[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 215 (Monday, November 9, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57623-57624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-26932]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 571

[Docket No. NHTSA-2009-0108]


Final Vehicle Safety Rulemaking and Research Priority Plan 2009-
2011

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

ACTION: Plan availability.

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SUMMARY: This document announces the availability of the Final Vehicle 
Safety Rulemaking and Research Priority Plan 2009-2011 (Priority Plan) 
in Docket No. NHTSA-2009-0108. The draft Priority Plan was announced in 
a Request for Comment published in the Federal Register on July 1, 
2009. This document also summarizes the public comments received in 
response to that Request for Comments, and announces NHTSA's intent to 
incorporate those comments in the process of developing a longer-term 
motor vehicle safety strategic plan that would encompass the period 
2010 to 2020, and will be announced in a separate Federal Register 
notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Joseph Carra, Director of 
Strategic Planning and Integration, National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, Room W48-318, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, 
DC 20590. Telephone: 202-366-0361. E-mail: [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 1, 2009, NHTSA published a Request 
for Comments (RFC) in the Federal Register (74 FR 31387) seeking public 
comment on the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Rulemaking and Research Priority 
Plan 2009-2011 (Priority Plan).
    NHTSA received 29 comments on the July 2009 RFC, from vehicle 
manufacturers (Ford; Fuji Heavy Industries USA (Subaru)), parts 
suppliers (Delphi; Bendix), industry organizations and associations 
(Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (Alliance); American Trucking 
Association (ATA); Heavy Duty Brake Manufacturers Association), 
automobile safety advocates (Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety 
(Advocates); Safe Kids USA; SafetyBeltSafe USA; Automotive Occupant 
Restraints Council (AORC), and concerned organizations and individuals 
(The Center for Injury Research and Prevention at the Children's 
Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP); Safe Ride News; John Walsh; William M. 
Gorman; Karen Ahmed). All of the comments on the NHTSA Vehicle Safety 
Rulemaking and Research Priority Plan 2009-2011 can be reviewed in 
http://www.regulations.gov (see Docket No. NHTSA-2009-0108).
    Most commenters expressed general support of the Priority Plan, 
with several commenters commending NHTSA for publishing the RFC and 
allowing public comment. Two commenters noted that periodic publication 
of the Priority Plan, along with status updates, is good public policy 
and that it would help them align their own research plans. Commenters 
generally agreed with the priority areas NHTSA identified in the plan. 
Several of them suggested some additional projects that the Agency 
should consider within the areas of child safety, crash avoidance and 
crash mitigation technologies, drowsy, distracted and impaired drivers, 
and heavy truck stability control.
    Several commenters suggested that it would be helpful if the plan 
more clearly explained how short-term priorities fit into NHTSA's 
overall mission to reduce fatalities and injuries in automobile 
crashes, and requested opportunities to meet to further discuss 
research plans and intermediate milestones. One commenter applauded the 
plan for being aggressive on behalf of highway safety. One commenter 
felt that the Priority Plan had serious deficiencies in that, in their 
view, it did not adequately address very specific areas including 
motorcoaches and related NTSB recommendations, crash compatibility 
regulatory action, older occupant protection, ejection mitigation 
regulatory action, glazing performance standards, consumer tire ratings 
beyond consumer information, remanufactured heavy vehicle truck tires, 
and motorcycle initiatives. That commenter suggested that these 
perceived deficiencies be corrected in the long-term plan. One 
commenter expressed concern that the Agency may not be adequately 
funded to achieve the goals delineated in the Priority Plan. Finally, 
several commenters discussed ways to improve crash datasets and to 
leverage existing SAE standards.
    NHTSA appreciates the public response to the July 2009 RFC 
regarding the short-term Priority Plan, and looks forward to continuing 
to engage stakeholders in the planning and formulation of priority 
research and rulemaking activities in order to further its mission of 
reducing fatalities and injuries in crashes on the nation's roadways. 
In considering the breadth and strategic nature of the comments 
received, the Agency has determined that communication of how the 
Priority

[[Page 57624]]

Plan fits within the over-arching framework of its program goals is 
best accomplished by publication of an already-in-process integrated 10 
Year Vehicle Safety Strategic Plan (Strategic Plan) that covers both 
the short-term and long-term priorities of the Agency. Such a Strategic 
Plan will allow the Agency to communicate its programs and priorities 
in a longer range strategic context and will serve the interests of the 
public in understanding and responding to the Agency's goals. 
Therefore, NHTSA will be considering the comments received in response 
to the July 2009 RFC in deliberations for developing a Strategic Plan 
that will cover the time period 2010 through 2020.
    For purposes of apprising the public on the status of progress 
relative to the efforts delineated in the short-term Priority Plan, 
NHTSA is publishing to the docket referenced above, in conjunction with 
this Notice, a final version of the Priority Plan which includes 
updates since it was published in July 2009. Specifically, this final 
version of the Priority Plan includes updates in the areas of 
background data analysis, motorcycle braking, New Car Assessment 
Program Vehicle-Child Restraint System (CRS) fit program, ejection 
mitigation, power windows, brake transmission shift interlock, child 
restraints in side impacts, rear visibility of vehicles, fuel economy, 
consumer tire rating program, motorcycle helmet labeling, 
compatibility, pedestrian safety, and heavy truck stopping distance. 
Added to the final plan is a project to finalize a driver distraction 
plan under the high-priority section ``Light-Vehicle Crash Avoidance 
and Mitigation--Advanced Technologies.''
    Interested persons may obtain a copy of the plan, ``Final Vehicle 
Safety Rulemaking and Research Priority Plan 2009-2011,'' by 
downloading a copy of the document. To download a copy of the document, 
go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions, or 
visit Docket Management Facility at the street address listed above 
under ADDRESSES and reference Docket No. NHTSA-2009-0108.
    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) or you may visit http://www.dot.gov/privacy.html.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the 
online instructions, or visit Docket Management Facility at the street 
address listed above.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30111, 30117, 30168; delegation of 
authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.

    Issued on: November 4, 2009.
Ronald L. Medford,
Senior Associate Administrator for Vehicle Safety.
[FR Doc. E9-26932 Filed 11-6-09; 8:45 am]
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