Interpretation ID: righthanddrive

Mr. Michael Dropik
Goodyear Police Department
P.O. Box 5100
Goodyear, AZ 85338

Dear Mr. Dropik:

This responds to your e-mail message to the Federal Highway Administration, dated October 27, 2005. Your message was forwarded to our office for a response. In your message, you asked whether it was legal for a vehicle manufacturer to install the steering wheel on the right side of the vehicle instead of the left. Yes, it is legal to install the steering wheel on the right side of a motor vehicle.

By way of background, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has the authority to prescribe motor vehicle safety standards applicable to new motor vehicles and new items of motor vehicle equipment. NHTSA does not, however, approve motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment, nor do we endorse any commercial products. Instead, manufacturers of motor vehicles are required to certify that their vehicles comply with the mandatory safety standards. As NHTSA has not issued safety standards that prohibit the use of a right hand drive steering system on a motor vehicle, manufacturers are permitted to install the steering wheel on the right or left side of a vehicle.

I hope you find this information helpful. If you have any further questions please contact Mr. Edward Glancy of my staff, at (202) 366-2992.

Sincerely,

Stephen P. Wood
Acting Chief Counsel

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