Dive Brief:
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is proposing to give heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers three additional years to comply with updated seat belt assembly anchorage standards, according to a June 26 filing.
- Under the proposal, trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating above 10,000 pounds would have until Sept. 1, 2030, to meet the requirements, extending the current Sept. 1, 2027, compliance deadline.
- NHTSA reopened the issue after receiving a petition from the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association. “Upon consideration of EMA's petition for reconsideration, NHTSA recognizes the potential for unforeseen challenges and re-evaluation costs for heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers,” the agency said.
Dive Insight:
NHTSA finalized seat belt anchorage testing requirements in 2024 to improve occupant protection by ensuring seat belt anchorages remain securely attached to a vehicle during a crash. The rule updates testing procedures that have largely remained unchanged since 1967, according to the proposal.
Among the updates, the regulation adds an optional Force Application Device, or FAD, designed to better simulate how crash forces are transmitted through a human occupant. It also refines long-standing testing methods that use rigid “body blocks” to apply loads to seat belt systems.
In its petition, the EMA asked the NHTSA to exempt heavy-duty vehicles from the rule, pending additional research to ensure the rule is feasible for such vehicles. As an alternative, the trade association requested NHTSA delay the compliance date, arguing manufacturers need additional time to validate existing seat belt designs under the new loading conditions to avoid costly redevelopment.
The proposal is now open for public comment until 11:59 p.m. on July 27 before NHTSA issues a final decision on whether to extend the compliance deadline.
