Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Glazing Materials

Résumé

This notice withdraws a proposal in which the agency considered amending Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205, Glazing materials, to revise its light transmittance requirements. The amendments would have specified a new procedure for testing the light transmittance of glazing samples. Instead of specifying that they be tested at the currently specified 90 degree angle, the standard would have specified that they be tested at the acute angle at which the glazing would be installed in the vehicle (the rake angle). The amendments also would have added light transmittance requirements for light trucks, vans, sport utility vehicles, and buses of less than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), and specified different transmissibility requirements for the various windows. After reviewing the available information, NHTSA has decided to withdraw this proposal. The reasons for taking this action include the following: the cost impacts of testing at the installed angle pursuant to the proposed new procedure would not be adequately offset by the potential safety benefits of increased visibility if glazing continues to be installed at current rake angles; the practical limi