Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Roof Crush Resistance

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On April 27, 1999, NHTSA published a final rule which revised the test procedure in Standard No. 216, Roof Crush Resistance, to make it more suitable to testing motor vehicles with raised roofs. The final rule provided that the new test procedure would be used for vehicles manufactured on or after October 25, 1999. The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) petitioned for reconsideration of the rule, stating that some manufacturers of conversion vans with raised roofs must cease production of their vehicles because they are unable to demonstrate compliance with the new test procedure. Ford Motor Company (Ford) also petitioned for reconsideration of the test procedure used to test vehicles with raised roofs. We are issuing this final rule in partial response to those petitions. The effect of this document is to stay, until October 25, 2000, the provision specifying the new test procedure as the sole test procedure. This document amends Standard No. 216 so that, for vehicles manufactured during the stay, vehicle manufacturers have an option of using either the new test procedure or the test procedure that was specified in Standard No. 216 immediately prior to October 25, 1999