
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document affected by Public Law 106-414 Section 1]
[Document affected by Public Law 106-414 Section 5(b)(2)]
[CITE: 49USC30101]

 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
             SUBTITLE VI--MOTOR VEHICLE AND DRIVER PROGRAMS
 
                             PART A--GENERAL
 
                    CHAPTER 301--MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY
 
                          SUBCHAPTER I--GENERAL
 
Sec. 30101. Purpose and policy

    The purpose of this chapter is to reduce traffic accidents and 
deaths and injuries resulting from traffic accidents. Therefore it is 
necessary--
        (1) to prescribe motor vehicle safety standards for motor 
    vehicles and motor vehicle equipment in interstate commerce; and
        (2) to carry out needed safety research and development.

(Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 941.)

                                          Historical and Revision Notes
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
           Revised  Section                    Source (U.S. Code)              
 Source (Statutes at Large)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
30101.................................  15:1381.                         Sept. 
9, 1966, Pub. L. 89-563, Sec.  1,
                                                                          80 St
at. 718.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------

    The words ``Congress hereby declares that'', ``to persons'', and 
``Congress determines that'' are omitted as surplus. The words ``motor 
vehicle'' before ``equipment'' are added for consistency. The words 
``and to expand the national driver register'' are omitted because 
section 401 of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 
(Public Law 89-563, 80 Stat. 730), the only section in this law related 
to the national driver register, was superseded by the National Driver 
Register Act of 1982 (Public Law 97-364, 96 Stat. 1740).


                      Short Title of 1998 Amendment

    Pub. L. 105-178, title VII, Sec. 7101, June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 465, 
provided that: ``This subtitle [subtitle A (Secs. 7101-7107) of title 
VII of Pub. L. 105-178, enacting section 30105 of this title, amending 
sections 30104, 30114, 30120, 30123, 30127, 32102, 32304, and 32705 of 
this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section 
and sections 30114 and 30127 of this title] may be cited as the 
`National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Reauthorization Act of 
1998'.''


                      Short Title of 1996 Amendment

    Pub. L. 104-152, Sec. 1, July 2, 1996, 110 Stat. 1384, provided 
that: ``This Act [amending sections 30501 to 30505 and 33109 of this 
title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 30502 of 
this title] may be cited as the `Anti-Car Theft Improvements Act of 
1996'.''


              Study on Interior Device To Release Trunk Lid

    Pub. L. 105-178, title VII, Sec. 7106(e), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 
469, provided that: ``The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 
shall conduct a study of the benefits to motor vehicle drivers of a 
regulation to require the installation in a motor vehicle of an interior 
device to release the trunk lid. Not later than 18 months after the date 
of the enactment of this Act [June 9, 1998], the Administration shall 
submit a report on the results of the study to the Committee on Commerce 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate.''


National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Authorization Act of 1991

    Pub. L. 102-240, title II, part B, Dec. 18, 1991, 105 Stat. 2081, as 
amended by Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 7(b), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1379, 
provided that:
``SEC. 2500. SHORT TITLE.
    ``This part may be cited as the `National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration Authorization Act of 1991'.
``[SEC. 2501. Repealed. Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 7(b), July 5, 1994, 108 
        Stat. 1379.]
``SEC. 2502. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
    ``(a) Definitions.--As used in this part--
        ``(1) the term `bus' means a motor vehicle with motive power, 
    except a trailer, designed for carrying more than 10 persons;
        ``(2) the term `multipurpose passenger vehicle' means a motor 
    vehicle with motive power (except a trailer), designed to carry 10 
    persons or fewer, which is constructed either on a truck chassis or 
    with special features for occasional off-road operation;
        ``(3) the term `passenger car' means a motor vehicle with motive 
    power (except a multipurpose passenger vehicle, motorcycle, or 
    trailer), designed for carrying 10 persons or fewer;
        ``(4) the term `truck' means a motor vehicle with motive power, 
    except a trailer, designed primarily for the transportation of 
    property or special purpose equipment; and
        ``(5) the term `Secretary' means the Secretary of 
    Transportation.
    ``(b) Procedure.--
        ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), any 
    action taken under section 2503 shall be taken in accordance with 
    the applicable provisions of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle 
    Safety Act of 1966 ([formerly] 15 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.).
        ``(2) Specific procedure.--
            ``(A) Initiation.--To initiate an action under section 2503, 
        the Secretary shall, not later than May 31, 1992, publish in the 
        Federal Register an advance notice of proposed rulemaking or a 
        notice of proposed rulemaking, except that if the Secretary is 
        unable to publish such a notice by such date, the Secretary 
        shall by such date publish in the Federal Register a notice that 
        the Secretary will begin such action by a certain date which may 
        not be later than January 31, 1993 and include in such notice 
        the reasons for the delay. A notice of delayed action shall not 
        be considered agency action subject to judicial review. If the 
        Secretary publishes an advance notice of proposed rulemaking, 
        the Secretary is not required to follow such notice with a 
        notice of proposed rulemaking if the Secretary determines on the 
        basis of such advanced notice and the comments received thereon 
        that the contemplated action should not be taken under the 
        provisions of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act 
        of 1966 ([formerly] 15 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.), including the 
        provisions of section 103 of such Act ([formerly] 15 U.S.C. 
        1392), and if the Secretary publishes the reasons for such 
        determination consistent with chapter 5 of title 5, United 
        States Code.
            ``(B) Completion.--
                ``(i) Period.--Action under paragraphs (1) through (4) 
            of section 2503 which was begun under subparagraph (A) shall 
            be completed within 26 months of the date of publication of 
            an advance notice of proposed rulemaking or 18 months of the 
            date of publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking. The 
            Secretary may extend for any reason the period for 
            completion of a rulemaking initiated by the issuance of a 
            notice of proposed rulemaking for not more than 6 months if 
            the Secretary publishes the reasons for such extension. The 
            extension of such period shall not be considered agency 
            action subject to judicial review.
                ``(ii) Action.--A rulemaking under paragraphs (1) 
            through (4) of section 2503 shall be considered completed 
            when the Secretary promulgates a final rule or when the 
            Secretary decides not to promulgate a rule (which decision 
            may include deferral of the action or reinitiation of the 
            action). The Secretary may not decide against promulgation 
            of a final rule because of lack of time to complete 
            rulemaking. Any such rulemaking actions shall be published 
            in the Federal Register, together with the reasons for such 
            decisions, consistent with chapter 5 of title 5, United 
            States Code, and the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle 
            Safety Act of 1966 [formerly 15 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.].
                ``(iii) Special rule.--
          ``(I) Period.--Action under paragraph (5) of section 2503 
                which was begun under subparagraph (A) shall be 
                completed within 24 months of the date of publication of 
                an advance notice of proposed rulemaking or a notice of 
                proposed rulemaking. If the Secretary determines that 
                there is a need for delay and if the public comment 
                period is closed, the Secretary may extend the date for 
                completion for not more than 6 months and shall publish 
                in the Federal Register a notice stating the reasons for 
                the extension and setting a date certain for completion 
                of the action. The extension of the completion date 
                shall not be considered agency action subject to 
                judicial review.
          ``(II) Action.--A rulemaking under paragraph (5) of section 
                2503 shall be considered completed when the Secretary 
                promulgates a final rule with standards on improved head 
                injury protection.
            ``(C) Standard.--The Secretary may, as part of any action 
        taken under section 2503, amend any motor vehicle safety 
        standard or establish a new standard under the National Traffic 
        and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 ([formerly] 15 U.S.C. 1381 
        et seq.).
``SEC. 2503. MATTERS BEFORE THE SECRETARY.
    ``The Secretary shall address the following matters in accordance 
with section 2502:
        ``(1) Protection against unreasonable risk of rollovers of 
    passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, and trucks with a 
    gross vehicle weight rating of 8,500 pounds or less and an unloaded 
    vehicle weight of 5,500 pounds or less.
        ``(2) Extension of passenger car side impact protection to 
    multipurpose passenger vehicles and trucks with a gross vehicle 
    weight rating of 8,500 pounds or less and an unloaded vehicle weight 
    of 5,500 pounds or less.
        ``(3) Safety of child booster seats used in passenger cars and 
    other appropriate motor vehicles.
        ``(4) Improved design for safety belts.
        ``(5) Improved head impact protection from interior components 
    of passenger cars (i.e. roof rails, pillars, and front headers).
``[SECS. 2504, 2505. Repealed. Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 7(b), July 5, 1994, 
        108 Stat. 1379.]
``SEC. 2506. REAR SEATBELTS.
    ``The Secretary shall expend such portion of the funds authorized to 
be appropriated under the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act 
([formerly] 15 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.), for fiscal year 1993, as the 
Secretary deems necessary for the purpose of disseminating information 
to consumers regarding the manner in which passenger cars may be 
retrofitted with lap and shoulder rear seatbelts.
``SEC. 2507. BRAKE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR PASSENGER CARS.
    ``Not later than December 31, 1993, the Secretary, in accordance 
with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 [formerly 
15 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.], shall publish an advance notice of proposed 
rulemaking to consider the need for any additional brake performance 
standards for passenger cars, including antilock brake standards. The 
Secretary shall complete such rulemaking (in accordance with section 
2502(b)(2)(B)(ii)) not later than 36 months from the date of initiation 
of such advance notice of proposed rulemaking. In order to facilitate 
and encourage innovation and early application of economical and 
effective antilock brake systems for all such vehicles, the Secretary 
shall, as part of the rulemaking, consider any such brake system adopted 
by a manufacturer.
``[SEC. 2508. Repealed. Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 7(b), July 5, 1994, 108 
        Stat. 1379.]
``SEC. 2509. HEAD INJURY IMPACT STUDY.
    ``The Secretary, in the case of any head injury protection matters 
not subject to section 2503(5) for which the Secretary is on the date of 
enactment of this Act [Dec. 18, 1991] examining the need for rulemaking 
and is conducting research, shall provide a report to Congress by the 
end of fiscal year 1993 identifying those matters and their status. The 
report shall include a statement of any actions planned toward 
initiating such rulemaking no later than fiscal year 1994 or 1995 
through use of either an advance notice of proposed rulemaking or a 
notice of proposed rulemaking and completing such rulemaking as soon as 
possible thereafter.''


                     Fuel System Integrity Standard

    Pub. L. 93-492, title I, Sec. 108, Oct. 27, 1974, 88 Stat. 1482, 
provided that:
    ``(a) Ratification of Standard.--Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard Number 301 (49 CFR 571.301-75; Docket No. 73-20, Notice 2) as 
published on March 21, 1974 (39 F.R. 10588-10590) shall take effect on 
the dates prescribed in such standard (as so published).
    ``(b) Amendment or Repeal of Standard.--The Secretary may amend the 
standard described in subsection (a) in order to correct technical 
errors in the standard, and may amend or repeal such standard if he 
determines such amendment or repeal will not diminish the level of motor 
vehicle safety.''

 Ex. Ord. No. 11357. Administration of Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety 
         Through National Highway Safety Bureau and Its Director

    Ex. Ord. No. 11357, June 6, 1967, 32 F.R. 8225, provided:
    By virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United 
States by Section 201 of the Highway Safety Act of 1966, as amended (80 
Stat. 735, 943) [set out as a note under section 401 of Title 23, 
Highways], and by Section 3(f)(3) of the Department of Transportation 
Act (80 Stat. 932) [former 49 U.S.C. 1652(f)(3)], it is hereby ordered 
that the provisions of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act 
of 1966, as amended (80 Stat. 718, 943) [formerly 15 U.S.C. 1381 et 
seq.], shall be carried out through the National Highway Safety Bureau 
and the Director thereof.
                                                      Lyndon B. Johnson.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 30111, 30122, 30123, 30167 
of this title.
