[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 140 (Tuesday, July 22, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43419-43420]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-18512]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-03-15687; Notice 1]


Ford Motor Company; Receipt of Application for Temporary 
Exemption From Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 103

    We are asking for comments on the application by Ford Motor Company 
(``Ford'') of Dearborn, Michigan, for a temporary exemption from Motor 
Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 103, Defrosting and Defogging 
Systems. Ford asserted that compliance would prevent it from selling a 
motor vehicle whose overall level of safety is at least equal to that 
of a non-exempted vehicle.
    We are publishing this notice of receipt of the application in 
accordance with our regulations on the subject. This action does not 
mean that we have made a judgment yet about the merits of the 
application.

The Motor Vehicle for Which a Temporary Exemption Is Sought

    Ford is the manufacturer of the Lincoln Town Car. This motor 
vehicle is planned to be made available in a ``Ballistic Protection 
Series (BPS).'' It will be equipped with a windshield that is 40.68 mm 
thick, as contrasted with the standard Town Car's windshield of 4.9 mm 
thickness. The company related that ``this thickness and the associated 
heat transfer properties are engineered to provide protection from 
impacts by certain rifle rounds * * * Ford does not envision producing 
more than 300 Town Car BPS Series in any calendar year.

How the Town Car BPS Fails To Comply With FMVSS No. 103

    Paragraph S4.2 of FMVSS No. 103 establishes defrosting requirements 
for passenger car windshields. Ford related that ``At this time 
clearance of the windshield in the time required under FMVSS 103 S4.2 
can only be met with the usage of the washer fluid.''

Arguments Presented by Ford Demonstrating That the Town Car BPS 
Provides an Overall Level of Safety at Least Equal to a Non-Exempted 
Motor Vehicle

    To maximize the defroster performance, the special windshield of 
the BPS is equipped with an embedded electrical grid. Ford's laboratory 
tests show that the windshield can, in fact, be cleared within the time 
required by S4.2 ``by using both the defroster (including the hot air 
system and the embedded electrical grid in the windshield) and the 
windshield washer system.'' The information provided with the vehicle 
will advise the vehicle operator to use the combined approach in 
defrosting the windshield. However, Ford anticipates that these special 
purpose vehicles are more likely to be garaged than parked in the open, 
and that the need to operate the defroster system will be minimal.

[[Page 43420]]

Arguments Presented by Ford as to Why a Temporary Exemption Would Be in 
the Public Interest and Consistent With Objectives of Motor Vehicle 
Safety

    The windshield of the Lincoln Town Car BPS differs from those of 
armored vehicles produced by other manufacturers in that it will 
provide ``a bullet resistant environment against rifle level threats,'' 
as contrasted with ``handgun level'' threats. According to Ford, 
``Customers, including certain agencies of the U.S. Government, have 
expressed a need for vehicles with this level of protection for vehicle 
occupants.'' Ford argued that its product will enhance the safety ``for 
those individuals that are either government officials or certain other 
high profile individuals that are at a higher level of risk for 
terrorist attacks or assassination attempts.'' Orders have already been 
placed by the General Services Administration (GSA) on behalf of two 
government entities. To emphasize the minimal nature of the 
noncompliance, Ford enclosed a copy of its test report indicating 
passage of S4.2 using washer fluid, which has been placed in the 
docket.

How You May Comment on Ford's Application

    If you would like to comment on the application, please do so in 
writing, in duplicate, referring to the docket and notice number, and 
mail to: Docket Management, National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 
20590.
    We shall consider all comments received before the close of 
business on the date indicated below. Comments are available for 
examination in the docket in room PL-401 both before and after that 
date, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. To the extent possible, 
we also consider comments filed after the closing date. We will publish 
our decision on the application, pursuant to the authority indicated 
below.
    Comment closing date: August 21, 2003.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30113; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 
1.50 and 501.4.

    Issued on July 16, 2003.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 03-18512 Filed 7-21-03; 8:45 am]
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