Interpretation ID: nht71-5.37

DATE: 09/30/71

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; Robert L. Carter; NHTSA

TO: Mercedes Benz of North America

TITLE: FMVSS INTERPRETATION

TEXT: This is in reply to your letter of August 20, 1971, in which you asked whether the shoulder belt anchorages installed by Mercedes in its heavy trucks (over 10,000 CVWR) must meet the strength requirements of Standard No. 210, even though the standard does not require shoulder belt anchorages in vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVWR.

It is our opinion that because these anchorages are not required to be installed, they are not required to meet the strength requirements of Standard No. 210. You may therefore continue to use plastic covers on the anchorages and need not redder them unusable.

Please advise us if you have further questions.