[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 9, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10740-10753]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-4867]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 575

[Docket No. NHTSA-2010-0025]
RIN 2127-AK51


New Car Assessment Program (NCAP); Safety Labeling

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: Since September 2007, new passenger vehicles have been 
required to be labeled with safety rating information published by the 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) under its New 
Car Assessment Program (NCAP). This information is required to be part 
of the Monroney (automobile price sticker) label. In July 2008, NHTSA 
announced a decision to enhance the NCAP ratings program. In this 
document, the agency is proposing to upgrade its regulation on vehicle 
labeling of safety rating information to reflect the enhanced NCAP 
ratings program. NHTSA is proposing, among other things, to include a 
new overall vehicle score on the Monroney label.

DATES: Comments should be submitted early enough to ensure that they 
are received no later than April 8, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number above and be 
submitted by one of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Please note, if 
you are submitting comments electronically as a PDF (Adobe) file, we 
ask that the documents submitted be scanned using an Optical Character 
Recognition (OCR) process, thus allowing the agency to search and copy 
certain portions of your submissions.
    <bullet> Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
    <bullet> Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground 
Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. 
ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and 
docket number. For detailed instructions on submitting comments and 
additional information on the rulemaking process, see the Public 
Participation heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this 
document. All comments received will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided.
    Privacy Act: Anyone may search the electronic form of all comments 
received into any of NHTSA's dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comments (or signing the comments, if submitted on 
behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review 
DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published 
on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477-78) or you may 
visit http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For non-legal issues, you may contact 
Ms. Jennifer N. Dang, Office of Crashworthiness Standards (Telephone: 
202-493-0598). For legal issues, you may contact Ms. Dorothy Nakama, 
Office of the Chief Counsel (Telephone: 202-366-2992). You may send 
mail to both of these officials at the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building, Washington, 
DC 20590-0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background on the Monroney Label

    Most new vehicle buyers are probably familiar with the label 
affixed to the side window showing the price of the vehicle and the 
options installed on that vehicle. This label is required by Federal 
law. The Automobile Information Disclosure Act (15 U.S.C. 1231-1233) 
was enacted into law in 1958, and is also called the ``Monroney Act,'' 
after its sponsor, Senator Monroney of Oklahoma. The Monroney Act 
requires all new light vehicles to have a window sticker affixed that 
shows, among other things:
    <bullet> Vehicle make.
    <bullet> Vehicle model.
    <bullet> Vehicle identification number.
    <bullet> The final assembly point.
    <bullet> The name and location of the dealer to whom the vehicle is 
to be delivered.
    <bullet> The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of the 
base vehicle.

[[Page 10741]]

    <bullet> The MSRP of the optional equipment installed on the 
particular vehicle.
    <bullet> The transportation charges for delivery of the vehicle 
from the manufacturer to the dealer, and
    <bullet> The total MSRP of all of the above.
    Beginning with the 1959 model year, this information was provided 
on the window label. Beginning in 1962, some manufacturers began 
providing information not just on the options installed on the vehicle, 
but on standard items as well.
    The information required to be labeled on the window by the 
Monroney Act remained unchanged from its passage in 1958 until 2005. In 
2005, Congress enacted SAFETEA-LU (Pub. L. 109-59), which expanded the 
window label requirement to include the safety ratings assigned by 
NHTSA under its New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), or a statement that 
the vehicle was not assigned safety ratings under NCAP. The 2005 law 
also added size and visibility requirements for the safety ratings 
information (15 U.S.C. 1232(g) and (h)).
    In addition to the MSRP and safety ratings information, Congress 
has also permitted the information from two other Federal programs to 
appear on the Monroney label on the window of new vehicles. 49 U.S.C. 
32908(b) requires that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issue 
regulations requiring vehicle manufacturers to attach a label in a 
prominent place of the vehicle that provides information on:
    <bullet> The vehicle's fuel economy.
    <bullet> The estimated annual fuel cost of operating the vehicle.
    <bullet> The range of fuel economy of comparable vehicles by all 
manufacturers, and
    <bullet> A statement that a booklet is available from the dealer to 
compare the fuel economy of other vehicles manufactured by all 
manufacturers for the model year.
    49 U.S.C. 32908(b)(2) expressly provides that the EPA ``may allow a 
manufacturer to comply with this subsection by disclosing the 
information on the label required under * * * the Automobile 
Information Disclosure Act (15 U.S.C. 1232).''
    In addition to the fuel economy information, Congress has expressly 
permitted one other type of required Federal information to appear on 
the Monroney label. 49 U.S.C. 32304 requires that passenger motor 
vehicle country of origin labeling be provided on new vehicles, and 49 
U.S.C. 32304(g) provides that NHTSA ``shall permit a manufacturer to 
comply with this section by allowing the manufacturer to disclose the 
information * * * on the label required under * * * the Automobile 
Information Disclosure Act (15 U.S.C. 1232).''
    We are not aware of instances other than the fuel economy labeling 
and domestic content labeling where Congress has granted a Federal 
agency permission to specify that other information be provided on the 
Monroney label. Below is an example of a Monroney label as it appears 
in a new vehicle window.

[[Page 10742]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR09MR10.000

II. Overview of This Proposal

    Section 10307 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Public Law 
109-59 (August 10, 2005; 119 Stat. 1144), requires new passenger 
vehicles to be labeled with safety ratings from the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program 
(NCAP).
    Pursuant to SAFETEA-LU, the agency published in the Federal 
Register (71 FR 53572) on September 12, 2006 a final rule \1\ requiring 
manufacturers by September 1, 2007, to incorporate a distinct safety 
rating label into the Monroney (automobile price sticker) label 
required by the Automobile Information Disclosure Act (AIDA), 15 U.S.C. 
1231-1233. The September 12, 2006 final rule required that the safety 
rating label:
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    \1\ 49 CFR part 575, Docket No. NHTSA-2006-25772, RIN 2127-A576, 
``New Car Assessment Program; Safety Labeling'', Final Rule.
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    <bullet> Have the title ``Government Safety Ratings'' along its 
top,
    <bullet> Be either 4\1/2\ inches wide by 3\1/2\ inches high or 8 
percent of the area of the Monroney label, whichever is larger, and
    <bullet> Include frontal crash (driver and passenger), side crash 
(front seat and rear seat) and rollover safety ratings that have been 
generated under NCAP or display the term ``Not Rated'' or ``To Be 
Rated'' in any areas of the safety rating label where ratings have not 
been developed. (Vehicles for which no safety ratings at all have been 
developed may use a smaller safety rating label [4\1/2\ inches wide by 
1\1/2\ inches high] indicating that the vehicle has not been rated by 
the government.)
    The rule also required explanatory language for each of the areas 
of safety ratings and, near the bottom of the label, language briefly 
explaining the use of stars to communicate safety ratings (ratings are 
from 1 to 5 stars with 5 stars being the highest rating). Finally, the 
safety rating label must have ``http://www.safercar.gov or 1-888-327-
4236'' along the bottom of the label to alert consumers as to where 
they may obtain further information.
    On July 11, 2008, the agency published a final decision notice

[[Page 10743]]

announcing enhancements to the NCAP programs. These enhancements 
include:
    <bullet> For the frontal crash program--modifying the frontal NCAP 
rating system to reflect updated test dummies, expanded injury 
criteria, and the inclusion of all body regions that are covered by 
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208;
    <bullet> For the side crash program--modifying the side NCAP rating 
system to reflect new side impact test dummies, new injury criteria, 
the inclusion of nearly all of the body regions that are covered by 
FMVSS No. 214, as well as a new pole test using a small female crash 
test dummy;
    <bullet> A new overall vehicle score that will be based on frontal 
crash, side crash, and rollover resistance test results; and
    <bullet> A new program that will provide consumers with information 
concerning the availability of advanced crash avoidance technologies.
    The final decision notice did not announce any changes to NCAP 
rollover resistance testing.
    Beginning with model year 2011,\2\ safety ratings for new passenger 
vehicles that must be in the safety rating label will be based on the 
updated approaches to frontal and side crash testing and ratings 
criteria.
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    \2\ On December 24, 2008, the agency published a notice 
announcing a postponement (for one model year) in the implementation 
of the new enhancements to the NCAP crash testing and safety rating 
program in Docket No. NHTSA-2006-26555. The agency will begin 
applying the enhanced NCAP testing and safety rating criteria to 
model year 2011 vehicles.
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    Section 10307 of SAFETEA-LU specifies a number of detailed 
requirements for the safety rating label, including content, size, 
location, and applicability. The agency's September 2006 final rule was 
consistent with those requirements, and included a number of detailed 
requirements including ones related to format.
    In today's document, we are proposing to revise our regulation on 
vehicle labeling of safety rating information to reflect the 
enhancements to the NCAP programs listed above. Under this proposal:
    (1) Beginning with model year 2011, safety rating labels on new 
passenger vehicles that are manufactured on or after September 1, 2010, 
would be required to include, as the first item of safety information 
in the safety rating label, an overall vehicle score based on a 
vehicle's frontal crash, side crash, and rollover resistance ratings. 
The agency would allow early compliance for model year 2011 vehicles 
that are manufactured before September 1, 2010.\3\
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    \3\ In other words, manufacturers would have the option to place 
the proposed safety rating labels on model year 2011 vehicles that 
are manufactured before September 1, 2010.
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    (2) Language describing the nature and meaning of the NCAP test 
data used to generate vehicle safety ratings and a reference to http://www.safercar.gov for additional vehicle safety information in the 
safety rating label would be revised slightly and, in some cases, 
relocated in the safety rating label; and
    (3) Safety concerns identified as a result of NCAP testing would 
need to be displayed in the overall vehicle score area of the safety 
rating label in addition to the appropriate area of the safety rating 
label to which the safety concern applies (frontal, side, or rollover).

III. Application

Vehicle Weight

    In 2005, Congress modified the Automobile Information Disclosure 
Act (AIDA), 15 U.S.C. 1231-1233, which requires a Monroney label on all 
passenger vehicles, to require that passenger vehicles with a Gross 
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 10,000 pounds or less, manufactured on 
or after September 1, 2007, include on their Monroney labels safety 
information developed as part of NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program 
(NCAP). As a result, all changes to the safety rating label proposed in 
this notice would apply to safety rating labels in the Monroney labels 
of passenger vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 
10,000 pounds or less. Vehicles that have a Monroney label and that 
have been rated in at least one area under NCAP would need to display 
those ratings as described in this notice. Vehicles that display a 
Monroney label and that have not been rated under NCAP would be 
required to include in their Monroney label the smaller vehicle safety 
rating label, which indicates that the vehicle has not been rated.

IV. Proposed New Requirements for the Safety Rating Label

A. Content and Graphic Details

    The agency is proposing to modify the safety rating label to add a 
new area of the label for the overall vehicle score. This area would be 
located immediately below the heading area and would be the first item 
of safety information. Persons who are interested in the details 
concerning the new overall vehicle score are encouraged to read the 
July 2008 final decision notice announcing enhancements to the NCAP 
programs.
    The format of the remainder of the safety rating label would be 
very similar to the current safety rating label, except that language 
explaining the five star rating system and other language indicating 
that NHTSA is the source of the safety information contained in the 
safety rating label would now be incorporated into the footer area of 
the label, rather than be displayed in its own area of the label, 
currently referred to as the general information area. Some minor 
modifications in other language would also occur.
    The result would be that the modified safety rating label would 
consist of six sections, the same number of sections in the current 
safety rating label. The modified safety rating label would be 
subdivided into--the heading area, a new overall vehicle score area, 
the frontal crash area, the side crash area, the rollover area, and the 
footer area. The position of these areas, running from the top to the 
bottom of the label, would be as follows: heading area at the top, 
followed by the overall vehicle score area, the frontal area, the side 
area, the rollover area, and the footer area.
    As is currently the case, the areas of the label whose background 
is light in color--overall vehicle score, frontal, side, and rollover--
would continue to be required to be separated from each other by a dark 
line that is a minimum of 3 points in width. Also as is currently 
required, the entire safety rating label would be required to be 
surrounded by a solid dark line that is a minimum of 3 points in width. 
The format of each area of the safety rating label is described below.
Heading Area
    The agency is proposing to change the language in the heading area 
to read ``Government 5-Star Safety Ratings'' rather than the existing 
heading ``Government Safety Ratings'', as a result of consumer research 
conducted by NHTSA.\4\ When asked which heading is most appropriate for 
the Federal Government motor vehicle safety rating system (which is 
based on a 5-Star rating system), approximately two-thirds of the 
interviewees preferred ``Government 5-Star Safety Ratings''. 
Approximately two-thirds of the participants in the survey were aware 
that the Government posts safety ratings on a new vehicle's window 
sticker (the Monroney label), and the majority preferred the 
``Government 5-Star Safety Ratings'' heading. Since it is critical that 
the heading area be easily recognizable

[[Page 10744]]

to help consumers identify the NHTSA safety information on the Monroney 
label, the agency is proposing to require the words ``Government 5-Star 
Safety Ratings'' in centered boldface, light capital letters against a 
dark background.
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    \4\ The full study report is available at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. NHTSA-2006-25772.
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Overall Vehicle Score Area
    In NHTSA's July 11, 2008 final decision notice (which discusses how 
the agency plans to enhance its existing NCAP programs), the overall 
vehicle score is referred to as the Vehicle Safety Score. NHTSA's 
research found that most participants preferred the term ``Overall 
Vehicle Score'' as compared to ``Vehicle Safety Score'' to convey the 
overall safety rating of a vehicle.\5\ Therefore, the agency is 
proposing that ``Overall Vehicle Score'' be used to describe the 
section of the safety rating label in which stars reflecting the 
overall vehicle score will be displayed.
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    \5\ The full study report is available at http://www.regulation.gov in Docket No. NHTSA-2006-25772.
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    NHTSA is also proposing to require the statement ``Based on the 
combined ratings of frontal, side and rollover.'' at the bottom of this 
area of the safety rating label to explain to consumers how the overall 
vehicle score is determined. The words ``Star rating,'' which are 
currently included in similar statements in other areas of the safety 
rating label, would be excluded from this statement. The agency 
believes consumers will readily understand that a star rating is 
involved because of the obvious use of stars in the safety rating 
label. (In other sections of this document, the agency is proposing to 
drop the use of the words ``Star rating'' from the other areas of the 
safety rating label where they are currently used.)
    Finally, the agency is proposing that the words, ``Should ONLY be 
compared to other vehicles of similar weight class.'' appear at the 
bottom of the overall vehicle score area of the safety rating label as 
well. The current safety rating label is required to include the 
statement, ``Frontal ratings should ONLY be compared to other vehicles 
of similar weight class.'' at the bottom of the Frontal Crash area of 
the safety rating label. (As explained elsewhere in this notice, the 
agency is proposing to eliminate the words ``Frontal ratings'' so that 
the statement required in the Frontal Crash area would be identical to 
the one proposed above for the overall vehicle score area.) Since the 
overall vehicle score is based in part on the frontal crash rating, the 
agency believes it is appropriate to propose the same language for both 
the Frontal Crash area and the Overall Vehicle Score area.
Frontal Area
    In the current NCAP frontal crash test program, NHTSA provides 
consumers with frontal crash ratings for two seating positions, the 
driver and the right front passenger. The current rating for each 
seating position is based on the combined chance of serious injury to 
the head and chest. As mentioned previously, the new frontal program 
will include all of the FMVSS No. 208 body regions (head, neck, chest, 
and femur). The new program will also use a different crash test dummy 
in the right front passenger seating position. The seating positions 
will remain the same. Hence, the new frontal crash rating for each 
seating position will be based on the combined chance of serious injury 
to the head, neck, chest, and femur.
    Nearly three-fourths of the participants in NHTSA's consumer 
research preferred a rating for each frontal seating position over an 
overall frontal rating.\6\ NHTSA understands consumers' preference for 
having crash rating information by seating position readily available 
at the point of sale. Thus, the agency proposes to continue reporting 
frontal crash ratings on the Monroney label by seating position on the 
revised safety rating label. It is proposed that the term ``Frontal 
Crash'' continue to be used to refer to frontal crash test ratings and 
``Driver'' and ``Passenger'' still be used to refer to the seating 
positions and the applicable star rating.
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    \6\ The full study report is available at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. NHTSA-2006-25772.
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    Currently the statement, ``Star ratings based on the risk of injury 
in a frontal impact.'' is required at the bottom of the Frontal Crash 
area of the safety rating label. NHTSA is proposing that this statement 
be shortened to ``Based on the risk of injury in a frontal impact.'' As 
explained previously, the term ``Star ratings,'' would be excluded from 
this statement because the term ``Government 5[dash]Star Safety 
Ratings'' would appear in the heading area of the modified safety 
rating label and should make clear to consumers that the stars in any 
area of the safety rating label reflect safety ratings. This generic 
statement would continue to provide the agency with the flexibility to 
update the ratings (due to additional injury criteria, an update to 
FMVSS No. 208, etc.) without conducting further rulemaking to update 
the label.
    As explained above under Overall Vehicle Score Area, the statement, 
``Frontal ratings should ONLY be compared to other vehicles of similar 
weight class.'' is currently required at the bottom of the Frontal 
Crash area of the safety rating label. NHTSA is proposing that this 
statement be shortened to ``Should ONLY be compared to other vehicles 
of similar weight class.'' This shortened statement would be required, 
as the longer statement is currently required, at the bottom of the 
frontal crash area of the safety rating label. The words ``Frontal 
ratings'' would be deleted because we believe consumers would realize 
that the statement refers to Frontal ratings since the statement would 
appear in the Frontal Crash area of the safety rating label.
Side Area
    In the current side NCAP program, NHTSA conducts side impact tests 
that provide consumers with side ratings for the first and second 
seating rows of a vehicle, specifically for the driver seating position 
and the rear outboard seating passenger position. In the current 
program, a moving deformable barrier (MDB) test is used to assess side 
impact protection. Currently, side impact ratings for each seating 
position are based on chest injury only.
    Changes to the side NCAP program include (1) new test dummies for 
the two seating positions in the MDB test, (2) a new oblique pole test 
with a small female crash test dummy in the driver position, and (3) 
additional injury criteria for both the MDB and the new oblique pole 
tests. As previously mentioned, the enhanced side NCAP program will 
include nearly all of the FMVSS No. 214 body regions (except for the 
lower spine acceleration for the small female crash test dummy) for the 
calculation of the side NCAP rating. In other words, the new side 
program will include, for the MDB test, head, chest, abdomen, and 
pelvic injury criteria in the driver seating position and head and 
pelvic injury criteria in the rear passenger seating position. The new 
oblique pole test will include head and pelvic injury criteria in the 
driver seating position. In summary, ratings for the new side program 
will be based on (1) for the driver seating position, a combined chance 
of serious injury to the head, chest, abdomen, and pelvis in an MDB 
test as well as a combined chance of injury to the head and pelvis in a 
side oblique pole or narrow object test, and (2) for the rear passenger 
seating position, a combined chance of serious injury to the head and 
pelvis in an MDB test.
    As discussed previously, an overwhelming proportion of

[[Page 10745]]

interviewees in a NHTSA consumer survey preferred that NHTSA provide 
crash test ratings by seating position on the revised safety rating 
label. Therefore, as with frontal crash ratings, it is proposed that 
side crash ratings continue to be presented by seating position.
    ``Side Crash'' would still be used to describe the side crash test 
ratings, and ``Front Seat'' and ``Rear Seat'' would still be used to 
describe the seating positions and applicable star ratings for those 
seating positions. Furthermore, as in the Frontal Crash area, NHTSA is 
also proposing to shorten the statement required at the bottom of the 
Side Crash area to ``Based on the risk of injury in side impact 
tests.'' The words ``Star ratings'' currently required at the beginning 
of this statement would be excluded for the same reason these words 
would be excluded from a similar statement in the Frontal Crash area. 
Also, this generic statement would allow the agency the flexibility to 
update the ratings (i.e., due to additional injury criteria, an update 
to FMVSS No. 214, etc.) on the label without conducting further 
rulemaking.
Rollover Area
    As discussed in the July 11, 2008 final decision notice, the agency 
decided to not change its current rollover test program, which uses a 
vehicle's Static Stability Factor (SSF) and the results of a dynamic 
rollover ``fishhook'' test, to determine the chance that a vehicle will 
roll over in a single-vehicle crash and the rollover resistance rating 
that results. It is proposed the term ``Rollover'' for the area of the 
safety rating label for the rollover rating remain the same in the 
revised safety rating label since the program is unchanged. However, 
NHTSA is proposing to shorten the statement required at the bottom of 
the rollover area to ``Based on the risk of rollover in a single 
vehicle crash.'' As with the Frontal Crash and Side Crash areas of the 
safety rating label, we are proposing to exclude the words ``Star 
rating'' from this statement for the same reason given for excluding 
these words from those two areas of the label.
Footer Area
    The agency has required the phrase ``Star ratings range from 1 to 5 
stars ([starf][starf][starf][starf][starf]) with 5 being the highest.'' 
in the current general information area of the safety rating label.\7\ 
This statement is used not only to remind consumers that the maximum 
rating is 5 stars but also to fulfill the Congressional requirement 
that the graphic depiction of the vehicle rating be displayed in a 
clearly differentiated fashion while also indicating the maximum 
possible rating. Additionally, the text ``Source: National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)'' is required to appear as the 
last line in the general information area of the existing safety rating 
label. This statement is used to inform consumers that the ratings are 
from a government agency.
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    \7\ The current regulatory text has a comma between the 
``parenthesis'' and the word ``with'' whereas the text in the sample 
label does not. The agency is proposing to revise the text as stated 
in this notice to reflect the text shown in the sample label.
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    Also on the existing safety rating label, the text 
``www.safercar.gov or 1-888-327-4236'' is required to be placed in the 
footer area. This information is provided not only to help consumers 
identify the agency's Web site, where additional NHTSA safety 
information can be found, but also to fulfill the mandate from Congress 
that the safety rating label contain a reference to http://www.safercar.gov and additional vehicle safety resources.
    Due to the proposed addition of an overall vehicle score area in 
the modified safety rating label, the agency believes that for the 
label to be presented in a legible, visible, and prominent fashion that 
covers at least 8 percent of the total area of the Monroney label or an 
area with a minimum of 4\1/2\ inches in length and 3\1/2\ inches in 
height on the Monroney label, only the required rating information 
should be provided in designated relevant areas (i.e., overall vehicle 
score area, frontal crash area, side crash area, and rollover area). In 
other words, the agency is proposing that the texts ``Star ratings 
range from 1 to 5 stars ([starf][starf][starf][starf][starf]) with 5 
being the highest.'' and ``Source: National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration (NHTSA)'' \8\ be shown in the footer area (instead of in 
the current general information area) along with the agency's Web site 
information.\9\
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    \8\ The current regulatory text does not include a period at the 
end of the Source text whereas the text in the sample labels does. 
The agency is proposing to revise the text shown in the sample 
labels to reflect the text stated in the regulation.
    \9\ The Web site information ``http://www.safercar.gov'' will 
not be shown italicized to reflect the sample label.
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    More than half of the respondents who participated in NHTSA's 
consumer survey preferred that the agency's Web address, hotline 
number, and source information be included in the footer area.\10\ 
Under this proposal, the general information area where this 
information is currently displayed would be eliminated as a separate 
area of the safety rating label.
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    \10\ The full study report is available at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. NHTSA-2006-25772.
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Safety Concerns
    For vehicle tests for which NHTSA reports a safety concern as part 
of the star rating, the regulation currently requires a symbol 
consisting of an exclamation point inside a triangle (safety concern 
symbol) to be depicted as a superscript to the star rating, and the 
same symbol to be depicted at the bottom of the relevant area along 
with the words ``Safety Concern: Visit http://www.safercar.gov or call 
1-888-327-4236 for more details.'' Examples of such safety concerns are 
high likelihoods of thigh injury, pelvic injury, or head injury; fuel 
leakage; and door openings.
    NHTSA believes the inclusion of all of the FMVSS No. 208 body 
regions in the calculation of the frontal NCAP rating and nearly all of 
the FMVSS No. 214 body regions (except for the lower spine acceleration 
for the small female crash test dummy) in the calculation of the side 
NCAP rating will lead to more robust ratings and significantly reduce 
the need to use the safety concern symbol to highlight injury related 
occurrences during testing. For those injury related safety concerns 
and safety concerns relating to the physical structure of a vehicle 
(i.e., fuel leakage, door openings, etc.) that continue to arise, the 
agency would continue to require depiction of the symbol and related 
statement in the appropriate area of the safety rating label.
    We are proposing to also require, whenever a safety concern arises 
in any rating category, that the safety concern symbol and related 
statement be included in the overall vehicle score area of the safety 
rating label as well. We believe that to not require the symbol in this 
location as well as in the location containing the rating for the 
testing in which the safety concern arose could diminish the effect of 
having the symbol in the applicable rating category by suggesting that 
the safety concern was not sufficient to have an impact on the overall 
safety of the vehicle. The agency's view is that any safety concern 
that arises during NCAP testing is a necessary part of the overall 
picture of a vehicle's relative safety, even though the concern does 
not have an impact on the rating derived from the specific testing in 
which the concern arose. Since the overall vehicle score is based on 
the combined ratings of the frontal crash, side crash, and rollover 
tests, the agency believes that a safety concern relating to one of 
these NCAP

[[Page 10746]]

tests should be noted in the area where the overall vehicle score is 
displayed.
    NHTSA continues to believe that the types of events that trigger a 
safety concern and the use of the safety concern symbol are significant 
and should be communicated to consumers. Agency consumer research 
indicates that consumers welcome having this information so that they 
may use it in making vehicle purchasing decisions. Depiction of the 
safety symbol to flag safety concerns is therefore consistent with the 
overall goal of NCAP, which is to create market forces to drive 
manufacturers to continually enhance the safety of the vehicles they 
produce. Furthermore, the agency believes it would be inconsistent and 
misleading to consumers to have a safety concern for a vehicle noted on 
the agency Web site, http://www.safercar.gov, and not on the vehicle 
safety label in the Monroney label.
    The agency is seeking comments and plans to conduct consumer 
research into the extent to which consumers understand this approach, 
or other approaches, to communicating safety concerns. Since consumers 
may rely on some or all of the sections of the Monroney label to make 
purchasing decisions, we seek comment on whether NHTSA's planned 
follow-up consumer testing for the safety section of the label should 
include all four items that might appear on the Monroney label (price, 
safety, fuel economy, and domestic content) to help the agency better 
understand any potential tradeoffs consumers may make among those items 
and whether the amount of space dedicated to each of the four items 
affects the attention consumers give the items. NHTSA also solicits 
public comments on the benefits the public would receive from a 
coordinated approach to any revisions of the Monroney label among the 
three agencies with authority over the different sections (the 
Department of Justice for price information, the Environmental 
Protection Agency for fuel economy, and NHTSA for safety and domestic 
content), and whether those benefits would outweigh any delays that 
might occur to achieve comprehensive and coordinated revisions to parts 
of the Monroney label.
    The agency is currently developing communications materials to 
educate consumers about the safety ratings label, including detailed 
explanations of the individual safety ratings and how those ratings 
indicate the percent chance of serious injury to the occupant(s) 
traveling in a vehicle that is involved in a crash. However, the agency 
is seeking comments on key components of effective approaches of 
communicating the safety ratings to consumers. NHTSA is particularly 
interested in data to substantiate the effectiveness of recommended 
approaches. The agency is also seeking comments on the current consumer 
understanding of the NCAP star safety ratings and the difference 
between those ratings, which range from 1 to 5 stars, and whether other 
presentation formats could more effectively communicate that 
information to consumers. As above, NHTSA is especially interested in 
reviewing the data to support commenters' suggested alternative 
approaches.

B. Crash Avoidance Technologies

    Enhancements to the existing NCAP testing programs also include the 
establishment of a crash avoidance technology information program under 
which the agency will indicate on the http://www.safercar.gov Web site 
those vehicles equipped with certain technologies either available or 
as standard equipment. To be so noted, the crash avoidance technology 
of the vehicle will need to meet NHTSA performance requirements for the 
technology involved.
    The agency selected three technologies that are mature enough to 
include in a crash avoidance ratings program at this time. The three 
technologies are electronic stability control (ESC), forward collision 
warning (FCW), and lane departure warning (LDW). The agency plans to 
use text and simple graphics on http://www.safercar.gov to communicate 
(1) the fact that ESC, LDW, and/or FCW is available as optional or 
standard equipment on vehicles and (2) that the equipment involved 
meets the appropriate agency performance requirements.
    The agency has decided at this time to not include advanced 
technology information in the safety rating label for the following 
reasons:
    <bullet> Including advanced crash avoidance technologies in the 
safety rating label of the Monroney label would require that the agency 
conduct a rulemaking to update the safety rating label each time that 
the list of crash avoidance technologies changed.
    <bullet> Available Monroney label space is limited. If information 
on crash avoidance technologies were included in the new safety rating 
label, the information on the safety rating label as a whole might not 
be legible.
    The agency is seeking comments from the public on the approach the 
agency is taking to communicate the availability of these advanced 
technologies and on how these and other technologies that may arise 
should be communicated in the future.

C. Notification

Current Process
    In May/June of each year, NHTSA collects information from vehicle 
manufacturers to help the agency identify new vehicle models, 
redesigned vehicles, and models whose design will carry-over from the 
previous model year.\11\ Once the agency analyzes the information 
provided, the carry-over models, new and redesigned models not being 
tested, and new and redesigned models to be tested are posted on the 
agency's Web site, http://www.safercar.gov.\12\
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    \11\ Carry-over models are vehicles that have been tested under 
the NCAP in previous years, and whose design has not changed, 
therefore retaining the previous safety rating.
    \12\ Through carry-over and new testing, NCAP provides ratings 
for approximately 85 percent of the vehicle fleet each year.
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    At about the same time, the agency sends a letter to officially 
inform each vehicle manufacturer which models the agency has determined 
to be carry-over vehicles and their respective NCAP star rating(s). 
NHTSA provides these letters to manufacturers as soon as a 
determination is made regarding the status of the vehicles (carryover 
or non-carryover) to ensure that manufacturers have the opportunity to 
place NCAP star ratings on the Monroney labels of these models as soon 
as they begin the new year of production.
    The agency also sends a separate letter to each vehicle 
manufacturer indicating which models have been selected for NCAP 
testing. Once a selected vehicle has been tested and NHTSA completes 
the process of thoroughly reviewing the data generated during NCAP 
testing, the agency sends a letter informing the manufacturer of the 
rating(s) of the tested vehicle. The letter also informs the 
manufacturer which vehicle trim lines and corporate twins will be rated 
based on the results from the tested vehicle.
    Vehicles for which ratings have not been provided in one or more of 
the ratings areas must have ``Not Rated'' in those areas of the safety 
rating label. Vehicles that have not been tested in any of the ratings 
areas and therefore do not have ratings in any ratings area may use a 
smaller safety rating label described in 49 CFR 575.301. Vehicles that 
are slated to be tested by NHTSA, but have not yet been tested may have 
``To Be Rated'' in the various ratings areas of the safety rating label 
for which testing is slated.

[[Page 10747]]

Model Year 2011 Process
    Due to the enhancements to the NCAP frontal and side crash test 
programs, no frontal and side safety ratings of the current NCAP crash 
test programs will carry-over to model year 2011 vehicles. To help 
address this, the agency plans to modify its current notification 
process for 2011 model year vehicles. NHTSA began collecting basic 
model year 2011 vehicle information from vehicle manufacturers in 
September 2009. Based on information provided by the manufacturers, the 
agency will devise a preliminary model year 2011 testing schedule. 
NHTSA also plans to contact vehicle manufacturers again in March 2010 
and in June 2010 to help the agency to continue to identify and verify 
vehicles to be tested with the upgraded frontal and side crash tests 
and to ensure that initial projections of vehicle availability provided 
by manufacturers still align with the agency's testing schedule.
    Once NHTSA has determined that a 2011 model year vehicle will be 
tested, which could occur as early as after the initial contact with 
manufacturers or as late as the last contact with manufacturers, the 
agency will send a letter to officially inform each vehicle 
manufacturer which 2011 model year vehicles the agency has selected for 
the updated tests. Additional letters may be required to notify vehicle 
manufacturers of vehicles selected for NCAP testing later in the 
vehicle selection process. Once vehicles have been tested and the data 
generated during the NCAP tests has been thoroughly reviewed, the 
agency will send letters to manufacturers of the tested vehicles 
informing them of the ratings achieved by those vehicles. As with the 
current process, the letter will also inform manufacturers which trim 
lines and corporate twins will get the same ratings as the vehicle 
actually tested. Additionally, the ratings will be announced in a press 
release and posted on the agency's Web site http://www.safercar.gov.
    The rollover NCAP program has not changed. Therefore, rollover 
resistance ratings for some model year 2010 vehicles will carryover to 
model year 2011 vehicles. Carryover rollover resistance ratings for 
vehicles slated to be crash tested under the revised NCAP will be 
posted on http://www.safercar.gov as soon as they are confirmed as 
carryover ratings. This will allow consumers to continue to have access 
to this information while the revised NCAP crash testing and rating 
program is being rolled out. Official notification of carryover 
rollover resistance ratings for these vehicles, as well as notification 
of the rollover resistance ratings for non-carryover vehicles that are 
selected for rollover testing, will occur at the same time 
manufacturers are notified of crash ratings under the revised NCAP 
crash program.
    Once the first year of testing using the revised frontal and side 
crash tests is completed, the agency will resume the notification 
process that the agency has followed prior to the implementation of the 
enhanced crash test programs. Specifically, the vehicle information 
collection process will again begin in May/June of each year. The 
agency will continue to send letters to each vehicle manufacturer 
indicating which models have been selected for the NCAP crash test and 
other programs. The agency will send a separate letter to officially 
inform each manufacturer which models the agency has determined to be 
carry-over vehicles and the safety ratings that apply to those 
vehicles. Letters informing manufacturers of the ratings assigned to 
vehicles tested will be sent when testing and quality control of test 
data has been completed.
    Since the frontal and side safety ratings of the current NCAP crash 
test programs will not be carried-over to model year 2011 vehicles and 
beyond, manufacturers will be required to either post ``Not Rated'' on 
the Monroney label for the frontal and side crash categories until the 
agency informs the manufacturer of the rating(s) that apply or post 
``To Be Rated'' if the vehicle involved is slated to be tested. If 
NHTSA has not released a safety rating for any category for a vehicle 
and will not be performing any NCAP tests on the vehicle, the 
manufacturer may use a smaller safety rating label as illustrated in 
Figure 2.

D. Timing

    As in the current labeling program, the agency will require vehicle 
manufacturers to place the new Government 5-Star safety ratings on the 
safety rating label of the Monroney label of new vehicles manufactured 
30 days after receiving from NHTSA notification of the test results. 
The agency does not and will not require manufacturers to reprint 
Monroney labels for vehicles that were produced prior to the agency's 
notification.\13\ However, manufacturers are allowed to voluntarily re-
label vehicles, should they choose, by replacing the entire Monroney 
label (not just the safety rating label with the NCAP information).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ The vehicle manufacturing date will be used to determine 
which vehicles will be required to have the new NCAP star rating(s).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

E. Consumer Education

    As discussed previously, new model year 2011 and later vehicles 
will be subjected to the enhanced NCAP program. NHTSA realizes that 
consumers could misinterpret or be confused by differences between 
ratings for model year 2010 and 2011 vehicles. Even when model year 
2010 and 2011 vehicles achieve the same rating, consumers may not fully 
understand what this means. To address this, the agency plans to 
develop an educational toolkit and work with various partners to 
educate consumers about its new Government 5-Star Safety Ratings 
program.

F. Compliance Date

    Under our proposal, beginning with model year 2011, passenger 
vehicles that are manufactured on or after September 1, 2010, would be 
required to have the new safety rating labels. The agency would allow 
early compliance for model year 2011 vehicles that are manufactured 
before September 1, 2010, provided the ratings placed on the safety 
rating label were derived from vehicle testing conducted by the 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that is appropriate for 
model year 2011 or later vehicles.
    Some model year 2010 vehicles may continue to be manufactured after 
September 1, 2010. The requirements of the existing regulation would 
apply to these vehicles.
    Under our proposal, the new regulation that would apply to model 
year 2011 and later vehicles manufactured on or after September 1, 2010 
would be designated as Sec.  575.302. The existing regulation, with 
minor conforming amendments, would continue to be at Sec.  575.301.

V. Rulemaking Analyses and Notices

A. Executive Order 12866 and DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures

    NHTSA has considered the impact of this proposed rule under 
Executive Order 12866 and the Department of Transportation's regulatory 
policies and procedures. This proposed rulemaking document was not 
reviewed under E.O. 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review.'' This 
action has been determined to be ``non-significant'' under the 
Department of Transportation's regulatory policies and procedures. The 
agency concludes that if this rule were made final, the impacts of the 
amendments would be so minimal that preparation of a full

[[Page 10748]]

regulatory evaluation would not be required.
    This NPRM proposes to require vehicle manufacturers to add to the 
existing safety rating label the new overall vehicle score rating the 
agency has added to the NCAP program, and to make minor modifications 
to the safety rating label. The agency has considered and concluded 
that the one-time redesign cost and the cost of redesign to replace 
``Not Rated'' or ``To Be Rated'' with stars each time a vehicle is 
rated, all to be minor. The cost of the existing label is estimated to 
be less than $0.15 per vehicle, and, under our proposal, the label 
would remain the same size. Given these considerations, any effects on 
costs would be trivial.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., 
as amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act 
(SBREFA) of 1996), whenever an agency is required to publish a notice 
of rulemaking for any proposed or final rule, it must prepare and make 
available for public comment a regulatory flexibility analysis that 
describes the effect of the rule on small entities (i.e., small 
businesses, small organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions). 
The Small Business Administration's regulations at 13 CFR part 121 
define a small business, in part, as a business entity ``which operates 
primarily within the United States.'' (13 CFR 121.105(a)). No 
regulatory flexibility analysis is required if the head of an agency 
certifies the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. SBREFA amended the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act to require Federal agencies to provide a statement of 
the factual basis for certifying that a rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
    NHTSA has considered the effects of this proposed rule under the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act. There are four small motor vehicle 
manufacturers in the United States building vehicles that would be 
affected by this rule. I certify that this proposed rule would not have 
a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. The rationale for this certification is that the agency does 
not believe that this proposal adds a significant economic cost to a 
motor vehicle. The cost of the existing label is estimated to be less 
than $0.15 per vehicle. The requirements proposed by today's document 
would result in minor costs, as it would merely require redesign of 
that label.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) 
(PRA), a person is not required to respond to a collection of 
information by a Federal agency unless the collection displays a valid 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. For the following 
reasons, NHTSA concludes that if made final, this rulemaking would not 
impose any new collection of information requirements for which a 5 CFR 
part 1320 clearance must be obtained. As described previously, this 
rule, if made final, would require vehicle manufacturers to include on 
the existing safety rating labels, the overall vehicle score rating 
information by NCAP. This NPRM proposes how NHTSA will describe the 
appearance of the label, and specify to the vehicle manufacturers, in 
both individual letters to the manufacturers and on the NHTSA's 
5[dash]Star safety ratings Web site (http://www.safercar.gov), the 
information specific to a particular motor vehicle make and model that 
the vehicle manufacturer must place on the Monroney label.
    Because, if this rule is made final, NHTSA will specify the format 
of the safety rating label, and the information each vehicle 
manufacturer must include on the label, this ``collection of 
information'' falls within the exception described in 5 CFR 
1320.3(c)(2) which states in part: ``The public disclosure of 
information originally supplied by the Federal government to the 
recipient for the purpose of disclosure to the public is not included 
within this definition.''
    The Government 5[dash]Star safety ratings are created by NHTSA. 
This rule, if made final, would require vehicle manufacturers to take 
the Government 5[dash]Star safety ratings (which NHTSA will provide to 
each manufacturer) and report them on the Monroney labels, thus 
disclosing them to potential customers (i.e., the public). For this 
reason, this proposed rule, if made final, would impose a ``collection 
of information'' requirement for which 5 CFR part 1320 approval need 
not be obtained.

D. National Environmental Policy Act

    NHTSA has analyzed this proposed rule for the purposes of the 
National Environmental Policy Act and has determined that if made 
final, the rule will not have any significant impact on the quality of 
the human environment.

E. Executive Order 13132 (Federalism)

    The agency has analyzed this proposed rule in accordance with the 
principles and criteria contained in Executive Order 13132 and has 
determined that it does not have sufficient federalism implications to 
warrant consultation with State and local officials or the preparation 
of a federalism summary impact statement. If made final, this rule will 
have no substantial effects on the States, on the current Federal-State 
relationship, or on the current distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various local officials.

F. Civil Justice Reform

    This proposed rule would not have any retroactive effect. Parties 
are not required to exhaust administrative remedies before filing suit 
in court.

G. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act

    Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement 
Act of 1995 (NTTAA), Public Law 104-113, section 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272) 
directs NHTSA to use voluntary consensus standards in regulatory 
activities unless doing so would be inconsistent with applicable law or 
would otherwise be impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are 
technical standards (e.g., materials specifications, test methods, 
sampling procedures, and business practices) that are developed or 
adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies, such as the Society of 
Automotive Engineers (SAE). The agency searched for, but did not find 
any voluntary consensus standards relevant to this proposed rule.

H. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    This proposed rule will not impose any unfunded mandates under the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) of 1995. This rule will not result 
in costs of $100 million or more to either State, local, or tribal 
governments, in the aggregate, or to the private sector. Thus, this 
rule is not subject to the requirements of sections 202 and 205 of the 
UMRA.

I. Plain Language

    Executive Order 12866 requires each agency to write all rules in 
plain language. Application of the principles of plain language 
includes consideration of the following questions:
    <bullet> Have we organized the material to suit the public's needs?
    <bullet> Are the requirements in the rule clearly stated?
    <bullet> Does the rule contain technical language or jargon that is 
not clear?

[[Page 10749]]

    <bullet> Would a different format (grouping and order of sections, 
use of headings, paragraphing) make the rule easier to understand?
    <bullet> Would more (but shorter) sections be better?
    <bullet> Could we improve clarity by adding tables, lists, or 
diagrams?
    <bullet> What else could we do to make this rulemaking easier to 
understand?
    If you have any responses to these questions, please include them 
in your comments on this NPRM.

J. Privacy Act Statement

    Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments or 
petitions received into any of our dockets by the name of the 
individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted 
on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may 
review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register 
published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477-78) or 
you may visit http://www.regulations.gov.

VI. Public Participation

    We invite comments on today's proposal. We are providing a 30-day 
comment period. We are not providing a longer period because there is a 
need to complete rulemaking in time to allow manufacturers to make any 
necessary changes in the labels for MY 2011 vehicles manufactured on or 
after September 1, 2010. Moreover, we believe 30 days is sufficient, 
given that the rulemaking addresses changes in an existing label to 
reflect already announced changes in the NCAP Program.

How Do I Prepare and Submit Comments?

    Your comments must be written and in English. To ensure that your 
comments are correctly filed in the Docket, please include the docket 
number of this document in your comments.
    Your comments must not be more than 15 pages long.\14\ We 
established this limit to encourage you to write your primary comments 
in a concise fashion. However, you may attach necessary additional 
documents to your comments. There is no limit on the length of the 
attachments.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ See 49 CFR 553.21.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Please submit your comments by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
    <bullet> Mail: Docket Management Facility, M-30, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, West Building, Ground Floor, Rm. W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern 
Time, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    <bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    If you are submitting comments electronically as a PDF (Adobe) 
file, we ask that the documents submitted be scanned using Optical 
Character Recognition (OCR) process, thus allowing the agency to search 
and copy certain portions of your submissions.\15\
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    \15\ Optical character recognition (OCR) is the process of 
converting an image of text, such as a scanned paper document or 
electronic fax file, into computer-editable text.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

How Can I Be Sure That My Comments Were Received?

    If you submit your comments by mail and wish Docket Management to 
notify you upon its receipt of your comments, enclose a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard in the envelope containing your comments. Upon 
receiving your comments, Docket Management will return the postcard by 
mail.

How Do I Submit Confidential Business Information?

    If you wish to submit any information under a claim of 
confidentiality, you should submit three copies of your complete 
submission, including the information you claim to be confidential 
business information, to the Chief Counsel, NHTSA, at the address given 
above under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. When you send a comment 
containing information claimed to be confidential business information, 
you should include a cover letter setting forth the information 
specified in our confidential business information regulation.\16\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ See 49 CFR 512.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, you should submit a copy, from which you have deleted 
the claimed confidential business information, to the Docket by one of 
the methods set forth above.

Will the Agency Consider Late Comments?

    We will consider all comments received before the close of business 
on the comment closing date indicated above under DATES. To the extent 
possible, we will also consider comments received after that date. If a 
comment is received too late for us to consider in developing a final 
rule (assuming that one is issued), we will consider that comment as an 
informal suggestion for future rulemaking action.

How Can I Read the Comments Submitted by Other People?

    You may read the materials placed in the docket for this document 
(e.g., the comments submitted in response to this document by other 
interested persons) at any time by going to http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for accessing the dockets. You may also 
read the materials at the Docket Management Facility by going to the 
street address given above under ADDRESSES. The Docket Management 
Facility is open between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Please note that even after the comment closing date, we will 
continue to file relevant information in the Docket as it becomes 
available. Furthermore, some people may submit late comments. Thus, we 
recommend that you periodically check the Docket for new material.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 575

    Consumer protection, Motor vehicle safety, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    In consideration of the foregoing, NHTSA proposes to amend 49 CFR 
part 575 as set forth below:

PART 575--CONSUMER INFORMATION

    1. The authority citation for part 575 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 32302, 30111, 30115, 30117, 30166 and 
30168, Pub. L. 104-414, 114 Stat. 1800, Pub. L. 109-59, Stat. 1144, 
15 U.S.C. 1232(g); delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

    2. Section 575.301 is amended by revising the section heading and 
paragraph (b) to read as follows:


Sec.  575.301  Vehicle labeling of safety rating information 
(applicable unless a vehicle is subject to Sec.  575.302).

* * * * *
    (b) Application. This section applies to automobiles with a GVWR of 
10,000 pounds or less, manufactured on or after September 1, 2007, that 
are required by the Automobile Information Disclosure Act, 15 U.S.C. 
1231-1233, to have price sticker labels (Monroney labels), e.g. 
passenger vehicles, station wagons, passenger vans, and sport utility 
vehicles, except for vehicles that are subject to Sec.  575.302. Model 
Year 2011 or later vehicles manufactured prior to September 1, 2010 
may, at the manufacturer's option, be labeled according to the 
provisions of Sec.  575.302

[[Page 10750]]

instead of this section provided the ratings placed on the safety 
rating label are derived from vehicle testing conducted by the National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration that is appropriate for Model 
Year 2011 or later vehicles.
* * * * *
    3. Section 575.302 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  575.302  Vehicle labeling of safety rating information 
(compliance required for model year 2011 and later vehicles 
manufactured on or after September 1, 2010).

    (a) Purpose and Scope. The purpose of this section is to aid 
potential purchasers in the selection of new passenger motor vehicles 
by providing them with safety rating information developed by NHTSA in 
its New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) testing. Manufacturers of 
passenger motor vehicles described in paragraph (b) of this section are 
required to include this information on the Monroney label. Although 
NHTSA also makes the information available through means such as 
postings at http://www.safercar.gov and http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov, the 
additional Monroney label information is intended to provide consumers 
with relevant information at the point of sale.
    (b) Application. This section applies to automobiles with a GVWR of 
10,000 pounds or less, manufactured on or after September 1, 2010 that 
are declared by their manufacturer to be model year 2011 or later 
vehicles and that are required by the Automobile Information Disclosure 
Act, 15 U.S.C. 1231-1233, to have price sticker labels (Monroney 
labels), e.g. passenger vehicles, station wagons, passenger vans, and 
sport utility vehicles. Model Year 2011 or later vehicles manufactured 
prior to September 1, 2010 may, at the manufacturer's option, be 
labeled according to the provisions of this Sec.  575.302 provided the 
ratings placed on the safety rating label are derived from vehicle 
testing conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 
that is appropriate for Model Year 2011 or later vehicles.
    (c) Definitions--(1) Monroney label means the label placed on new 
automobiles with the manufacturer's suggested retail price and other 
consumer information, as specified at 15 U.S.C. 1231-1233.
    (2) Safety rating label means the label with NCAP safety rating 
information, as specified at 15 U.S.C. 1232(g). The safety rating label 
is part of the Monroney label.
    (d) Required Label--(1) Except as specified in paragraph (f) of 
this section, each vehicle must have a safety rating label that is part 
of its Monroney label, meets the requirements specified in paragraph 
(e) of this section, and conforms in content, format and sequence to 
the sample label depicted in Figure 1 of this section. If NHTSA has not 
provided a safety rating for any category of vehicle performance for a 
vehicle, the manufacturer may use the smaller label specified in 
paragraph (f) of this section.
    (2) The label must depict the star ratings for that vehicle as 
reported to the vehicle manufacturer by NHTSA.
    (3) Whenever NHTSA informs a manufacturer in writing of a new 
safety rating for a specified vehicle or the continued applicability of 
an existing safety rating for a new model year, including any safety 
concerns, the manufacturer shall include the new or continued safety 
rating on vehicles manufactured on or after the date 30 calendar days 
after receipt by the manufacturer of the information.
    (4) If, for a vehicle that has an existing safety rating for a 
category, NHTSA informs the manufacturer in writing that it has 
approved an optional NCAP test that will cover that category, the 
manufacturer may depict vehicles manufactured on or after the date of 
receipt of the information as ``Not Rated'' or ``To Be Rated'' for that 
category.
    (5) The text ``Overall Vehicle Score,'' ``Frontal Crash,'' ``Side 
Crash,'' ``Rollover,'' ``Driver,'' ``Passenger,'' ``Front Seat,'' 
``Rear Seat'' and where applicable, ``Not Rated'' or ``To Be Rated,'' 
the star graphic indicating each rating, as well as any text in the 
header and footer areas of the label, must have a minimum font size of 
12 point. All remaining text and symbols on the label (including the 
star graphic specified in paragraph (e)(9)(i)(A) of this section), must 
have a minimum font size of 8 point.
    (e) Required Information and Format--(1) Safety Rating Label 
Border. The safety rating label must be surrounded by a solid dark line 
that is a minimum of 3 points in width.
    (2) Safety Rating Label Size and Legibility. The safety rating 
label must be presented in a legible, visible, and prominent fashion 
that covers at least 8 percent of the total area of the Monroney label 
(i.e., including the safety rating label) or an area with a minimum of 
4\1/2\ inches in length and 3\1/2\ inches in height on the Monroney 
label, whichever is larger.
    (3) Heading Area. The words ``Government 5-Star Safety Ratings'' 
must be in boldface, capital letters that are light in color and 
centered The background must be dark.
    (4) Overall Vehicle Score Area. (i) The overall vehicle score area 
must be placed immediately below the heading area and must have dark 
text and a light background. The overall vehicle score rating must be 
displayed with the maximum star rating achieved.
    (ii) The words ``Overall Vehicle Score'' must be in boldface 
aligned to the left side of the label. The achieved star rating must be 
on the same line, aligned to the right side of the label.
    (iii) The words ``Based on the combined ratings of frontal, side 
and rollover.'', followed (on the next line) by the statement ``Should 
ONLY be compared to other vehicles of similar weight class.'' must be 
placed at the bottom of the overall vehicle score area.
    (iv) If NHTSA has not released the star rating for the ``Frontal 
Crash,'' ``Side Crash,'' or ``Rollover'' area, the text ``Not Rated'' 
must be used in boldface. However, as an alternative, the words ``To Be 
Rated'' (in boldface) may be used if the manufacturer has received 
written notification from NHTSA that the vehicle has been chosen for 
the NCAP frontal, side, and/or rollover testing such that there will be 
ratings in all three areas.
    (5) Frontal Crash Area. (i) The frontal crash area must be placed 
immediately below the overall vehicle score area, separated by a dark 
line that is a minimum of three points in width. The text must be dark 
against a light background. Both the driver and the right front seat 
passenger frontal crash test ratings must be displayed with the maximum 
star ratings achieved.
    (ii) The words ``Frontal Crash'' must be in boldface, cover two 
lines, and be aligned to the left side of the label.
    (iii) The word ``Driver'' must be on the same line as the word 
``Frontal'' in ``Frontal Crash,'' and be left justified, horizontally 
centered and vertically aligned at the top of the label. The achieved 
star rating for ``Driver'' must be on the same line, left justified, 
and aligned to the right side of the label.
    (iv) If NHTSA has not released the star rating for the ``Driver'' 
position, the text ``Not Rated'' must be used in boldface. However, as 
an alternative, the words ``To Be Rated'' (in boldface) may be used if 
the manufacturer has received written notification from NHTSA that the 
vehicle has been chosen for NCAP testing. Both texts must be on the 
same line as the text ``Driver'', left justified, and aligned to the 
right side of the label.
    (v) The word ``Passenger'' must be on the same line as the word 
``Crash'' in ``Frontal Crash,'' below the word ``Driver,'' and be left 
justified, horizontally centered and vertically aligned at the top of 
the label. The

[[Page 10751]]

achieved star rating for ``Passenger'' must be on the same line, left 
justified, and aligned to the right side of the label.
    (vi) If NHTSA has not released the star rating for ``Passenger,'' 
the words ``Not Rated'' must be used in boldface. However, as an 
alternative, the words ``To Be Rated'' (in boldface) may be used if the 
manufacturer has received written notification from NHTSA that the 
vehicle has been chosen for NCAP testing. Both texts must be on the 
same line as the text ``Passenger'', left justified, and aligned to the 
right side of the label.
    (vii) The words ``Based on the risk of injury in a frontal 
impact.'', followed (on the next line) by the statement ``Should ONLY 
be compared to other vehicles of similar weight class.'' must be placed 
at the bottom of the frontal crash area.
    (6) Side Crash Area. (i) The side crash area must be immediately 
below the frontal crash area, separated by a dark line that is a 
minimum of three points in width. The text must be dark against a light 
background. Both the driver and the rear seat passenger side crash test 
rating must be displayed with the maximum star rating achieved.
    (ii) The words ``Side Crash'' must cover two lines, and be aligned 
to the left side of the label in boldface.
    (iii) The words ``Front seat'' must be on the same line as the word 
``Side'' in ``Side Crash'' and be left justified, horizontally centered 
and vertically aligned in the middle of the label. The achieved star 
rating for ``Front seat'' must be on the same line, left justified, and 
aligned to the right side of the label.
    (iv) If NHTSA has not released the star rating for ``Front Seat,'' 
the words ``Not Rated'' must be used in boldface. However, as an 
alternative, the words ``To Be Rated'' (in boldface) may be used if the 
manufacturer has received written notification from NHTSA that the 
vehicle has been chosen for NCAP testing. Both texts must be on the 
same line as the text ``Front seat'', left justified, and aligned to 
the right side of the label.
    (v) The words ``Rear seat'' must be on the same line as the word 
``Crash'' in ``Side Crash,'' below the word ``Front seat,'' and be left 
justified, horizontally centered and vertically aligned in the middle 
of the label. The achieved star rating for ``Rear seat'' must be on the 
same line, left justified, and aligned to the right side of the label.
    (vi) If NHTSA has not released the star rating for ``Rear Seat,'' 
the text ``Not Rated'' must be used in boldface. However, as an 
alternative, the text ``To Be Rated'' (in boldface) may be used if the 
manufacturer has received written notification from NHTSA that the 
vehicle has been chosen for NCAP testing. Both texts must be on the 
same line as the text ``Rear seat'', left justified, and aligned to the 
right side of the label.
    (vii) The words ``Based on the risk of injury in side impact 
tests.'' must be placed at the bottom of the side crash area.
    (7) Rollover Area. (i) The rollover area must be immediately below 
the side crash area, separated by a dark line that is a minimum of 
three points in width. The text must be dark against a light 
background. The rollover test rating must be displayed with the maximum 
star rating achieved.
    (ii) The word ``Rollover'' must be aligned to the left side of the 
label in boldface. The achieved star rating must be on the same line, 
aligned to the right side of the label.
    (iii) If NHTSA has not tested the vehicle, the words ``Not Rated'' 
must be used in boldface. However, as an alternative, the words ``To Be 
Rated'' (in boldface) may be used if the manufacturer has received 
written notification from NHTSA that the vehicle has been chosen for 
NCAP testing. Both texts must be on the same line as the text 
``Rollover'', left justified, and aligned to the right side of the 
label.
    (iv) The words ``Based on the risk of rollover in a single vehicle 
crash.'' must be placed at the bottom of the rollover area.
    (8) Graphics. The star graphic is depicted in Figure 3 and the 
safety concern graphic is depicted in Figure 4.
    (9) Footer Area. The footer area must be placed at the bottom of 
the label; the text must be in boldface letters that are light in 
color, and be centered. The background must be dark. The text must 
state the following, in the specified order, on separate lines:
    (i) '' Star ratings range from 1 to 5 stars 
([starf][starf][starf][starf][starf]) with 5 being the highest.''
    (ii) ``Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 
(NHTSA)''
    (iii) ``www.safercar.gov or 1-888-327-4236''
    (10) Safety Concern. For vehicle tests for which NHTSA reports a 
safety concern as part of the safety rating, and for overall vehicle 
scores that are derived from vehicle tests for at least one of which 
NHTSA reports a safety concern as part of the safety rating, the label 
must:
    (i) Depict, as a superscript to the star rating, the related 
symbol, as depicted in Figure 4 of this section, at \2/3\ the font size 
of the base star, and
    (ii) Include at the bottom of the relevant area (i.e., overall 
vehicle score area, frontal crash area, side crash area, rollover area) 
as the last line of that area, in no smaller than 8 point type, the 
related symbol, as depicted in Figure 4 of this section, as a 
superscript of the rest of the line, and the text ``Safety Concern: 
Visit http://www.safercar.gov or call 1-888-327-4236 for more 
details.''
    (11) No additional information may be provided in the safety rating 
label area. The specified information provided in a language other than 
English is not considered to be additional information.
    (f) Smaller Safety Rating Label for Vehicles With No Ratings. (1) 
If NHTSA has not released a safety rating for any category for a 
vehicle, the manufacturer may use a smaller safety rating label that 
meets paragraphs (f)(2) through (f)(5) of this section. A sample label 
is depicted in Figure 2.
    (2) The label must be at least 4\1/2\ inches in width and 1\1/2\ 
inches in height, and must be surrounded by a solid dark line that is a 
minimum of 3 points in width.
    (3) Heading Area. The text must read ``Government 5-Star Safety 
Ratings'' and be in 14-point boldface, capital letters that are light 
in color, and be centered. The background must be dark.
    (4) General Information. The general information area must be below 
the header area. The text must be dark and the background must be 
light. The text must state the following, in at least 12-point font, be 
left-justified, and aligned to the left side of the label: ``This 
vehicle has not been rated by the government for overall vehicle score, 
frontal crash, side crash, or rollover risk.''
    (5) Footer Area. The footer area must be placed at the bottom of 
the label; the text must be in 12-point boldface letters that are light 
in color, and be centered. The background must be dark. The text must 
state the following, in the specified order, on separate lines:
    (i) ``Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 
(NHTSA)'' and
    (ii) ``http://www.safercar.gov or 1-888-327-4236''.
    (6) No additional information may be provided in the smaller safety 
rating label area. The specified information provided in a language 
other than English is not considered to be additional information.
    (g) Labels for alterers. (1) If, pursuant to 49 CFR 567.7, a person 
is required to affix a certification label to a vehicle, and the 
vehicle has a safety rating label with one or more safety ratings, the 
alterer must also place another label on that vehicle as specified in 
this paragraph.
    (2) The additional label (which does not replace the one required 
by 49 CFR 567.7) must read: ``This vehicle has been altered. The stated 
star ratings on the safety rating label may no longer be applicable.''

[[Page 10752]]

    (3) The label must be placed adjacent to the Monroney label or as 
close to it as physically possible.
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    Issued on: March 3, 2010.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator For Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 2010-4867 Filed 3-8-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P