Interpretation ID: nht72-3.48

DATE: 10/18/72

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; Robert L. Carter; NHTSA

TO: Mr. Charles E. West

TITLE: FMVSS INTERPRETATION

TEXT: Your letter of September 18, 1972, to Senator Warren G. Magnuson, Chairman, Committee on (Illegible Words) your automatic seat belt system has been referred to this office for reply.

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, Occupant Crash Protection, (copy enclosed) requires complete passive restraint systems in cars manufactured after August 15, 1973. This standard, as well as most of our standards, is written in performance terms and does not require the use of any specific device. Manufacturers are free to employ any system that will meet the requirements of the standard without any voluntary section on the part of the occupant, such as fastening a seat belt.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is not generally engaged in hardware development, but rather, directs its research efforts toward the development of technical data to form the basis for motor vehicle safety performance standards. Perhaps you might care to contact vehicle manufacturers to see if they would be interested in your automatic belt system.

I am placing a copy of your letter in our Public Docket No. 69-7, which contains information relative to occupant restraint systems. We appreciated receiving the description of your system and your interest in motor vehicle safety.