
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 15]
[CITE: 49USC30111]

 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
             SUBTITLE VI--MOTOR VEHICLE AND DRIVER PROGRAMS
 
                             PART A--GENERAL
 
                    CHAPTER 301--MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY
 
                 SUBCHAPTER II--STANDARDS AND COMPLIANCE
 
Sec. 30111. Standards

    (a) General Requirements.--The Secretary of Transportation shall 
prescribe motor vehicle safety standards. Each standard shall be 
practicable, meet the need for motor vehicle safety, and be stated in 
objective terms.
    (b) Considerations and Consultation.--When prescribing a motor 
vehicle safety standard under this chapter, the Secretary shall--
        (1) consider relevant available motor vehicle safety 
    information;
        (2) consult with the agency established under the Act of August 
    20, 1958 (Public Law 85-684, 72 Stat. 635), and other appropriate 
    State or interstate authorities (including legislative committees);
        (3) consider whether a proposed standard is reasonable, 
    practicable, and appropriate for the particular type of motor 
    vehicle or motor vehicle equipment for which it is prescribed; and
        (4) consider the extent to which the standard will carry out 
    section 30101 of this title.

    (c) Cooperation.--The Secretary may advise, assist, and cooperate 
with departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the United States 
Government, States, and other public and private agencies in developing 
motor vehicle safety standards.
    (d) Effective Dates of Standards.--The Secretary shall specify the 
effective date of a motor vehicle safety standard prescribed under this 
chapter in the order prescribing the standard. A standard may not become 
effective before the 180th day after the standard is prescribed or later 
than one year after it is prescribed. However, the Secretary may 
prescribe a different effective date after finding, for good cause 
shown, that a different effective date is in the public interest and 
publishing the reasons for the finding.
    (e) 5-Year Plan for Testing Standards.--The Secretary shall 
establish and periodically review and update on a continuing basis a 5-
year plan for testing motor vehicle safety standards prescribed under 
this chapter that the Secretary considers capable of being tested. In 
developing the plan and establishing testing priorities, the Secretary 
shall consider factors the Secretary considers appropriate, consistent 
with section 30101 of this title and the Secretary's other duties and 
powers under this chapter. The Secretary may change at any time those 
priorities to address matters the Secretary considers of greater 
priority. The initial plan may be the 5-year plan for compliance testing 
in effect on December 18, 1991.

(Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 944.)

                                          Historical and Revision Notes
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
           Revised  Section                    Source (U.S. Code)              
 Source (Statutes at Large)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
30111(a)..............................  15:1392(a), (b), (e) (1st        Sept. 
9, 1966, Pub. L. 89-563, Secs.
                                         sentence).                       102(1
3), 103(a)-(c), (e), (f), 107
                                                                          (rela
ted to standards), 80 Stat. 719,
                                                                          721.
30111(b)..............................  15:1391(13).
                                        15:1392(f).
30111(c)..............................  15:1396 (related to standards).
30111(d)..............................  15:1392(c), (e) (last
                                         sentence).
30111(e)..............................  15:1392(j).                      Sept. 
9, 1966, Pub. L. 89-563, 80 Stat.
                                                                          718, 
Sec.  103(j); added Dec. 18,
                                                                          1991,
 Pub. L. 102-240, Sec.  2505, 105
                                                                          Stat.
 2084.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------

    In subsection (a), the words ``shall prescribe'' are substituted for 
``shall establish by order'' in 15:1392(a) and ``may by order'' in 
15:1392(e) (1st sentence) for consistency. The words ``amend or revoke'' 
in 15:1392(e) (1st sentence) and 1397(b)(1) (last sentence) are omitted 
because they are included in ``prescribe''. The words ``appropriate 
Federal'' in 15:1392(a) and ``Federal'' in 15:1392(e) (1st sentence) are 
omitted as surplus. The words ``established under this section'' are 
omitted because of the restatement. The text of 15:1392(b) is omitted as 
surplus because 5:chs. 5, subch. II, and 7 apply unless otherwise 
stated.
    In subsection (b)(1), the words ``including the results of research, 
development, testing and evaluation activities conducted pursuant to 
this chapter'' are omitted as surplus.
    In subsection (b)(2), the words ``agency established under the Act 
of August 20, 1958 (Public Law 85-684, 72 Stat. 635)'' are substituted 
for 15:1391(13) and ``the Vehicle Equipment Safety Commission'' in 
15:1392(f) because of the restatement. The citation in parenthesis is 
included only for information purposes.
    In subsection (b)(4), the words ``contribute to'' are omitted as 
surplus.
    In subsection (c), the words ``departments, agencies, and 
instrumentalities of the United States Government, States, and other 
public and private agencies'' are substituted for ``other Federal 
departments and agencies, and State and other interested public and 
private agencies'' for consistency. The words ``planning and'' are 
omitted as surplus.
    In subsection (d), the words ``The Secretary'' are added for 
clarity. The words ``effective date'' are substituted for ``the date . . 
. is to take effect'' to eliminate unnecessary words. The words ``under 
this chapter'' are added for clarity. The words ``However, the Secretary 
may prescribe a different effective date'' are substituted for ``unless 
the Secretary'' for clarity. The word ``different'' is substituted for 
``earlier or later'' to eliminate unnecessary words.
    In subsection (e), the words ``duties and powers'' are substituted 
for ``responsibilities'', and the word ``change'' is substituted for 
``adjust'', and for clarity and consistency in the revised title.

                       References in Text

    Act of August 20, 1958, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), is set out as 
a note under former section 313 of Title 23, Highways.
