ``The functional lighted lens area of single 
compartment lamp shall be at least . . . 22 square centimeters for a 
front [turn signal] lamp.'') Therefore, the subject turn signals 
provide 5.3 times the area necessary to meet the requirement. The 
larger size of the turn signal helps to minimize any potential for 
masking by the DRL.
    GM believes the noncompliance discussed here is inconsequential to 
motor vehicle safety. In consideration of the foregoing, GM applied for 
a decision that it be exempted from the notification and remedy 
provisions of 49 U.S.C. 30118 and 30120 for this specific noncompliance 
with FMVSS 108.
    Interested persons are invited to submit written date, views, and 
arguments on the application of GM described above. Comments should 
refer to the Docket Number and be submitted to: Docket Management, Room 
PL 401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, 20590. It is requested 
but not required that six copies be submitted.
    All comments received before the close of business on the closing 
date indicated below will be considered. The application and supporting 
materials, and all comments received after the closing date, will also 
be filed and will be considered to the extent possible. When the 
application is granted or denied, the notice will be published in the 
Federal Register pursuant to the authority indicated below.
    Comment closing date: August 31, 1998.

(49 U.S.C. 30118 and 30120; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 
and 501.8)

    Issued on July 24, 1998.
L. Robert Shelton,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.

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[FR Doc. 98-20382 Filed 7-29-98; 8:45 am]
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