[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 74 (Friday, April 16, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20665-20667]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-8632]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2004-17525]


Evaluation of Rear Window Defrosting and Defogging Systems; 
Technical Report

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

ACTION: Request for comments on technical report.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces NHTSA's publication of a technical

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report evaluating rear window defrosting and defogging systems. The 
report's title is Evaluation of Rear Window Defrosting and Defogging 
Systems.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than August 16, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Report: The report is available on the Internet for viewing 
on line in HTML format at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/regrev/Evaluate/rearwindow-report/index.htm and in PDF format at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/regrev/Evaluate/rearwindow-report/rearwindowreport.pdf. You may also obtain a copy of the report free of 
charge by sending a self-addressed mailing label to Christina Morgan 
(NPO-321), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590.
    Comments: You may submit comments [identified by DOT DMS Docket 
Number NHTSA-2004-17525] by any of the following methods:
     Web site: http://dms.dot.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 
Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-001.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of 
the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
    You may call Docket Management at 202-366-9324 and visit the Docket 
from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christina Morgan, Evaluation Division, 
NPO-321, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Budget, National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration, Room 5208, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: 202-366-2562. FAX: 202-366-2559. E-
mail: [email protected].
    For information about NHTSA's evaluations of the effectiveness of 
existing regulations and programs: Visit the NHTSA Web site at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov and click ``Regulations & Standards'' underneath 
``Vehicle & Equipment Information'' on the home page; then click 
``Regulatory Evaluation'' on the ``Regulations & Standards'' page.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Rear window defrosting and defogging systems 
are not required on motor vehicles by any Federal standard. However, 
NHTSA from time to time evaluates technologies that are widely 
available on production vehicles and might have an impact on safety. 
Rear window defoggers became available as optional or standard 
equipment in most cars during the 1970's or 1980's and are popular with 
consumers. Today, almost all passenger cars, minivans, and sport 
utility vehicles have rear window defoggers, but most pickup trucks and 
full-size vans do not.
    The analysis examined whether there were proportionately fewer 
backing-up and changing-lane crashes involving cars with rear-window 
defoggers than cars without rear-window defoggers. The database was 
extracted from State crash files. The analyses did not show a benefit 
for rear window defoggers. The main analysis found that rear window 
defoggers have no effect on changing lane and backing crashes in 
conditions when they are most likely used (when raining or snowing, 
during the earlier part of the morning, or during winter).
    Even though this study did not show a tangible safety benefit, it 
is understandable that rear window defoggers are well received by 
consumers because they conveniently clear condensation, frost, ice, 
and/or snow from the back window.

How Can I Influence NHTSA's Thinking on This Subject?

    NHTSA welcomes public review of the technical report and invites 
reviewers to submit comments about the data and the statistical methods 
used in the analyses. NHTSA will submit to the Docket a response to the 
comments and, if appropriate, additional analyses that supplement or 
revise the technical report.

How Do I Prepare and Submit Comments?

    Your comments must be written and in English. To ensure that your 
comments are correctly filed in the Docket, please include the Docket 
number of this document (NHTSA-2004-17525) in your comments.
    Your primary comments must not be more than 15 pages long (49 CFR 
553.21). However, you may attach additional documents to your primary 
comments. There is no limit on the length of the attachments.
    Please send two paper copies of your comments to Docket Management, 
submit them electronically, fax them, or use the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal. The mailing address is U. S. Department of Transportation 
Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590. If you submit your comments electronically, log onto the Dockets 
Management System Web site at http://dms.dot.gov and click on ``Help'' 
to obtain instructions. The fax number is 1-202-493-2251. To use the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal, go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow 
the online instructions for submitting comments.
    We also request, but do not require you to send a copy to Christina 
Morgan, Evaluation Division, NPO-321, National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, Room 5208, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590 (alternatively, FAX to 202-366-2559 or e-mail to 
[email protected]">c[email protected]). She can check if your comments have been 
received at the Docket and she can expedite their review by NHTSA.

How Can I Be Sure That My Comments Were Received?

    If you wish Docket Management to notify you upon its receipt of 
your comments, enclose a self-addressed, stamped postcard in the 
envelope containing your comments. Upon receiving your comments, Docket 
Management will return the postcard by mail.

How Do I Submit Confidential Business Information?

    If you wish to submit any information under a claim of 
confidentiality, send three copies of your complete submission, 
including the information you claim to be confidential business 
information, to the Chief Counsel, NCC-01, National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration, Room 5219, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 
DC 20590. Include a cover letter supplying the information specified in 
our confidential business information regulation (49 CFR part 512).
    In addition, send two copies from which you have deleted the 
claimed confidential business information to Docket Management, Room 
PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590, or submit them 
electronically.

Will the Agency Consider Late Comments?

    In our response, we will consider all comments that Docket 
Management receives before the close of business on the comment closing 
date indicated above under DATES. To the extent possible, we will also 
consider comments that Docket Management receives after that date.

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    Please note that even after the comment closing date, we will 
continue to file relevant information in the Docket as it becomes 
available. Further, some people may submit late comments. Accordingly, 
we recommend that you periodically check the Docket for new material.

How Can I Read the Comments Submitted by Other People?

    You may read the comments by visiting Docket Management in person 
at Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC from 10 a.m. to 
5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
    You may also see the comments on the Internet by taking the 
following steps:
    A. Go to the Docket Management System (DMS) Web page of the 
Department of Transportation (http://dms.dot.gov).
    B. On that page, click on ``Simple Search.''
    C. On the next page (http://dms.dot.gov/search/searchFormSimple.cfm/) type in the five-digit Docket number shown at 
the beginning of this Notice (17525). Click on ``Search.''
    D. On the next page, which contains Docket summary information for 
the Docket you selected, click on the desired comments. You may also 
download the comments.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30111, 30168; delegation of authority at 49 
CFR 1.50 and 501.8.

James F. Simons,
Office Director for the Office of Regulatory Analysis and Evaluation.
[FR Doc. 04-8632 Filed 4-15-04; 8:45 am]
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