Interpretation ID: nht93-5.39

TYPE: Interpretation-NHTSA

DATE: July 29, 1993 EST

FROM: John Womack -- Acting Chief Counsel, NHTSA

TO: Zaher A. Obeid -- President & CEO, Petrobeid of Syria

TITLE: None

ATTACHMT: Attached to letter dated 8/17/89 from Stephen P. Wood to Alan S. Eldahr (Std. 108); Also attached to letter dated 7/14/93 from Zaher A. Obeid to NHTSA (OCC 8864)

TEXT:

We have received your FAX of July 14, 1993, asking for comments on the "Zatalite" which you would like to sell in the United States in the near future.

The Zatalite is a message board intended to be installed in the rear window of motor vehicles. We have been asked before about this kind of device, and I enclose a copy of our letter of August 17, 1989, to Alan S. Eldahr explaining the circumstances under which installation of an electronic message board is and is not permissible under U.S. Federal law.

Your Figure 3(c) shows the Zatalite controls built into a steering wheel. We believe that you should review this method of installation to ensure that it does not affect compliance of vehicles equipped with airbags (installed in accordance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208), or, if the vehicle has no airbag, with Standard No. 203 (requirements intended to protect the driver in an impact with the steering control system).

I hope that this information is useful.