[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 2 (Thursday, January 4, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 363-364]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-22529]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2006-26735]


Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Child Restraint Systems; 
Child Restraint Anchorage Systems; Child Restraint Use Survey--LATCH 
Use and Misuse

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

ACTION: Request for comments on report.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces NHTSA's publication of a report 
reviewing and evaluating its existing Safety Standard 213, Child 
Restraint Systems, and Safety Standard 225, Child Restraint Anchorage 
Systems. The reports' title is: Child Restraint Use Survey--LATCH Use 
and Misuse.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than May 4, 2007.

ADDRESSES:
    Report: The report is available for viewing on line in PDF format 
at the Docket Management System (DMS) Web page of the Department of 
Transportation, http://dms.dot.gov. Click on ``Simple Search''; type in 
the five-digit Docket number shown at the beginning of this Notice 
(26735) and click on ``Search''; that brings up a list of every item in 
the docket, starting with a copy of this Federal Register notice (item 
NHTSA-2006-26735-1) and a copy of the report in PDF format (item NHTSA-
2006-26735-2).
    Comments: You may submit comments [identified by DOT DMS Docket 
Number NHTSA-2006-26735] 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.
    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: Charlene Doyle, Evaluation Division, 
NPO-131, National Center for Statistics and Analysis, National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration, Room 5208, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: 202-366-1276. FAX: 202-366-2559. E-
mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NHTSA conducted a survey from April to 
October 2005 to collect information about the types of restraint 
systems that were being used to keep children safe while riding in 
passenger vehicles. In particular, NHTSA was interested in whether 
drivers with Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH)-equipped 
vehicles were using LATCH to secure their child safety seats to the 
vehicle, and if so, were these seats properly installed. Safety 
Standard 213, Child Restraint Systems, (49 CFR 571.213) was amended and 
Safety Standard 225, Child Restraint Anchorage Systems (49 CFR 571.225) 
was established effective September 1, 1999 (64 FR 10786). Safety 
Standard 213 required upper tether anchorages and lower attachment 
anchors to be phased into the back seats of nearly all new passenger 
vehicles effective September 1, 2002, and Safety Standard 225 required 
upper tethers and lower attachments on all child safety seats by the 
same date.
    In the survey, the make/model and the type of restraint installed 
in each seating position were recorded for each of the vehicles; 
demographic characteristics and the type of restraint system were 
collected for each occupant. In addition, information was gathered 
about the drivers' knowledge of booster seats and LATCH, along with 
their opinions on how easy it was to use LATCH.
    A key finding of the survey was that 55 percent of child safety 
seats, located in a seating position equipped with an upper anchor, 
were attached to the vehicle using an upper tether. Other findings 
include: (1) In 13 percent of the observations, the child safety seat 
was

[[Page 364]]

placed in a seat position in the vehicle not equipped with lower 
anchors--the seat belt was used to secure the child safety seat to the 
vehicle. (2) Among the 87 percent who do place the child safety seat at 
a position equipped with lower anchors, 60 percent use the lower 
attachments to secure the child safety seat to the vehicle. (3) 81 
percent of upper tether users and 74 percent of lower attachments users 
said upper tether and/or lower attachments were easy to use. (4) 75 
percent preferred lower attachments over seat belts of those with 
experience using both lower attachments and seat belts. (5) 61 percent 
of upper tether nonusers and 55 percent of lower attachments nonusers 
cited their lack of knowledge--not knowing what they were, that they 
were available in the vehicle, the importance of using them, or how to 
properly use them--as the reason for not using them.

How can I influence NHTSA's thinking on this subject?

    NHTSA welcomes public review of the 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 
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-2006-26735) 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, or fax them. 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.
    We also request, but do not require you to send a copy to Charlene 
Doyle, Evaluation Division, NPO-131, 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]). She can check if your comments have been 
received at the Docket and 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.
    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 (26735). 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,
Director, Office of Regulatory Analysis and Evaluation.
 [FR Doc. E6-22529 Filed 1-3-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P