Interpretation ID: aiam4226
Reichert
Strauss & Reed
2510 Carew Tower
Cincinnati
OH 45202;
Dear Ms. Kreeger: This responds to your letters of June 27, 1986, and July 11, 1986, an your subsequent phone conversations with Stephen Oesch of my staff concerning the safety belt installation requirements for multipurpose passenger vehicles and buses. I regret the delay in our response and hope the following information is of assistance to you.; As Mr. Oesch discussed with you, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standar No. 208, *Occupant Crash Protection*, sets forth the safety belt installation requirements for passenger cars, trucks, multipurpose passenger vehicles and buses. The standard, a copy of which is enclosed, regulates only the installation of safety belts and does not require their use. However, the Federal Highway Administration's Office of Motor Carriers has issued a regulation (49 CFR Part 392.16) that requires safety belt use by operators of trucks and buses involved in interstate commerce. Belt use is also governed by State mandatory use laws.; S4.2.2 and S4.3 of the standard set forth the safety belt installatio requirements for new multipurpose passenger vehicles (MPV's). Our regulations (49 CFR 571.3) define an MPV as a 'motor vehicle with motive power, except a trailer, designed to carry 10 persons or less which is constructed either on a truck chassis or with special features for occasional off-road operation.' S4.2.2 and S4.3 of Standard No. 208 require the installation of a safety belt for each designated seating position in a MPV.; S4.4 of the standard sets forth the safety belt installatio requirements for buses. Our regulations define a bus as a 'motor vehicle with motive power, except a trailer, designed for carrying more than 10 persons.' S4.4 of Standard No. 208 requires the installation of a safety belt at only the driver's designated seating position in a bus. The agency has set additional safety belt requirements for school buses with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less. S5(b) of Standard No. 222, School bus passenger seating and crash protection, requires the installation of a safety belt at the passenger seats in those small school buses. A copy of Standard No. 222 is enclosed.; If you have any further questions, please let me know. Sincerely, Erika Z. Jones, Chief Counsel