Interpretation ID: nht73-3.33

DATE: 02/22/73

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; C. A. Baker for E. T. Driver; NHTSA

TO: Morino and Moore

TITLE: FMVSS INTERPRETATION

TEXT: This is in reply to your letter of February 1 to Mr. B.M. Crittenden, Regional Administrator, concerning emergency flashers.

Effective January 1, 1969, all new automobiles were required to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment," which in turn required the vehicular hazard warning signal operating unit to meet Society of Automotive Engineers Standard J910, January 1966. Prior to January 1, 1969, automobile were required to meet the standards and regulations of the individual States. Since New York required hazard warning signals (4-way flashers) in 1966, most automobiles manufactured for sale throughout the United States were similarly equipped.

SAE J910 did not contain requirements relating the activation of the signal to the position or rotation of the steering wheel. Several States prohibited the operation of the subject signal on a moving vehicle; therefore, on many cars, this signal was cancelled by the rotation of the steering wheel, and consequently could not be activated even with the vehicle stopped with the steering wheel in certain positions.

We are unaware of similar complaints on the activation of the hazard warning signals.