Interpretation ID: nht89-2.11

TYPE: INTERPRETATION-NHTSA

DATE: 06/19/89

FROM: STEPHEN P. WOOD -- NHTSA ACTING CHIEF COUNSEL

TO: ROD WILLAREDT -- PRESIDENT DIAMOND CROSS LIGHTS

TITLE: NONE

ATTACHMT: LETTER DATED 05/17/89 FROM ROD WILLAREDT TO TAYLOR VINSON -- NHTSA; LETTER DATED 04/18/88 FROM ERIKA Z. JONES -- NHTSA TO WAYNE APPLE; STANDARD 108; LETTER DATED 02/19/88 FROM ERIKA Z. JONES -- NHTSA TO CHARLES WILSON -- CONGRESS; STANDARD 108; LETTER DATED 07/11/88 FROM ERIKA Z. JONES -- NHTSA TO WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON; STANDARD 108

TEXT: Dear Mr. Willaredt:

This is in reply to your letter to Taylor Vinson of this Office, received by FAX on May 17, 1989. You have developed a "safety light" that displays right and left turn signals, "and when the caution light/emergency light appears, the formation of such l ights indicate a diamond". The device appears intended for installation on large trucks or trailers. The turn signal lamps are supplementary to a vehicle's original equipment turn signal lamps. I assume that the caution/emergency lamp to which you ref er is what we call a hazard warning signal, sometimes known as a 4-way flasher. You have asked for written approval of this device.

This agency has no authority to "approve" or "disapprove" any motor vehicle or item of equipment. We can, however, advise as to the relationship of equipment to applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards. I enclose copies of representatives lett ers covering other auxiliary rear lighting for large trucks, such as wide-turn and U-turn indicators, and their relationship to Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, and State law. These principles ar e applicable to your safety light as well.

If you have any further questions, we shall be happy to answer them.

Sincerely,

ENCLOSURES