Interpretation ID: nht74-4.25

DATE: 05/30/74

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; E. T. Driver; NHTSA

TO: The Philadelphia Inquirer

TITLE: FMVSS INTERPRETATION

TEXT: This is in reply to your recent letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation concerning Federal regulations on supplemental lights to be installed on your trucks.

There are no requirements in our Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards which would prohibit the use of a white light on the cab roof to Illuminate information on the front of the truck body. Likewise, we have no specifications for such lights. The use and location of the lights would, however, be subject to regulations imposed by the individual States.

As a matter of information, the front identification lamps and clearance lamps, as shown on the sketch attached to your letter, do not appear to be located in accordance with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108 (copy enclosed). Table II requires these lamps to be located as close as practicable to the top of the vehicle. In your unscaled drawing the top of the truck body appears significantly higher than the cab.

Thank you for your interest in highway safety.

ENC.

N.H.T.S.A

We are acquiring a new fleet and we would like to mount a white light on the roof of our cabs that would illuminate the Company Name and vehicle identification number which is located on the front of the truck body. Before installing these lights, we would like to know if there is any part of the D.O.T. regulations which would prohibit their use, or if there are any regulations regarding their location, type, etc. Thank you for your cooperation.

Patrick R. Mulrooney

Fleet Safety MGR.

The Philadelphia Inquirer

ENC.

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