[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 8, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54255-54256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-20258]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 571

[Docket No. NHTSA 2004-19031]
RIN 2127-AH81


Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Lamps, Reflective 
Devices, and Associated Equipment

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of withdrawal of request for comments.

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[[Page 54256]]

SUMMARY: In 2001, this agency published a request for comments seeking 
information on the causes and potential safety risks associated with 
headlamp glare. After receiving and reviewing more than 5,000 public 
comments, the agency has identified five separate issues that may 
become the subject of rulemaking in the future. However, before the 
agency considers whether to initiate rulemaking, it plans to conduct 
evaluations and research in a number of areas. Accordingly, the agency 
is terminating public proceedings on this subject by withdrawing the 
request for comments. The agency will continue to study the issue of 
glare and headlamp performance, including any new information submitted 
by the public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The following persons at the NHTSA, 
400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590.
    For non-legal issues, you may call Mr. Richard Van Iderstine, 
Office of Crash Avoidance Standards (telephone: 202-366-2720) (fax: 
202-366-7002).
    For legal issues, you may call Mr. Eric Stas, Office of Chief 
Counsel (Telephone: 202-366-2992) (Fax: 202-366-3820).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, Lamps, 
Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment, establishes performance 
requirements for lighting-related equipment on new motor vehicles, as 
well as their location. The standard also covers replacement lighting 
equipment. The present version of FMVSS No. 108 sets minimum and 
maximum headlamp intensities to ensure that the driver of the vehicle 
sees as much of the roadway as possible, while minimizing the glare for 
other drivers using the road.
    In response to over 200 consumer complaints of headlamp glare, 
NHTSA published a request for comments on September 28, 2001, on the 
issue of glare from headlamps (see 66 FR 49594; see also 66 FR 59769 
(November 30, 2001) (notice reopening comment period)). Some of the 
questions in the request for comments addressed auxiliary forward 
illumination devices, high-mounted headlamps, glare from high-intensity 
discharge (HID) headlamps, and light source and color issues.
    As noted in the summary above, NHTSA received over 5,000 
submissions pursuant to this request for comments, most of which can be 
classified as individual complaints from persons concerned about the 
increasing incidence of nighttime glare from front-mounted lamps.\1\ 
The commenters most frequently discussed extra headlamps, high-mounted 
headlamps, blue headlamps, HID headlamps, and certain other issues 
related to glare.
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    \1\ See Docket No. NHTSA-2001-8885.
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    After reviewing these comments, the agency has identified five 
discrete issue areas related to glare that need further evaluation and 
may be considered for future regulatory action: (1) Auxiliary forward 
illumination devices; (2) headlamp mounting height; (3) headlamp light 
source issues; (4) HID headlamps, and (5) aiming.
    NHTSA has also identified several research topics related to glare 
that the agency is undertaking with universities, including research to 
quantify the benefits of reducing glare and improving headlamp 
performance, human factors testing of driver reaction to various types 
of headlamps, the potential safety-related benefits of adaptive frontal 
headlighting systems, and measurement of the effects of spectral 
distribution, lamp size, and luminance on glare and visual performance.

II. Reason for Withdrawal

    In light of the agency's plans for further evaluation and research 
related to glare, there will be no further public proceedings in the 
immediate future. We are terminating the current public proceedings by 
withdrawing the request for comments. We may consider initiating 
separate glare-related rulemakings under FMVSS No. 108 on the above-
mentioned topics in the future. If we decide to do so, we will commence 
new public proceedings.

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

    Issued: August 31, 2004.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 04-20258 Filed 9-7-04; 8:45 am]
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