NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT OF 1966 (References in brackets [ ] are to title 15, United States Code) AN ACT To provide for a coordinated national safety program and establishment of safety standards for motor vehicles in interstate commerce to reduce accidents involving motor vehicles and to reduce the deaths and injuries occurring in such accidents. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress hereby declares that the purpose of this Act is to reduce traffic accidents and deaths and injuries to persons resulting from traffic accidents. Therefore, Congress determines that it is necessary to establish motor vehicle safety standards for motor vehicles and equipment in interstate commerce; to undertake and support necessary safety research and development; and to expand the national driver register. TITLE I-MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS SEC. 101. [1381] This Act may be cited as the "National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966”. PART A-GENERAL PROVISIONS SEC. 102. [1391] As used in this title (1) "Motor vehicle safety" means the performance of motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment in such a manner that the public is protected against unreasonable risk of accidents occurring as a result of the design, construction or performance of motor vehicles and is also protected against unreasonable risk of death or injury to persons in the event accidents do occur, and includes nonoperational safety of such vehicles. (2) "Motor vehicle safety standards" means a minimum standard for motor vehicle performance, or motor vehicle equipment performance, which is practicable, which meets the need for motor vehicle safety and which provides objective criteria. (3) "Motor vehicle" means any vehicle driven or drawn by mechanical power manufactured primarily for use on the public streets, roads, and highways, except any vehicle operated exclusively on a rail or rails. (4) "Motor vehicle equipment" means any system, part, or component of a motor vehicle as originally manufactured or any similar part or component manufactured or sold for replacement or improvement of such system, part, or component or as any accessory, or addition to the motor vehicle, and any device, article, or apparel not a system, part, or component of a motor vehicle (other than medicines, or eyeglasses prescribed by a physician or other duly licensed practitioner), which is manufactured, sold, delivered, of fered, or intended for use exclusively to safeguard motor vehicles, drivers, passengers, and other highway users from risk of accident, injury, or death. (5) "Manufacturer" means any person engaged in the manufacturing or assembling of motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment, including any person importing motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment for resale. (6) "Distributor" means any person primarily engaged in the sale and distribution of motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment for resale. (7) "Dealer" means any person who is engaged in the sale and distribution of new motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment primarily to purchasers who in good faith purchase any such vehicle or equipment for purposes other than resale. (8) "State" includes each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the Canal Zone, and American Samoa. (9) "Interstate commerce" means commerce between any place in a State and any place in another State, or between places in the same State through another State. (10) "Secretary" means the Secretary of Transportation. (11) "Defect" includes any defect in performance, construction, components, or materials in motor vehicles or motor vehicle equip ment. (12) "United States district courts" means the Federal district courts of the United States and the United States courts of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the Canal Zone, and American Samoa. (13) "Vehicle Equipment Safety Commission" means the Commission established pursuant to the joint resolution of the Congress relating to highway traffic safety, approved August 20, 1958 (72 Stat. 635), or as it may be hereafter reconstituted by law. (14) "Schoolbus" means a passenger motor vehicle which is designed to carry more than 10 passengers in addition to the driver, and which the Secretary determines is likely to be significantly used for the purpose of transporting primary, preprimary, or secondary school students to or from such schools or events related to such schools; and (15) "Schoolbus equipment" means equipment designed primarily as a system, part, or component of a schoolbus, or any similar part or component manufactured or sold for replacement or improvement of such system, part, or component or as an accessory or addition to a schoolbus. SEC. 103. [1392] (a) The Secretary shall establish by order appropriate Federal motor vehicle safety standards. Each such Federal motor vehicle safety standard shall be practicable, shall meet the need for motor vehicle safety, and shall be stated in objective terms. (b) The Administrative Procedure Act shall apply to all orders establishing, amending, or revoking a Federal motor vehicle safety standard under this title. (c) Each order establishing a Federal motor vehicle safety standard shall specify the date such standard is to take effect which shall not be sooner than one hundred and eighty days or later than one year from the date such order is issued, unless the Secretary finds, for good cause shown, that an earlier or later effective date is in the public interest, and publishes his reasons for such finding. (d) Whenever a Federal motor vehicle safety standard established under this title is in effect, no State or political subdivision of a State shall have any authority either to establish, or to continue in effect, with respect to any motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment any safety standard applicable to the same aspect of performance of such vehicle or item of equipment which is not identical to the Federal standard. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the Federal Government or the government of any State or political subdivision thereof from establishing a safety requirement applicable to motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment procured for its own use if such requirement imposes a higher standard of performance than that required to comply with the otherwise applicable Federal standard. (e) The Secretary may by order amend or revoke any Federal motor vehicle safety standard established under this section. Such order shall specify the date on which such amendment or revocation is to take effect which shall not be sooner than one hundred and eighty days or later than one year from the date the order is issued, unless the Secretary finds, for good cause shown, that an earlier or later effective date is in the public interest, and publishes his reasons for such finding. (f) In prescribing standards under this section, the Secretary shall (1) consider relevant available motor vehicle safety data, including the results of research, development, testing and evaluation activities conducted pursuant to this Act; (2) consult with the Vehicle Equipment Safety Commission, and such other State or interstate agencies (including legislative committees) as he deems appropriate; (3) consider whether any such proposed standard is reasonable, practicable and appropriate for the particular type of motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment for which it is prescribed; and (4) consider the extent to which such standards will contribute to carrying out the purposes of this Act. (g) In prescribing safety regulations covering motor vehicles subject to part II of the Interstate Commerce Act, as amended (49 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), or the Transportation of Explosives Act, as amended (18 U.S.C. 831-835), the Interstate Commerce Commission shall not adopt or continue in effect any safety regulation which differs from a motor vehicle safety standard issued by the Secretary under this title, except that nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to prohibit the Interstate Commerce Commission from prescribing for any motor vehicle operated by a carrier subject to regulation under either or both of such Acts, a safety regulation which imposes a higher standard of performance subsequent to its manufacture than that required to comply with the applicable Federal standard at the time of manufacture. (h) The Secretary shall issue initial Federal motor vehicle safety standards based upon existing safety standards on or before January 31, 1967. On or before January 31, 1968, the Secretary shall 85-003 0 - 82 - 16 issue new and revised Federal motor vehicle safety standards under this title. (i)(1)(A) Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall publish proposed Federal motor vehicle safety standards to be applicable to schoolbuses and schoolbus equipment. Such proposed standards shall include minimum standards for the following aspects of performance: (i) Emergency exits. (ii) Interior protection for occupants. (iii) Floor strength. (iv) Seating systems. (v) Crash worthiness of body and frame (including protection against rollover hazards). (vi) Vehicle operating systems. (vii) Windows and windshields. (B) Not later than 15 months after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall promulgate Federal motor vehicle safety standards which shall provide minimum standards for those aspects of performance set out in clauses (i) through (viii) of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, and which shall apply to each schoolbus and item of schoolbus equipment which is manufactured in or imported into the United States on or after April 1, 1977. (2) The Secretary may prescribe regulations requiring that any schoolbus be test driven by the manufacturer before introduction into commerce. (3) Not later than six months after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall conduct a study and report to Congress on (A) the factors relating to the schoolbus vehicle which contribute to the occurrence of schoolbus accidents and resultant injuries, and (B) actions which can be taken to reduce the likelihood of occurrence of such accidents and severity of such injuries. Such study shall consider, among other things, the extent to which injuries may be reduced through the use of seat belts and other occupant restraint systems in schoolbus accidents, and an examination of the extent to which the age of schoolbuses increases the likelihood of accidents and resultant injuries. * SEC. 104. [1393] (a)(1) The Secretary shall establish a National Motor Vehicle Safety Advisory Council, a majority of which shall be representatives of the general public, including representatives of State and local governments, and the remainder shall include representatives of motor vehicle manufacturers, motor vehicle equipment manufacturers, and motor vehicle dealers. (2) For the purposes of this section, the term "representative of the general public" means an individual who (A) is not in the employ of, or holding any official relation to any person who is (i) a manufacturer, dealer, or distributor, or (ii) a supplier of any manufacturer, dealer, or distributor, (B) does not own stock or bonds of substantial value in any person described in subparagraph (A)(i) or (ii), and (C) is not in any other manner directly or indirectly pecuniarily interested in such a person. The Secretary shall publish the names of the members of the Council annually and shall designate which members represent the general public. The Chair * Section 104 was repealed effective October 1, 1977. |