[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 182 (Wednesday, September 19, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48220-48221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-23342]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 571

[Docket No. NHTSA-01-10636]
RIN 2127-AH24


Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Occupant Crash 
Protection; Correction

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

ACTION: Correcting amendments.

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SUMMARY: This rule corrects an error in the neck injury criteria that 
are specified for the alternative unbelted sled test included in our 
occupant protection standard. We revised certain of the neck injury 
criteria in a final rule; correcting amendment published in the Federal 
Register (63 FR 71390) on December 28, 1998. However, we have become 
aware that, as a result of that final rule; correcting amendment, 
portions of the neck injury criteria that were not revised were 
inadvertently deleted from the standard as published in the Code of 
Federal Regulations. This document reinstates the inadvertently deleted 
criteria.

DATES: This final rule is effective September 19, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For non-legal issues, you may contact 
Dr. Roger A. Saul, Director, Office of Crashworthiness Standards, NPS-
10. Telephone: (202) 366-1740. Fax: (202) 493-2739. E-mail: 
[email protected].
    For legal issues, you may contact Edward Glancy or Rebecca 
MacPherson, Office of Chief Counsel, NCC-20. Telephone: (202) 366-2992. 
Fax: (202) 366-3820.
    You may send mail to these officials at the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St., SW, Washington, DC, 
20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Standard No. 208, Occupant Crash Protection, 
includes among its requirements certain neck injury criteria for the 
unbelted sled test. On December 28, 1998, we published in the Federal 
Register (63 FR 71390) a final rule; correcting

[[Page 48221]]

amendment that, among other things, clarified that two of the neck 
injury criteria, flexion bending moment and extension bending moment, 
are calculated at the occipital condyle. We have become aware that, as 
a result of that final rule; correcting amendment, the three other neck 
injury criteria, axial tension, axial compression, and fore-and-aft 
shear, were inadvertently deleted from the standard as published in the 
Code of Federal Regulations. This document reinstates the inadvertently 
deleted criteria.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 571

    Imports, Motor vehicle safety, Motor vehicles, Rubber and rubber 
products, Tires.


    In consideration of the foregoing, NHTSA amends 49 CFR part 571 as 
follows:

PART 571--FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS

    1. The authority citation for Part 571 of Title 49 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 571.208 is amended by revising S13.2 to read as follows:


Sec. 571.208  Standard No. 208; Occupant crash protection.

* * * * *
    S13.2 Neck injury criteria. A vehicle certified to this alternative 
test requirement shall, in addition to meeting the criteria specified 
in S13.1, meet the following injury criteria for the neck, measured 
with the six axis load cell (ref. Denton drawing C-1709) that is 
mounted between the bottom of the skull and the top of the neck as 
shown in Drawing 78051-218, in the unbelted sled test:
    (a) Flexion Bending Moment (calculated at the occipital condyle)--
190 Nm. SAE Class 600.
    (b) Extension Bending Moment (calculated at the occipital 
condyle)--57 Nm. SAE Class 600.
    (c) Axial Tension--3300 peak N. SAE Class 1000.
    (d) Axial Compression--4000 peak N. SAE Class 1000.
    (e) Fore-and-Aft Shear--3100 peak N. SAE Class 1000.
* * * * *

    Issued on: September 14, 2001.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 01-23342 Filed 9-18-01; 8:45 am]
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