[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 163 (Monday, August 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45103-45104]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22638]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary


Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements; Agency Information 
Collection Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request 
(ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for three year extension. The ICR describes the nature 
of the information collection and its expected burden.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 23, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR COPY OF COLLECTION OF INFORMATION CONTACT: 
Michael Robinson, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590; (202) 366-9456.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

    Title: Consolidated Justification of Owner's Manual Requirements 
for Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Equipment.
    OMB No.: 2127-0541.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals, Households, Business, other-for-
profit, Not-for-profit, Farms, Federal Government and State, Local or 
Tribal Government.
    Abstract: 49 U.S.C. 30117 authorizes the Secretary to require that 
manufacturers provide technical information, as for example information 
directed for publication in a vehicle owner's manual, related to the 
performance and safety specified in the Federal motor vehicle safety 
standards for the purposes of educating the consumer and providing 
safeguards against improper use. Using this authority, the agency 
issued the following FMVSS and regulations, specifying that certain 
safety precautions regarding items of motor vehicle equipment appear in 
the owner's manual to aid the agency in achieving many of its safety 
goals. FMVSS No. 108--Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated 
Equipment. This standard requires that certain lamps and reflective 
devices with certain performance levels be installed on motor vehicles 
to assure that the roadway is properly illuminated, that vehicles can 
be readily seen, and the signals can be transmitted to other drivers 
sharing the road, during day, night and inclement weather. In this 
particular case, a new manner of headlamp aiming is being allowed 
whereby owners as well as traditional vehicle service personnel could 
aim their vehicle's headlamps using equipment that is an integral part 
of the headlamp system. Since the specific manner in which aim is to be 
performed is not regulated (only the performance of the devices is), 
aiming devices manufactured or installed by different vehicle and 
headlamp manufacturers may work in significantly different ways. As a 
consequence, instructions for proper use must be part of the vehicle as 
a label, or optionally, in the vehicle owner's manual. Part 575 section 
103--Camper Loading. This standard requires that manufacturers of 
slide-in campers designed to fit into the cargo bed of pickup trucks 
affix a label to each camper that contains information relating to 
certification, identification and proper loading, and to provide more 
detailed loading information in the

[[Page 45104]]

owner's manual of the truck. FMVSS No. 205--Glazing Materials. This 
standard specifies requirement for all glazing material used in 
windshields, windows, and interior partitions of motor vehicles. Its 
purpose is to reduce the likelihood of lacerations and to minimize the 
possibility of occupants penetrating the windshield in collision. More 
detailed information regarding the care and maintenance of such glazing 
items, as the glass-plastic windshield is required to be placed in the 
owner's manual. FMVSS No. 208--Occupant Crash Protection. This standard 
specifies requirements for both active and passive occupant crash 
protection systems for passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, 
trucks and small buses. Certain safety features, such as air bags, or 
the care and maintenance of air bag systems, are required to be 
explained to the owner by means of the owner's manual. For example, the 
owner's manual must describe the vehicle's air bag system and provide 
precautionary information about the proper positioning of the 
occupants, including children. The owner's manual must also warn that 
no objects, such as shotguns carried in police cars, should be placed 
over or near the air bag covers. FMVSS No. 210--Seat Belt Assembly 
Anchorages. This standard specifies requirements for seat belt assembly 
anchorages to ensure effective occupant restraint and to reduce the 
likelihood of failure in collisions. Manufacturers of vehicles that are 
not equipped with lap belt assemblies at front outboard passenger 
seating positions suitable for securing child restraints are required 
to include information in the owner's manual on the correct location 
and placement of seat belt anchorages which will provide this 
protection. Part 575--Section 105--Utility Vehicles. This regulation 
requires manufacturers of utility vehicles to alert drivers that the 
particular handling maneuvering characteristics of utility vehicles 
require special driving practices when these vehicles are operated on 
paved roads. A statement is provided in the regulation which 
manufacturers shall include, in its entirety or equivalent form, in the 
owner's manual.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 1,371 hours.

Address

    Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget, 725-17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20503, Attention NHTSA Desk Officer. Comments are invited on: whether 
the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the Department, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; the accuracy of the 
Department's estimate of the burden of the proposed information 
collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    A comment to OMB is best assured of having its full effect if OMB 
receives it within 30 days of publication.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 14,1998.
Vanester M. Williams,
Clearance Officer, United States Department of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 98-22638 Filed 8-21-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P