Interpretation ID: aiam2978
Counsel
Engineering Division
Yamaha Motor Corporation USA
P.O. Box 6620
Buena Park
CA 90622;
Dear Mr. Schmitt: This is in reply to your letter of February 22, 1979, with respect t Yamaha's plan to equip its motorcycles with a hazard warning signal system.; You have cited S4.5.5 of Standard No. 108 which requires that th hazard warning signal 'operate independently of the ignition or equivalent switch'. Because of the ease with which such a switch can be operated on an open vehicle such as a motorcycle by a person other than the vehicle operator, you would like to integrate the warning system with the ignition switch, so that it will flash when the ignition is in the 'on' or 'off' position, but not the 'off-lock' position unless the key is inserted.; As you noted, the Standard does not require that a motorcycle b equipped with a hazard warning system. Should you voluntarily install the system on a motorcycle, there is no legal requirement that it conform to the requirements specified in Standard No. 108. Because of this, although we appreciate your wish to meet the requirements of the standard, we offer no opinion on your system and are willing to defer to your judgment in this matter.; We are confident that Yamaha would not install such a system withou insuring that the charging system has an adequate capacity, otherwise, the turn signal system might be viewed as 'additional ... motor vehicle equipment ... that impairs the effectiveness' of required lighting equipment, within the prohibition of S4.1.3.; Sincerely, Frank Berndt, Acting Chief Counsel