[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 68 (Monday, April 9, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18518-18519]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8637]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA 2001-7291 Notice 2]


General Motors Corporation; Denial of Application for 
Determination of Inconsequential Noncompliance

    General Motors Corporation (GM) has determined that certain 1996-99 
Model Year Chevrolet Astro and GMC Safari vans failed to comply with 
the requirements of 49 CFR 571.208, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard (FMVSS) No. 208 ``Occupant Crash Protection,'' and filed an 
appropriate report pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, ``Defect and 
Noncompliance Information Reports.'' GM also applied to be exempted 
from the notification and remedy requirements of 49 U.S.C. 30118-30120 
on the basis that the noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle 
safety. See 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 30120(h).
    Notice of receipt of the application was published on May 26, 2000, 
and an opportunity afforded for comment (65 FR 34248). This notice 
denies the application.
    The report submitted by GM states that the company has built vans 
in which the required audible seat belt signal on some 1996-99 Model 
Year Chevrolet Astro and GMC Safari vans may operate for less than the 
4 to 8 seconds time required by FMVSS No. 208. GM believes that the 
subject vehicles comply with the visual seat belt warning requirement 
by displaying a continuous warning light for approximately the first 20 
seconds and then a flashing light for approximately 55 seconds if the 
driver belt is not buckled. The subject vehicles, therefore, provide a 
visual warning signal that exceeds the 60 second duration requirement 
of S7.3. GM claimed that the 75 seconds for the visual signal provides 
a considerable enhancement over the 4 to 8 second audio requirement.
    GM believes that the subject vehicles provide an enhanced visual 
seat belt warning indicator to remind the driver to wear a seat belt 
and that the noncompliance with S7.3 in FMVSS No. 208 is therefore 
inconsequential to motor vehicle safety. On this basis, GM requests 
that the noncompliant vehicles be exempted from the notification and 
remedy provisions of the Safety Act.
    According to GM, from June 1996 though January 1999, the company 
manufactured approximately 461,651 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 model year 
Chevrolet Astro and GMC Safari vans with an audible seat belt warning 
system that may, in a random manner (1) operate properly, (2) terminate 
the audible signal in less than the minimum 4 second requirement, or 
(3) not operate at all.
    GM stated that the noncompliance results from a transient signal 
being generated at the seat belt switch input to the audible signal 
module when the ignition switch is turned to ``start'' and the seat 
belt latch mechanism is not fastened. The module may interpret this 
transient signal input as the seat belt latch mechanism being fastened 
and thereby terminate the audible tone. This condition is caused by a 
ground voltage difference between the seat belt switch and the signal 
module, thus creating a transient signal that the module was not 
designed to filter. At the time the subject module and associated 
wiring harness were developed, GM truck engineering did not have a 
formal requirement for electrical grounding and module input filtering. 
GM began using a new module and wiring harness in January 1999 that 
changed this condition.

[[Page 18519]]

    No comments were received on the application.
    The performance of seat belts in saving lives and reducing of 
injuries of vehicle occupants in crashes of all severities has been 
adequately demonstrated for years. The purpose of requiring both a 
visual and audible warning system is to remind vehicle occupants to 
fasten their seat belts. Studies reviewed by NHTSA indicate that a 
sequential logic system which incorporates a visible reminder light of 
continuous duration and a 4 to 8 second audible reminder could produce 
higher seat belt usage rates. In cases in which the audible signal does 
not operate properly or at all, drivers may not be adequately reminded 
to fasten their seat belts.
    NHTSA will not attempt to evaluate GM's claim that a visual seat 
belt warning displaying a continuous warning light for 75 seconds is 
more effective than the 4 to 8 second audio requirement. GM has not 
referenced any studies that examine whether extension of the time in 
which the warning light operates results in a more effective reminder. 
In any event, if GM believes that to be the case, it can request the 
agency to amend FMVSS No. 208.
    In consideration of the foregoing, it is hereby found that the 
applicant has failed to meet its burden of persuasion that the 
noncompliance herein described is inconsequential to safety, and its 
application is denied.

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


    Issued on: April 3, 2001.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 01-8637 Filed 4-6-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P