[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 181 (Friday, September 18, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 49891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-25052]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 571

[Docket No. NHTSA 98-4124; Notice 2]


Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Lamps, Reflective 
Devices, and Associated Equipment

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

ACTION: Extension of Comment Period for a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document extends the comment period on an NPRM proposing 
that the maximum light emitted from daytime running lamps (DRLs) be 
reduced. This reduction is proposed to take place in three stages.
    In response to a petition from the American Automobile 
Manufacturers Association (AAMA), the agency is extending the comment 
period 45 days from September 21, 1998 to November 5, 1998. The reason 
for the extension is to give AAMA sufficient time to collect 
information from its members which it has outlined in its petition for 
extension. AAMA requested that the comment period be extended by 60 
days. The agency is allowing an additional 45 days to accommodate the 
need for additional time to gather information and the public interest 
in a prompt resolution to this matter.

DATES: Comments on Docket No. NHTSA 98-4124; Notice 1 must be received 
by November 5, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number and notice 
number, and be submitted to: Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 
Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590 (Docket hours are from 10 a.m. 
to 5 p.m.).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jere Medlin, Office of Safety 
Performance Standards (202-366-5276).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The agency proposed in an NPRM published on 
August 7, 1998 (63 FR 42348) that the maximum allowable light emitted 
from DRLs be decreased in three stages. One year after publication of 
the final rule, DRLs utilizing the upper headlamp beam would not be 
permitted to exceed 3,000 cd at any point, thus becoming subject to the 
maximum cd permitted for DRLs other than headlamps. This same limit 
would be applied to the upper half of lower beam DRLs two years after 
publication of the final rule. Finally, four years after publication of 
a final rule, all DRLs, except lower beam DRLs, would be subject to a 
flat 1,500 cd limit. Lower beam DRLs would be limited to 1,500 cd at 
horizontal or above. This action is intended to provide the public with 
all the conspicuity benefits of DRLs while reducing glare.
    On August 31, 1998, AAMA petitioned for a 60 day extension of the 
comment period. AAMA has requested key information from its member 
companies that it would like to examine before it submits its comments 
on the NPRM. It needs this extra time to collect all the information 
and analyze it. The information being collected includes determining 
the cost, implementation and timing to meet the proposed rule. This 
analysis will take into account potential styling implications, such as 
the use of clear lenses and cadmium glass bulbs. Cadmium glass bulbs, 
which produce orange light through clear lenses, are being phased out 
due to negative environmental impacts and there are no practicable 
alternatives that would allow the use of clear lenses on turn signal 
lamps. AAMA is also obtaining the value of the traditional glare point 
(\1/2\U, \1/2\) on typical low- and high-beam headlamps. It will 
extrapolate the glare value of a DRL from this data. In addition, one 
of AAMA's member companies is attempting research to determine the 
relative effectiveness of the various types of DRL systems. Previous 
DRL studies have relied on performance data from DRL designs that would 
have to be changed to meet the current proposal.
    In addition, AAMA would like to share this information with its 
European counterparts to assess the likelihood of the Europeans 
allowing turn signal DRLs. AAMA states that it is important to consider 
global harmonization in all future rulemakings.
    After considering the arguments raised by AAMA, NHTSA has decided 
that it is in the public interest to extend the comment period pursuant 
to the petitioner's request. However, the agency is extending it by 45 
days, instead of the 60 days requested by AAMA. The additional 45 days 
means the total comment period will have been 90 days. A 90-day comment 
period allows ample time to evaluate the proposal, while recognizing 
the public interest in prompt decisions on proposed rulemaking actions.

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

    Issued on: September 15, 1998.
L. Robert Shelton,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 98-25052 Filed 9-17-98; 8:45 am]
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