[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 143 (Tuesday, July 28, 2026)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 47193]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-15231]
[[Page 47193]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
49 CFR Part 571
[Docket No. NHTSA-2026-0728]
RIN 2127-AN00
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Modernization of FMVSS
No. 135 To Accommodate ADS-Equipped Vehicles; Extension of Comment
Period
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: In response to a request from Varnum LLP (Varnum), NHTSA is
announcing a 30-day extension of the public comment period for the
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published on June 26, 2026
proposing to amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No.
135, ``Light vehicle brake systems.'' The proposed modifications would
distinguish how regulations apply to vehicles with and without manually
operated driving controls. The comment period for the NPRM was
originally scheduled to end on July 27, 2026. It will now end on August
26, 2026.
DATES: The comment period for the NPRM published at 91 FR 38593 on June
26, 2026, is extended to August 26, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by the docket number in
the heading of this document through any of the following methods:
Electronic submissions: Go to the Federal eRulemaking
Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions
for submitting comments.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket Management, U.S. Department
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Suite W58-
213, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except on Federal holidays. To be sure someone is there to help
you, please call (202) 366-9826 or (202) 366-9317 before coming.
Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and
docket number for this notice. 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) or you may visit https://www.transportation.gov/privacy.
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 via internet.
Confidential Business Information: If you claim that any of the
information in your comment (including any additional documents or
attachments) constitutes confidential business information within the
meaning of 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4) or is protected from disclosure pursuant
to 18 U.S.C. 1905, please see the detailed instructions given under the
Public Participation heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical issues, you may contact
Ms. Lina Valivullah, Office of Automation Safety; Telephone: 202-366-
1810; Email: [email protected]; Facsimile: 202-493-2739. For
legal issues, you may contact Mr. David Jasinski, NHTSA Office of the
Chief Counsel, Email: [email protected]. The mailing address of
these officials is: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 26, 2026, NHTSA published an NPRM to
amend FMVSS No. 135.\1\ The proposed modifications would distinguish
how regulations apply to vehicles with and without manually operated
driving controls. The proposed modifications would clarify definitions,
telltale requirements, performance requirements, and test procedures in
the standard and remove sections that are no longer relevant. The
stopping distance performance requirements, which address the primary
safety purpose of the standard, would still apply to all subject
vehicles. This rulemaking would remove unnecessary regulatory burdens
and costs without detriment to vehicle safety. The NPRM provided a 30-
day comment period which closes on July 27, 2026.
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\1\ 91 FR 38593.
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On July 23, 2026, NHTSA received a request from Varnum for a 30-day
extension of the comment period.\2\ Varnum stated that the NPRM
addresses highly technical subject matter and raises novel questions,
requiring significant time to thoroughly review the proposed changes
and develop comments. Varnum said a 30-day extension of the comment
period would allow Varnum to advise clients in submission of
comprehensive comments on the NPRM.
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\2\ NHTSA-2026-0728.
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NHTSA is granting the request to extend the comment period by 30
days. NHTSA has determined that the requestors have shown good cause
for an extension and that the extension is consistent with public
interest. A 30-day extension appropriately balances NHTSA's interest in
providing the public with sufficient time to comment on the NPRM with
its interest in obtaining specific feedback from stakeholders in a
timely manner. Accordingly, NHTSA is extending the comment period until
August 26, 2026.\3\
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\3\ Readers should note that, even after the comment closing
date has passed, interested persons are able to file comments in the
docket, which NHTSA will consider to the extent practicable. 49 CFR
553.23. NHTSA may also continue to file relevant information in the
docket as it becomes available. Accordingly, the Agency recommends
that readers periodically check the docket for new material.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115, 30117, and 30166;
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delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.95.
Jonathan Morrison,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2026-15231 Filed 7-27-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P