Interpretation ID: nht95-1.68

TYPE: INTERPRETATION-NHTSA

DATE: February 14, 1995

FROM: Merridy Gottlieb

TO: Mary Versailles, Office of Chief Counsel, NHTSA

TITLE: NHTSB Letter of Exemption

ATTACHMT: ATTACHED TO 4/25/95 LETTER FROM JOHN WOMACK TO MERRIDY R. GOTTLIEB (A43; STD. 207; STD. 208; VSA 108(A)(2)(A))

TEXT: Dear Ms. Versailles:

Per our conversation today, I am requesting a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration letter of exemption for a modification to my 1995 Chrysler Concord. I am disabled and need 3-4" of additional room for the passenger seat to allow my legs to straighten on long trips. I have two replaced hips and arthritis in my knees. If I leave my legs slightly bent at the knees for long periods of time. I suffer too much pain to be active at the end of the drive. By allowing my legs to straighten all t he way out, there is no pain at all.

Mr. Robert Kitts of Auto Access has agreed to make the slight modification if I can secure your letter of exemption. His service is not local, but he will make a trip to Baltimore for this purpose.

Incidentally, the Automobile Accessibility hotline at Chrysler apparently does not know of your existence and was not aware of any exemptions that could be issued. After repeated phone calls, they said they could not help me and referred me to the Na tional Highway Traffic Safety Board hotline who was also unaware of any exemptions I could get. She was quite adamant that the design alteration would interfere with the functionality of the airbag and could not be done. When I again mentioned in closi ng that I was disabled and asked if anything at all could be done, referred me to "Ms. O'Neill" at the handicapped office in Washington. It turned out that she gave me the wrong name, but I did eventually find Ms. Dalrymple and she lead me to you. Plea se send a memo to the Chrysler Accessibility hotline supervisor and the NHTSB hotline operators informing them that you do exist for these types of problems. It may prevent someone less tenacious than me from giving up and accepting the many years of pa in.

Thank you very much for your quick telephone response.

Sincerely,