Business · 22/06/2005Updated: 10/17/2026 · 1 min read

NHTSA Proposes Changes to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for Designated Seating Positions and Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is proposing amendments to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSSs) to improve the definition of designated seating positions and to establish a new procedure for determining the number of designated seating positions on various types of vehicles, including bench and split bench seats. The proposed rule aims to enhance the objectivity of the definition and ensure that the number of designated seating positions and occupant restraint systems in vehicles accurately reflect real-world occupancy.