Interpretation ID: aiam2406
President
ACUTEK
5th & Dryden
Odessa
MO
64076;
Dear Mr. Ploeger: This is in reply to your letter of October 13, 1976, to Mr. Lewis C Owen, Safety Standards Engineer, concerning an interpretation of the words 'optically combined' as they apply to your Acutek 301 combination rear lamp.; In the Acutek lamp, the data you submitted indicate that when th taillamp bulb is activated independently from the clearance lamp bulb, and vice versa, there is no appreciable amount of incidental light emitted from the lens of the clearance lamp. The amount of light 'spill' appears to be so small that it would not be interpreted (by a driver following the vehicle on which it is installed) as illuminating the lens of the taillamp when operated in the clearance lamp mode, and vice versa.; Accordingly, the Acutek 301 combination rear lamp appears to meet th requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, 'Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.'; Sincerely, E. T. Driver, Director, Office of Crash Avoidance, Moto Vehicle Programs;