Interpretation ID: nht72-4.1

DATE: 08/31/72

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; Richard B. Dyson; NHTSA

TO: General Motors Technical Center

TITLE: FMVSS INTERPRETATION

TEXT: This is in reply to your letter of August 21, 1972, on the subject of the operation of the seat belt warning system when the vehicle is in one of the free start modes allowed by S7.4.3 and S7.4.4 of Standard No. 208.

You are correct in your understanding that S7.3.5.4 does not require the warning to operate when the ignition switch is in the "start" position if the conditions described in S7.4.3 and S7.4.4 exist. Under those conditions, the interlock system continues to act as if the operation of the belt systems had not been followed by their release. By the same logic, the warning system activation required by S7.3.5.4 is in abeyance until the ending of the free start conditions.