Interpretation ID: nht75-2.26

DATE: 11/10/75

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; R. B. Dyson; NHTSA

TO: DPD Mfg. Co., Inc.

TITLE: FMVSS INTERPRETATION

TEXT: This is in response to your letter of September 22, 1975, requesting information concerning the applicability of Federal motor vehicle safety standards to automatic cruise control devices.

As you were advised by telephone, Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 124, Accelerator Control Systems, does not preclude the use of cruise control units. While Standard No. 124 requires that the accelerator control device return to "idle" when the operator removes his foot from the accelerator or when the system itself fails, the term "idle position" is defined in S4.1 of the standard to include the position set by a throttle setting device. The rationale for not regulating automatic speed control devices is found in the preamble to the standard, issued on April 8, 1972 (37 FR 7097), which states:

The rule does not contain requirements for automatic speed control devices. It was found that although nine recall campaigns involving 61,176 vehicles have concerned these devices, no relationship to accelerator overspeed accidents could be established from automatic speed controls. Of the 540 multi-disciplinary accident reports that were studied in formulating the final rule, none mentioned the automatic system.

There are no other Federal motor vehicle safety standards which are concerned with the use of automatic cruise control devices.

I trust this information will be useful to you. I have enclosed a copy of Standard No. 124 for your future reference.

YOURS TRULY,

September 22, 1975

U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration National Highway Safety Bureau

Enclosed is a copy of our request to you for automatic cruise control safety standards.

Your telcon to us revealed that there were no safety standards applicable to cruise control. However, we need this information, in writing, to provide to our customers s required.

Thank you for an early reply.

DPD MFG. CO., INC.

O. D. Hunter Director of Training and Publications

May 21, 1975

U.S. Department of Transporation Federal Highway Administration National Highway Safety Bureau

We are embarked on a project to manufacture automobile, automatic cruise control devices. Accordingly, please forward appropriate safety standards for our guidance.

Thank you for an early reply.

DPD MFG. CO., INC.

O. D. Hunter Director of Training and Publications