. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/USA/62 
21 June 2004 
 (04-2689) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:  English 
   
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6. 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   UNITED STATES
 
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):         
2. Agency responsible:   Department of Transportation’ s National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration (NHTSA) (66) 
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web-site 
addresses, if available) of  agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be  indicated if different from above:    
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:         
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in  addition, where applicable):   Event Data Recorders  
(HS Chapter 8703) (ICS 43.040). 
5. Title, number of pages and langua ge(s) of the notified document:   Event Data Recorders  
(22 Pages, in English) 
6. Description of content:   This proposal addresses event data recorders (EDRs), i.e., devices 
that record safety information about motor vehicles involved in crashes.  Manufacturers 
have been voluntarily installi ng EDRs as standard equipment in increasingly larger numbers 
of light vehicles in recent years.  They are now  being installed in the vast majority of new 
vehicles.  The information collected by EDRs aids investigations of the causes of crashes and injuries, and makes it possible to better define and address safety problems.  The 
information can be used to improve motor vehicle safety systems and standards.  As the use 
and capabilities of EDRs increase, opportuniti es for additional safety benefits, especially 
with regard to emergency medical treatment, may become available. 
We are not presently proposing to require the installation of EDRs in any motor vehicles. 
We are proposing to (1) require that the EDRs voluntarily installed in light vehicles record a 
minimum set of specified data elements useful  for crash investigations, analysis of the 
performance of safety equipment, e.g., advan ced restraint systems, and automatic collision 
notification systems;  (2) specify requirements for data format;  (3) increase the survivability of the EDRs and their data by requiring that the EDRs function during and 
after the front, side and rear vehicle crash t ests specified in several Federal motor vehicle 
safety standards;  (4) require vehicle manufacturers to make publicly available information 
that would enable crash investigators to retrie ve data from the EDR; and (5) require vehicle 
manufacturers to include a brief standardized statement in the owner's manual indicating 
that the vehicle is equipped with an EDR and describing the purposes of EDRs. G/TBT/N/USA/62 
Page 2  
 
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:  
Human Life and Health. 
8. Relevant documents:   69 Federal Register (FR) 32932 14 June 2004; Title 49 Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 563.  Will app ear in the Federal Register when adopted. 
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
Proposed date of entry into force:   }To be determined 
10. Final date for comments:   13 August 2004 
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:        
Internet URLs: 
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/24 22/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/04-
13241.htm  
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/24 22/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/
04-13241.pdf