Interpretation ID: nht70-2.37

DATE: 12/02/70

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; L. R. Schneider; NHTSA

TO: Charles O. Verrill, Esq.

TITLE: FMVSS INTERPRETATION

TEXT: In your letter of November 16 you inquire whether the Bureau's interpretation of "overall width" (49 CFR @ 571.21, with reference to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108) can "embrace the situation where the entire lighting assembly, including the taillamps, stop lamps, and back-up lamps, as well as signal lamps, add to the dimension of the vehicle".

Since "overall width" means "the nominal design dimension of the widest part of the vehicle exclusive of signal lamps [and] marker lamps . . . .", the Bureau concurs in your requested interpretation. Taillamps, stop lamps, and back-up lamps are "signal" lamps, and their combined mounting in a fixture which may extend beyond the widest part of a boat trailer does not result in a corresponding increase in the "overall width" of the trailer.