[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 7 (Friday, January 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 1508]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-501]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-02-13546; Notice 2]
RIN 2127-AI72


Event Data Recorders

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

ACTION: Extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: NHTSA received a petition asking us to extend the comment 
period for our request for comments concerning what future role the 
agency should take related to the continued development and 
installation of Event Data Recorders (EDRs) in motor vehicles. To 
provide interested persons additional time to prepare comments, we are 
extending the comment period from January 9, 2003, to February 28, 
2003.

DATES: Written comments must be received by February 28, 2003.

ADDRESSES: You may submit your comments in writing to: Docket 
Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. 
Alternatively, you may submit your comments electronically by logging 
onto the Docket Management System (DMS) website at http://dms.dot.gov. 
Click on ``Help & Information'' or ``Help/Info'' to view instructions 
for filing your comments electronically. Regardless of how you submit 
your comments, you should mention the docket number of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The following persons at the National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20590:
    For technical and policy issues: Dr. William Fan, Office of 
Crashworthiness Standards, NVS-112, telephone (202) 366-4922, facsimile 
(202) 366-4329.
    For legal issues: J. Edward Glancy, Office of the Chief Counsel, 
NCC-20, telephone (202) 366-2992, facsimile (202) 366-3820.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 11, 2002, NHTSA published in the 
Federal Register (67 FR 63493) a request for comments concerning Event 
Data Recorders (EDRs) in motor vehicles. EDRs collect vehicle and 
occupant-based crash information.\1\
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    \1\ Since the term ``EDR'' can be used to cover many different 
types of devices, we included a definition of the term for purposes 
of our request for comments. We explained that when we used ``EDR'' 
in the request for comments, we were referring to a device that is 
installed in a motor vehicle to record technical vehicle and 
occupant-based information for a brief period of time (i.e., 
seconds, not minutes) before, during and after a crash. For 
instance, EDRs may record (1) pre-crash vehicle dynamics and system 
status, (2) driver inputs, (3) vehicle crash signature, (4) 
restraint usage/deployment status, and (5) certain post-crash data 
such as the activation of an automatic collision notification (ACN) 
system. We stated we were not using the term to include any type of 
device that either makes an audio or video record or logs data such 
as hours of service for truck operators.
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    Over the past several years, NHTSA has been actively involved with 
EDRs. The agency's involvement has included sponsoring two working 
groups, using data from EDRs in crash investigations, and conducting 
research and development. Particularly since the two working groups 
have completed their work, we requested comments on what future role 
the agency should take related to the continued development and 
installation of EDRs in motor vehicles. We established a comment 
closing date of January 9, 2003.
    The National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) requested an 
extension of the comment period, to March 31, 2003. It noted that it 
will hold its 2003 Annual Meeting on January 16 to 18. NAEMSP stated 
that if the extension were granted, it would solicit comments from its 
membership, and collate the comments for submission on March 31. That 
organization stated that it would like the opportunity to submit 
comments in order to benefit patient health and outcomes.
    After considering NAEMSP's request, we have decided that it would 
be in the public interest to extend the comment period. However, we 
believe a somewhat shorter extension is appropriate. We are extending 
the comment period until February 28, 2003. This date is approximately 
six weeks after NAEMSP's Annual Meeting. We believe that will provide 
sufficient time for that organization to solicit comments from its 
membership and collate the comments for submission to the agency.
    Privacy concerns: All comments (other than those containing 
confidential business information) submitted to any of our dockets are 
converted into electronic form. Anyone is able to search the electronic 
form of those comments by the name of the individual submitting the 
comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an 
association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

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

    Issued: January 3, 2003.
Noble N. Bowie,
Director, Office of Planning and Consumer Standards.
[FR Doc. 03-501 Filed 1-7-03; 2:47 pm]
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