🚌NHTSA Considers Temporary Exemption for Motorcoach Safety Regulations
NHTSA has received a request for a temporary exemption from Nix Coach Interiors, LLC, (petitioner) seeking a temporary exemption from a shoulder belt requirement of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, "Occupant crash protection," for side- facing seats on motorcoaches. The petitioner seeks an exemption to allow them to install Type 1 seat belts (lap belt only) at side-facing seating positions, instead of Type 2 seat belts (lap and shoulder belts) required by FMVSS No. 208. The petitioner states that, absent the requested exemption, it will otherwise be unable to sell a motor vehicle whose overall level of safety is equivalent to or exceeds the overall level of safety of non-exempted motor vehicles. NHTSA is publishing this document to notify the public of the receipt of the petition and to request comment on it, in accordance with statutory and administrative provisions.
Learn More🚌Exemption Notice for Motorcoach Seat Belt Requirements
In accordance with our regulations, NHTSA is granting 13 petitions for renewal of temporary exemptions from the requirement to install Type 2 seat belts (i.e., shoulder belts) at side-facing seats on motorcoaches. The 13 petitioners are final-stage manufacturers of entertainer-type motorcoaches, seeking temporary exemptions from the shoulder belt requirement of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, "Occupant crash protection," for side-facing seats. The granted exemptions permit the petitioners to continue to install Type 1 seat belts (lap belt only) at side-facing seating positions, instead of Type 2 seat belts (lap and shoulder belts) required by FMVSS No. 208. After reviewing the petitions and the comments received, the agency has determined that the requested exemption renewals are warranted to enable each petitioner to sell vehicles whose overall level of safety or impact protection is at least equal to that of a nonexempted vehicle.
Learn More🚍Grant of Temporary Exemption for Motorcoach Seat Belt Requirements
In accordance with our regulations, NHTSA is granting a petition from Legacy Limousines and Luxury Coaches for a temporary exemption from the requirement to install Type 2 seat belts (i.e., shoulder belts) at side-facing locations in the company's motorcoaches. The petitioner is a final-stage manufacturer of entertainer-type motorcoaches, seeking temporary exemption from the shoulder belt requirement of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, "Occupant crash protection," for side-facing seats on motorcoaches. The granted exemption permits the petitioner to install Type 1 seat belts (lap belt only) at side-facing seating positions, instead of the Type 2 seat belts (lap and shoulder belts) required by FMVSS No. 208. After reviewing the petition and the comments received, the agency has determined that the requested exemption is warranted to enable the petitioner to sell a vehicle whose overall level of safety or impact protection is at least equal to that of a nonexempted vehicle.
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