[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 178 (Friday, September 12, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52939-52942]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-21026]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 571

[Docket No. NHTSA-2008-0149]
RIN 2127-AK25


Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Occupant Crash Protection

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NHTSA is proposing to remove the sunset of a requirement in 
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, ``Occupant crash 
protection,'' that a vehicle's lap belt must be lockable to tightly 
secure a child restraint system. Under FMVSS No. 208, the requirement 
ceases to apply to designated seating positions that are equipped with 
a child restraint anchorage system on vehicles manufactured on or after 
September 1, 2012. This NPRM proposes to amend the standard such that 
the requirement will continue to apply after September 1, 2012, even 
when a child restraint anchorage system is present. Data indicate that 
motorists are still using vehicle belts to attach child restraint 
systems to a large degree, so the agency is seeking to ensure that lap 
belts continue to be lockable in vehicles manufactured on or after 
September 1, 2012.

DATES: You should submit your comments early enough to ensure that the 
Docket receives them not later than November 12, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments (identified by the DOT Docket ID 
Number above) by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground 
Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
    Instructions: For detailed instructions on submitting comments and 
additional information on the rulemaking process, see the Public 
Participation heading of the Supplementary Information section of this 
document. Note that all comments received will be posted without change 
to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below.
    Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all 
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78).
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov or the street 
address listed above. Follow the online instructions for accessing the 
dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Carla Cuentas, Office of 
Crashworthiness Standards, Light Duty Vehicle Division (telephone 202-
366-4583, fax 202-493-2739). For legal issues, contact Ms. Deirdre 
Fujita, Office of Chief Counsel (telephone 202-366-2992, fax 202-366-
3820). You may send mail to these officials at the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building, Washington, DC 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On March 5, 1999, NHTSA published a final rule establishing Federal 
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 225, ``Child restraint 
anchorage systems'' (49 CFR 571.225) (64 FR 10786; Docket No. 98-3390, 
Notice 2). The final rule required motor vehicle manufacturers to 
install ``LATCH'' child restraint anchorage systems in their 
vehicles,\1\ and required child restraint manufacturers to attach 
components to child restraints that enable the child restraint to 
connect to a LATCH system on a vehicle.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ ``LATCH'' stands for ``Lower Anchors and Tethers for 
Children,'' a term that was developed by child restraint 
manufacturers and retailers to refer to the standardized child 
restraint anchorage system required to be installed in vehicles by 
FMVSS No. 225. The LATCH system is comprised of two lower anchorages 
and one top tether anchorage. Each lower anchorage includes a rigid 
round rod or bar onto which the connector of a child restraint 
system can be attached. The bars are located at the intersection of 
the vehicle seat cushion and seat back. The top tether anchorage is 
a fixture to which the tether of a child restraint system can be 
hooked. FMVSS No. 225 required the 3-point LATCH system at two rear 
seating positions, and a top tether anchorage at a third rear 
seating position when a third rear seating position is provided in 
the vehicle.
    \2\ The final rule amended FMVSS No. 213, ``Child restraint 
systems'' (49 CFR 571.213), to require the components on the child 
restraints, and to set performance requirements that child 
restraints must meet when attached to a vehicle seat assembly using 
the LATCH system. The requirements applied to child restraints 
manufactured on or after September 1, 2002. (This document uses the 
term ``LATCH-equipped'' to refer to a child restraint system 
equipped with the components that attach to a vehicle's LATCH 
system.) In addition, the rule required all child restraints to 
continue to be capable of being attached to a vehicle by way of the 
vehicle's belt system.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The final rule also amended FMVSS No. 208, ``Occupant crash 
protection'' (49 CFR 571.208), by rescinding the ``lockability'' 
requirement for vehicles manufactured on or after September 1, 2012, 
with respect to vehicle seating positions that are equipped with a 
LATCH system. FMVSS No. 208 requires passenger vehicles to be equipped 
with seat belts and frontal air bags for the protection of vehicle 
occupants in crashes. Since September 1995, the standard requires the 
lap belt to be lockable to tightly secure child restraint systems, 
without the need to attach a locking clip \3\ or any other device to 
the vehicle's seat belt webbing. This requirement, in S7.1.1.5 of FMVSS 
No. 208, is called the ``lockability'' requirement.\4\ A lockable lap 
belt is best for securing CRSs if seat belts must be used because it 
cinches the seat belt tightly and thus allows for a more secure 
installation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ A locking clip is a flat H-shaped metal clip intended to 
fasten together belt webbing (lap and shoulder portion) at a sliding 
latch plate, to prevent the webbing from sliding through.
    \4\ The procedure for demonstrating compliance with the 
lockability requirement is in S7.1.1.5(c) of FMVSS No. 208. The 
lockability requirement applies to vehicles with a gross vehicle 
weight rating of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    FMVSS No. 208 requires vehicles to be equipped with an emergency 
locking retractor (ELR) for Type 2 (lap/shoulder) seat belt assemblies. 
An ELR is a seat belt retractor that locks only in response to the 
rapid deceleration of the vehicle or rapid spooling out of the seat 
belt webbing from the retractor, and increases the comfort of the seat 
belt assembly as compared to an automatic locking retractor (ALR).\5\ 
To meet the

[[Page 52940]]

lockability requirement, vehicle manufacturers commonly use a 
switchable seat belt retractor (``ELR/ALR'') that can be converted from 
an ELR to an ALR. The retractor is converted from an ELR to an ALR by 
slowly pulling all of the webbing out of the retractor and then letting 
the retractor wind the webbing back up.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ An ALR is a seat belt retractor that locks when the 
continuous motion of spooling the belt out is stopped. From that 
point, the seat belt cannot be pulled out further without first 
letting the belt retract into the retractor housing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    While switchable seat belt retractors and other devices used to 
lock the lap belts enable child restraints to be installed without use 
of a locking clip, motorists still found installation of child 
restraints using a lockable seat belt to be difficult.\6\ NHTSA 
required LATCH so that motorists could use the LATCH system instead of 
the lockable seat belt to install child restraints. Since the LATCH 
system was to replace the vehicle belt system as the means of 
installing child restraints, the agency believed there would be a time 
when lockable lap belts would no longer be needed at vehicle seating 
positions equipped with LATCH.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ Even with lockability, the vehicle belt system still 
depended on the user knowing enough and making the effort to 
manipulate the belt system. Also, the vehicle belt must be routed 
correctly through the child restraint, which may not be an easy task 
in all cases. Further, the lockability requirement did not address 
the effects of forward-mounted seat belt anchorages on slightly 
reduced child restraint effectiveness. 64 FR at 10792.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    That time was estimated to be in 2012 (64 FR at 10804). In 1999, 
NHTSA believed that all child restraints ``in use'' would be LATCH-
equipped by September 1, 2012, since new child restraints would have 
then been subject to the requirement to be LATCH-equipped for ten 
years. We believed that by 2012, child restraints in use would be using 
the LATCH system and not a lockable vehicle seat belt to attach to the 
vehicle seat, and so the lockability requirement would no longer be 
needed in positions with LATCH. Accordingly, the LATCH final rule 
rescinded the lockability requirement for those positions, in vehicles 
manufactured on or after September 1, 2012.

II. Current Information Indicates Need for Lockability

    Notwithstanding the agency's projections in 1999, current 
information available to NHTSA indicates a need to retain the 
lockability requirement of FMVSS No. 208. Current data indicate that 
many motorists are continuing to use the vehicle's belt system to 
install child restraints, even when attaching a LATCH-equipped child 
restraint. To assess consumer response to LATCH, NHTSA conducted a 
survey \7\ from April to October 2005 on the types of restraint systems 
being used to keep children safe while riding in passenger vehicles, 
i.e., whether drivers of vehicles with LATCH were using LATCH to secure 
their LATCH-equipped child restraints to the vehicle, and if so, 
whether they were properly installing the restraints. The survey found 
that in 13 percent of the LATCH-equipped vehicles in which there was a 
child restraint, the restraint was placed in a seat position not 
equipped with lower anchors (the vehicle seat belt was used to secure 
the restraint to the vehicle). Among the 87 percent who placed the 
child restraint at a position equipped with lower anchors, only 60 
percent used the lower attachments to secure the restraint to the 
vehicle.\8\ While the LATCH survey found that consumers who have 
experience with LATCH like the system and that LATCH is helping to 
reduce the insecure installation of child restraints, the report also 
indicated that proper use of LATCH is not inherently evident to 
parents. Many parents do not use LATCH; they may not know about it or 
understand its importance, or may have difficulties using it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ Decina, L.E., Lococo, K.H., and Doyle, C.T., Child Restraint 
Use Survey: LATCH Use and Misuse, DOT HS 810 679, National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC, 2006. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/staticfiles/DOT/NHTSA/Communication%20&%20Consumer%20Information/Articles/Associated%20Files/LATCH_Report_12-2006.pdf
    \8\ Of the child restraints located in a seating position 
equipped with an upper tether anchor, 55 percent were attached to 
the vehicle using the upper tether. 61 percent of upper tether 
nonusers and 55 percent of lower attachment nonusers cited their 
lack of knowledge--not knowing what the anchorages were, that they 
were available in the vehicle, the importance of using them, or how 
to use them properly--as the reason for not using them.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In light of the findings of the LATCH survey, we are reassessing 
the assumption made in the 1999 LATCH final rule that by 2012 LATCH 
will replace seat belts as the means of attaching child restraints. The 
agency held a February 8, 2007, public meeting discussing the LATCH 
survey and related issues,\9\ including whether the lockability 
requirement should be retained given the survey results showing that 
vehicle belts are still being widely used to attach child restraints. 
In response to the LATCH survey and as discussed at the public meeting, 
NHTSA has initiated a comprehensive consumer education campaign about 
LATCH. However, since the LATCH survey indicated that consumers are 
drawn to using the vehicle seat belt system to attach child restraints 
even when LATCH is available, we tentatively conclude that the 
lockability requirement should not sunset in 2012 as scheduled. We 
tentatively conclude that for consumers who use the lap/shoulder belts, 
the belt system should be made as easy-to-use as reasonably possible in 
attaching their child restraints, and that extending the lockability 
requirement is the most reasonable way to make the belt system easy-to-
use.\10\ We are issuing this NPRM to propose keeping the lockability 
requirement in effect past September 1, 2012, and to provide notice to 
vehicle manufacturers that the lockability requirement might not sunset 
in 2012 and that product plans may have to be adjusted.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ 72 FR 3103; Docket NHTSA-2007-26833. Following up on the 
findings of the LATCH survey, NHTSA held the public meeting to bring 
together child restraint and vehicle manufacturers, retailers, 
technicians, researchers and consumer groups to discuss ways to 
improve the design and increase the use of child restraint systems. 
The meeting focused on improving LATCH system designs and educating 
the public about LATCH. A transcript of the meeting can be found in 
Docket No. NHTSA-07-26833-025. See page 28 of meeting transcript.
    \10\ We do not believe that a viable alternative to lockable lap 
belts is a return to locking clips. When locking clips were 
prevalent (before the lockability requirement) a study found that 
locking clips were misused or not used in 72% of the cases observed. 
NHTSA, Observed Patterns of Misuse of Child Safety Seats, Traffic 
Tech, No. 133, Washington, DC, September 1996.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This decision to proceed with an NPRM is supported by other 
information received by the agency. On January 22, 2007, SafetyBeltSafe 
U.S.A. (SafetyBeltSafe) and Safe Ride News petitioned the agency to 
remove the sunset clause in the lockability requirement.\11\ The 
petitioners believed that rescission of the requirement in 2012 could 
have ``deleterious effects on the safety of children.'' According to 
the petitioners, parents and caregivers of special needs children would 
like the continuation of the lockability requirement because the belt 
provides a way of restraining children who find it difficult to sit 
still or upright. According to the petitioners, the parents and 
caregivers believe that the lockability feature of lap belts prevents 
these children from manipulating the seat belt or introducing slack 
into the belt. The petitioners also stated there are child restraints 
recommended for children weighing more than 40 pounds and that a 
lockable lap belt is needed to secure these systems to the vehicle, 
because such a child restraint may exceed a maximum 40 to 48 pound 
weight limit for LATCH set by some vehicle manufacturers. 
SafetyBeltSafe and Safe Ride News also believed that the lockability 
feature of ELR/ALR retractors can be used to lock the unused belt when 
the CRS is anchored with LATCH so that children cannot

[[Page 52941]]

pull the shoulder portion of the belt out and play with it 
inappropriately (e.g., wrapping it around the neck and activating the 
retractor unintentionally). The petitioners also stated that a lockable 
lap belt could be used where the vehicle LATCH anchorage locations are 
not compatible with the child restraint (i.e., where the anchorages are 
deep in the seat cushion or above the seat bight).\12\ The agency 
granted the petition on June 20, 2007. Several comments made in the 
context of the February 8, 2007, public meeting also supported 
retaining the lockability requirement past September 1, 2012 (Advocates 
for Highway and Auto Safety, NHTSA-2006-26735-0003; Ms. Julie Robbins, 
Chicco USA, transcript page 219 of the transcript, supra.).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ A ``Supporters of Lockability Petition'' signed by 177 
supporters was attached to the petition.
    \12\ The petitioners also suggested that the lockability feature 
of lap belts can be used for purposes such as restraining equipment 
or other objects to the vehicle seat or restraining arrestees 
transported in police vehicles. The agency is not issuing this NPRM 
based on those suggestions. The petition also argued that in vehicle 
rear seats with three designated seating positions (three sets of 
lap/shoulder belts) and only two seats of LATCH, manufacturers might 
move lower anchors inboard ``to lessen exposure to intrusion in side 
impacts.'' The petitioners believed that in such a vehicle, to 
accommodate three child restraints in the rear seat the belts would 
have to be used and thus lockability needed. No data was presented 
to support the supposition that LATCH anchors might move inboard or 
on the frequency of the occurrence of the described situation (three 
child restraints simultaneously accommodated in the second row 
seat). The agency does not consider this suggestion as a petition 
for rulemaking or as part of the petition for rulemaking addressed 
by this NPRM.12
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Proposed Effective Date

    NHTSA proposes that a final rule on this rulemaking, assuming one 
is issued, would be effective 120 days after publication of the rule in 
the Federal Register. The effective date is the date on which the 
Federal Register would be amended to reflect the changes made by the 
final rule.

IV. Rulemaking Analyses and Notices

Executive Order 12866 and DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures

    This rulemaking document was not reviewed by the Office of 
Management and Budget under E.O. 12866. It is not considered to be 
significant under E.O. 12866 or the Department's Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034; February 26, 1979). This NPRM proposes to 
remove the sunset of a requirement which is currently in effect. The 
agency is seeking to ensure that lap belts continue to be lockable in 
vehicles manufactured on or after September 1, 2012. The rulemaking 
would not affect current costs of manufacturing lap belt systems. The 
minimal impacts of today's amendment do not warrant preparation of a 
regulatory evaluation.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    In compliance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 et 
seq., NHTSA has evaluated the effects of this action on small entities. 
I hereby certify that this proposed rule would not have a significant 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. The NPRM would affect 
motor vehicle manufacturers, multistage manufacturers and alterers, but 
the entities that qualify as small businesses would not be 
significantly affected by this rulemaking because they are already 
required to comply with the lockability requirements and have been 
since 1995. This NPRM proposes to remove the sunset of the requirement 
to ensure that lap belts continue to be lockable in vehicles 
manufactured on or after September 1, 2012. The rulemaking would not 
affect current costs of manufacturing lap belt systems.

Executive Order 13132

    NHTSA has examined today's NPRM pursuant to Executive Order 13132 
(64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999) and concluded that no additional 
consultation with States, local governments or their representatives is 
mandated beyond the rulemaking process. The agency has concluded that 
the rulemaking would not have federalism implications because a final 
rule, if issued, would not have ``substantial direct effects on the 
States, on the relationship between the national government and the 
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government.''
    Further, no consultation is needed to discuss the preemptive effect 
of today's rulemaking. NHTSA rules can have preemptive effect in at 
least two ways. First, the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety 
Act contains an express preemptive provision: ``When a motor vehicle 
safety standard is in effect under this chapter, a State or a political 
subdivision of a State may prescribe or continue in effect a standard 
applicable to the same aspect of performance of a motor vehicle or 
motor vehicle equipment only if the standard is identical to the 
standard prescribed under this chapter.'' 49 U.S.C. 30103(b)(1). It is 
this statutory command that preempts State law, not today's rulemaking, 
so consultation would be inappropriate.
    Second, in addition to the express preemption noted above, the 
Supreme Court has also recognized that State requirements imposed on 
motor vehicle manufacturers, including sanctions imposed by State tort 
law, can stand as an obstacle to the accomplishment and execution of a 
NHTSA safety standard. When such a conflict is discerned, the Supremacy 
Clause of the Constitution makes their State requirements 
unenforceable. See Geier v. American Honda Motor Co., 529 U.S. 861 
(2000). NHTSA has not discerned any conflict in today's rulemaking. 
However, in part because such conflicts can arise in varied contexts, 
the agency cannot rule out the possibility that such a conflict may 
become clear through subsequent experience with the proposed standard 
and test regime. NHTSA may opine on such conflicts in the future, if 
warranted. See Id. at 883-86.

National Environmental Policy Act

    NHTSA has analyzed this NPRM for the purposes of the National 
Environmental Policy Act. The agency has determined that implementation 
of this action would not have any significant impact on the quality of 
the human environment.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    Under the procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, a person is not required to respond to a collection of 
information by a Federal agency unless the collection displays a valid 
OMB control number. This NPRM would not establish any new information 
collection requirements.

National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act

    Under the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 
(NTTAA) (Pub. L. 104-113), ``all Federal agencies and departments shall 
use technical standards that are developed or adopted by voluntary 
consensus standards bodies, using such technical standards as a means 
to carry out policy objectives or activities determined by the agencies 
and departments.'' There are no voluntary consensus standards 
pertaining to the lockability requirements addressed today.

Civil Justice Reform

    With respect to the review of the promulgation of a new regulation, 
section 3(b) of Executive Order 12988, ``Civil Justice Reform'' (61 FR 
4729, February 7, 1996) requires that Executive agencies make every 
reasonable effort to ensure that the regulation: (1) Clearly specifies 
the preemptive effect; (2) clearly specifies the effect on existing 
Federal law or regulation; (3) provides a clear legal standard for 
affected conduct, while promoting simplification and burden

[[Page 52942]]

reduction; (4) clearly specifies the retroactive effect, if any; (5) 
adequately defines key terms; and (6) addresses other important issues 
affecting clarity and general draftsmanship under any guidelines issued 
by the Attorney General. This document is consistent with that 
requirement.
    Pursuant to this Order, NHTSA notes as follows. The preemptive 
effect of this proposed rule is discussed above. NHTSA notes further 
that there is no requirement that individuals submit a petition for 
reconsideration or pursue other administrative proceeding before they 
may file suit in court.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 requires agencies to 
prepare a written assessment of the costs, benefits and other effects 
of proposed or final rules that include a Federal mandate likely to 
result in the expenditure by State, local or tribal governments, in the 
aggregate, or by the private sector, of more than $100 million annually 
(adjusted for inflation with base year of 1995). This NPRM would not 
result in expenditures by State, local or tribal governments, in the 
aggregate, or by the private sector in excess of $100 million annually.

Executive Order 13045

    Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997) applies to any 
rule that: (1) Is determined to be ``economically significant'' as 
defined under E.O. 12866, and (2) concerns an environmental, health, or 
safety risk that NHTSA has reason to believe may have a 
disproportionate effect on children. This rulemaking is not subject to 
the Executive Order because it is not economically significant as 
defined in E.O. 12866.

Executive Order 13211

    Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 18, 2001) applies to any 
rulemaking that: (1) Is determined to be economically significant as 
defined under E.O. 12866, and is likely to have a significantly adverse 
effect on the supply of, distribution of, or use of energy; or (2) that 
is designated by the Administrator of the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs as a significant energy action. This rulemaking is 
not subject to E.O. 13211.

Plain Language

    Executive Order 12866 and the President's memorandum of June 1, 
1998, require each agency to write all rules in plain language. 
Application of the principles of plain language includes consideration 
of the following questions:
     Have we organized the material to suit the public's needs?
     Are the requirements in the rule clearly stated?
     Does the rule contain technical language or jargon that 
isn't clear?
     Would a different format (grouping and order of sections, 
use of headings, paragraphing) make the rule easier to understand?
     Would more (but shorter) sections be better?
     Could we improve clarity by adding tables, lists, or 
diagrams?
     What else could we do to make the rule easier to 
understand?
    If you have any responses to these questions, please include them 
in your comments on this proposal.

Regulation Identifier Number (RIN)

    The Department of Transportation assigns a regulation identifier 
number (RIN) to each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of 
Federal Regulations. The Regulatory Information Service Center 
publishes the Unified Agenda in April and October of each year. You may 
use the RIN contained in the heading at the beginning of this document 
to find this action in the Unified Agenda.

Privacy Act

    Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments 
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477-78).

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 571

    Imports, Motor vehicle safety, Motor vehicles, and Tires.

    In consideration of the foregoing, NHTSA proposes to amend 49 CFR 
part 571 as set forth below.

PART 571--FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS

    1. The authority citation for part 571 continues to read as 
follows:

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

    2. Section 571.208 is amended by:
    A. Revising the introductory paragraph of S7.1.1.5, and
    B. Removing S7.1.1.5(d).
    The amendments read as follows:


Sec.  571.208  Standard No. 208; Occupant crash protection.

* * * * *
    S7.1.1.5 Passenger cars, and trucks, buses, and multipurpose 
passenger vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kg (10,000 lb) or less 
manufactured on or after September 1, 1995 shall meet the requirements 
of S7.1.1.5(a), S7.1.1.5(b) and S7.1.1.5(c).
* * * * *

    Issued on September 5, 2008.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. E8-21026 Filed 9-11-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P