Interpretation ID: 2800o

Mr. M. Arisaka Manager, Automotive Lighting Homologation Sect. Stanley Electric Co., Ltd. 2-9-13, Nakameguro, Meguro-ku Tokyo 153 JAPAN

Dear Mr. Arisaka:

This is in reply to your letter of May 31, 1988, asking about the acceptability of installing an additional red reflex reflector on the rear of a passenger car. The reflector would be centered between the two red reflex reflectors required by the standard. In your opinion, the additional reflector will not impair the effectiveness of other lighting equipment required by Standard No. l08.

As you have properly noted, supplementary motor vehicle equipment including reflectors is permissible under paragraph S4.1.3 of Standard No. l08 as long as it does not impair the effectiveness of equipment that the standard requires. The determination of whether supplementary equipment, in fact, impairs the effectiveness of the required equipment is initially that of the manufacturer of the vehicle upon which the supplementary equipment is to be installed, and who certifies compliance with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards including paragraph S4.l.3 of Standard No. l08. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration neither approves nor disapproves of specific vehicle designs, and unless there are reasons to believe that the supplementary equipment will, in fact, impair the effectiveness of the required lighting equipment this agency accepts the manufacturer's determination.

The drawing you attached shows the location of the two required rear reflex reflectors, and the supplementary one, but does not depict the location or types of other required rear lighting equipment, i.e. stop lamps, center highmounted stop lamp, taillamps, turn signal lamps, license plate lamp, and backup lamps. However, in your opinion the reflector will not impair the effectiveness of these lamps and the required reflectors, and the agency has no reason to believe that the third reflector will, in fact, impair the effectiveness of them.

I hope this answers your question, and that the guidelines given in this letter will encourage you to reach satisfactory determinations without the necessity of submitting them to this agency for comment. We appreciate your continuing interest in motor vehicle safety.

Sincerely,

Erika Z. Jones Chief Counsel

rev:l08 d:8/l0/88