[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 161 (Wednesday, August 20, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50077-50079]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-21221]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 571

[Docket No. NHTSA-2003-15947]
RIN 2127-AI85


Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Occupant Crash Protection

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

ACTION: Correcting amendment.

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SUMMARY: This rule corrects an error in the figure for the removable 
dash label

[[Page 50078]]

required under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, 
Occupant Cash Protection. This document resolves the problem by adding 
Figure 12, in order to restore consistency between the advanced air bag 
removable dash label and the advanced air bag sun visor warning label. 
This document also corrects a cross reference to the definition of 
``carlines'' contained in the limited line manufacturer exception to 
the advanced air bag phase-in requirements.

DATES: This final rule is effective August 20, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For non-legal issues, you may contact 
Lou Molino, Office of Crashworthiness Standards, Light Duty Vehicle 
Division, NVS-112. Telephone: (202) 366-2264. Fax: (202) 493-2739. For 
legal issues, you may contact Chris Calamita, Office of the 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: In a January 6, 2003 final rule, NHTSA 
amended the label requirements for vehicles certified to the advanced 
air bag requirements. (68 FR 504) The final rule added a bullet 
statement to the sun visor label (FMVSS No. 208, Figure 11) that 
states: ``Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front.'' The 
statement has been required on air bag labels in vehicles without 
advanced air bags since 1996, but was not required for the advanced air 
bag labels. (65 FR 30680; May 12, 2000.) The decision not to include 
the statement was in recognition that the advanced air bag requirements 
are intended to minimize the risk related to air bag deployments. 
However, the only means to completely eliminate the risk of air bag-
related injury or death to children in rear facing child restraints is 
to never place them in the vehicle's front seat.
    The re-insertion of the statement on the sun visor label highlights 
the especially high risk of air bag-related injury or death to children 
in rear-facing child restraints. It also educates the public about the 
need to ensure that all children are properly restrained in the back 
seat.
    However, the inclusion of the statement in the sun visor label, but 
not the dash label, created an inconsistency between the labels. Prior 
to the January 2003 amendment, the advanced air bag sun visor label 
(FMVSS No. 208, Figure 8) and the current advanced air bag dash label 
(FMVSS No. 208, Figure 9) were identical in content. Having this 
intentional consistency was necessary to avoid confusing consumers 
about the importance of the warnings.
    In response to the January 2003 final rule, Honda commented that, 
``the Removable Label on Dash (Figure 9) that should correspond to the 
applicable sun visor label was not amended. To avoid confusing or 
misleading users, the statement `never put a rear-facing child seat in 
the front' should be added in the removable label.'' The agency agrees 
that the warnings on the removable dash label and sun visor label 
should be consistent.
    To maintain consistency and conform the dash label to the sun visor 
label, Figure 12 is added to FMVSS No. 208, which is identical to 
Figure 9 except that Figure 12 has an additional bullet point stating: 
``Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front.'' Maintaining the 
uniformity of the dash and sun visor labels ensures that users are not 
confused as to the importance of placing rear-facing child seats in the 
vehicle's back seat. To further maintain consistency with the sun visor 
label, the bullet point will not be required on the temporary dash 
label if the vehicle has no back seat or the back seat is too small to 
accommodate a rear-facing child restraint.
    The removable dash labels required on vehicles certified on or 
after December 1, 2003, must conform to Figure 12 of FMVSS No. 208. The 
labels on vehicles certified before December 1, 2003, must conform to 
either Figure 9 or 12.
    This amendment also corrects a cross reference in S14.1(b), which 
incorrectly cites 49 CFR 585.4 for the definition of ``carline.'' The 
correct cross-reference is 49 CFR 583.4.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 571

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


0
In consideration of the foregoing, NHTSA amends 49 CFR part 571 as 
follows:

PART 571--FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFTEY STANDARDS

0
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 40 CFR 1.50.


0
2. Section 571.208 is amended as follows:
0
a. By revising paragraph (e) in S4.5.1;
0
b. By revising paragraph (b) in S14.1; and
0
c. By adding Figure 12 immediately following Figure 11.
    The additions and revisions read as follows: Sec.  571.208 Standard 
No. 208; Occupant crash protection.
* * * * *
    S4.5 Other general requirements.
    S4.5.1 Labeling and owner's manual information.
* * * * *
    (e) Label on the dashboard. (1) Except as provided in S4.5.1(e)(2), 
each vehicle that is equipped with an inflatable restraint for the 
passenger position shall have a label attached to a location on the 
dashboard or the steering wheel hub that is clearly visible from all 
front seating positions. The label need not be permanently affixed to 
the vehicle. This label shall conform in content to the label shown in 
Figure 7 of this standard, and shall comply with the requirements of 
S4.5.1(e)(1)(i) through S4.5.1(e)(1)(iii).
    (i) The heading area shall be yellow with the word ``WARNING'' and 
the alert symbol in black.
    (ii) The message area shall be white with black text. The message 
area shall be no less than 30 cm2 (4.7 in2).
    (iii) If the vehicle does not have a back seat, the label shown in 
Figure 7 may be modified by omitting the statement: ``The back seat is 
the safest place for children 12 and under.''
    (2) Vehicles certified to meet the requirements specified in S19, 
S21, and S23 before December 1, 2003, that are equipped with an 
inflatable restraint for the passenger position shall have a label 
attached to a location on the dashboard or the steering wheel hub that 
is clearly visible from all front seating positions. The label need not 
be permanently affixed to the vehicle. This label shall conform in 
content to the label shown in either Figure 9 or Figure 12 of this 
standard, at manufacturer's option, and shall comply with the 
requirements of S4.5.1(e)(2)(i) through S4.5.1(e)(2)(iv).
    (i) The heading area shall be yellow with black text.
    (ii) The message area shall be white with black text. The message 
area shall be no less than 30 cm2 (4.7 in2).
    (iii) If the vehicle does not have a back seat, the labels shown in 
Figures 9 and 12 may be modified by omitting the statement: ``The back 
seat is the safest place for children.''
    (iv) If the vehicle does not have a back seat or the back seat is 
too small to accommodate a rear-facing child restraint consistent with 
S4.5.4.1, the label shown in Figure 12 may be modified by omitting the 
statement: ``Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front.''

[[Page 50079]]

    (3) Vehicles certified to meet the requirements specified in S19, 
S21, and S23 on or after December 1, 2003, that are equipped with an 
inflatable restraint for the passenger position shall have a label 
attached to a location on the dashboard or the steering wheel hub that 
is clearly visible from all front seating positions. The label need not 
be permanently affixed to the vehicle. This label shall conform in 
content to the label shown in Figure 12 of this standard and shall 
comply with the requirements of S4.5.1(e)(3)(i) through 
S4.5.1(e)(3)(iv).
    (i) The heading area shall be yellow with black text.
    (ii) The message area shall be white with black text. The message 
area shall be no less than 30 cm2 (4.7 in2).
    (iii) If the vehicle does not have a back seat, the label shown in 
Figure 12 may be modified by omitting the statement: ``The back seat is 
the safest place for children.''
    (iv) If the vehicle does not have a back seat or the back seat is 
too small to accommodate a rear-facing child restraint consistent with 
S4.5.4.1, the label shown in Figure 12 may be modified by omitting the 
statement: ``Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front.''
* * * * *
    S14.1 Vehicles manufactured on or after September 1, 2003, and 
before September 1, 2006.
* * * * *
    (b) Manufacturers that sell three or fewer carlines, as that term 
is defined at 49 CFR 583.4, in the United States may, at the option of 
the manufacturer, meet the requirements of this paragraph instead of 
paragraph (a) of this section. Each vehicle manufactured on or after 
September 1, 2005 shall meet the requirement specified in S14.5.1(a), 
S14.5.2, S15.1, S15.2, S17, S19, S21, S23, and S25 (in addition to the 
other requirements specified in this standard).
* * * * *
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR20AU03.019

* * * * *

    Issued on August 14, 2003.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 03-21221 Filed 8-19-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P