Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 23 / Friday, February 2, 2024 / Notices 7437 

Detailed agenda information will be 

posted on the FAA Committee website 

address listed in the ADDRESSES section 

at least one week in advance of the 

meeting. 

III. Public Participation 

The meeting will be open to the 

public for virtual or in person 

attendance on a first-come, first-served 

basis, as there is limited space. Please 

confirm your attendance with the 

person listed in the FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT section and 

provide the following information: full 

legal name, country of citizenship, and 

name of your industry association or 

applicable affiliation. Please indicate if 

you plan to observe the meeting in 

person or virtually. The FAA will email 

registrants the meeting access 

information in a timely manner prior to 

the start of the meeting. 

The U.S. Department of 

Transportation is committed to 

providing equal access to this meeting 

for all participants. If you need 

alternative formats or services because 

of a disability, such as sign language, 

interpretation, or other ancillary aids, 

please contact the person listed in the 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

section. 

The FAA is not accepting oral 

presentations at this meeting due to 

time constraints. Any member of the 

public may present a written statement 

to the committee at any time. The public 

may present written statements to 

ARAC by providing a copy to the 

Designated Federal Officer via the email 

listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT section. 

Issued in Washington, DC, on January 29, 

2024. 

Brandon Roberts, 

Executive Director, Office of Rulemaking. 

[FR Doc. 2024–02091 Filed 2–1–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Administration 

[Docket No. FMCSA–2018–0141] 

Parts and Accessories Necessary for 

Safe Operation; Exemption Renewal 

for Stoneridge, Inc. 

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Administration (FMCSA), Department 

of Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice of provisional renewal of 

exemption; request for comments. 

SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its 

decision to provisionally renew 

Stoneridge, Inc.’s (Stoneridge) 

exemption, which will allow motor 

carriers to operate commercial motor 

vehicles (CMV) with the company’s 

MirrorEyeTM Camera Monitor System 

(CMS) installed as an alternative to the 

two rear-vision mirrors required by the 

Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Regulations (FMCSRs). The exemption 

is renewed for 5 years, unless revoked 

earlier. 

DATES: This renewed exemption is 

effective February 13, 2024, through 

February 12, 2029, unless revoked 

earlier. Comments must be received on 

or before March 4, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

identified by docket number FMCSA– 

2018–0141 using any of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

https://www.regulations.gov/docket/ 

FMCSA-2018-0141/document. Follow 

the online instructions for submitting 

comments. 

• Mail: Dockets Operations, U.S. 

Department of Transportation, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, 

Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590– 

0001. 

• Hand Delivery or Courier: Dockets 

Operations, U.S. Department of 

Transportation, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE, West Building, Ground 

Floor, Washington, DC 20590–0001, 

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

David Sutula, Chief, Vehicle and 

Roadside Operations Division, Office of 

Carrier, Driver, and Vehicle Safety, 

FMCSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 

Washington, DC 20590–0001; (202) 366– 

9209; MCPSV@dot.gov. If you have 

questions on viewing or submitting 

material to the docket, call Dockets 

Operations at (202) 366–9826. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Public Participation and Request for 

Comments 

A. Submitting Comments 

If you submit a comment, please 

include the docket number for this 

notice (FMCSA–2018–0141), indicate 

the specific section of this document to 

which the comment applies, and 

provide a reason for suggestions or 

recommendations. You may submit 

your comments and material online or 

by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but 

please use only one of these means. 

FMCSA recommends that you include 

your name and a mailing address, an 

email address, or a phone number in the 

body of your document so the Agency 

can contact you if it has questions 

regarding your submission. 

To submit your comment online, go to 

https://www.regulations.gov/docket/ 

FMCSA-2018-0141/document, click on 

this notice, click ‘‘Comment,’’ and type 

your comment into the text box on the 

following screen. Choose whether you 

are submitting your comment as an 

individual or on behalf of a third party 

and then submit. 

If you submit your comments by mail 

or hand delivery, submit them in an 

unbound format, no larger than 81⁄2 by 

11 inches, suitable for copying and 

electronic filing. 

If you submit comments by mail and 

would like to know that they reached 

the facility, please enclose a stamped, 

self-addressed postcard or envelope. 

FMCSA will consider all comments 

and material received during the 

comment period. Comments received 

after the comment closing date will be 

filed in the public docket and will be 

considered to the extent practicable. 

Confidential Business Information (CBI) 

CBI is commercial or financial 

information that is both customarily and 

actually treated as private by its owner. 

Under the Freedom of Information Act 

(5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from 

public disclosure. If your comments 

responsive to the notice contain 

commercial or financial information 

that is customarily treated as private, 

that you actually treat as private, and 

that is relevant or responsive to the 

notice, it is important that you clearly 

designate the submitted comments as 

CBI. Please mark each page of your 

submission that constitutes CBI as 

‘‘PROPIN’’ to indicate it contains 

proprietary information. FMCSA will 

treat such marked submissions as 

confidential under the Freedom of 

Information Act, and they will not be 

placed in the public docket of the 

notice. Submissions containing CBI 

should be sent to Brian Dahlin, Chief, 

Regulatory Evaluation Division, Office 

of Policy, FMCSA, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590– 

0001 or via email at brian.g.dahlin@

dot.gov. At this time, you need not send 

a duplicate hardcopy of your electronic 

CBI submissions to FMCSA 

headquarters. Any comments FMCSA 

receives not specifically designated as 

CBI will be placed in the public docket 

for this notice. 

B. Viewing Comments and Documents 

To view any documents mentioned as 

being available in the docket, go to 

https://www.regulations.gov/docket/ 

FMCSA-2018-0141/document and 

choose the document to review. To view 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
7438 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 23 / Friday, February 2, 2024 / Notices 

comments, click this notice, then click 

‘‘Browse Comments.’’ If you do not have 

access to the internet, you may view the 

docket online by visiting Dockets 

Operations on the ground floor of the 

DOT West Building, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590– 

0001, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, 

Monday through Friday, except Federal 

holidays. To be sure someone is there to 

help you, please call (202) 366–9317 or 

(202) 366–9826 before visiting Dockets 

Operations. 

C. Privacy 

In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 

31315(b)(6), DOT solicits comments 

from the public to better inform its 

exemption process. DOT posts these 

comments, including any personal 

information the commenter provides, to 

www.regulations.gov as described in the 

system of records notice DOT/ALL 14 

(Federal Docket Management System 

(FDMS)), which can be reviewed under 

the ‘‘Department Wide System of 

Records Notices’’ at https://

www.transportation.gov/individuals/ 

privacy/privacy-act-system-recordsnotices. The comments are posted 

without edit and are searchable by the 

name of the submitter. 

II. Legal Basis 

FMCSA has authority under 49 U.S.C. 

31136(e) and 31315(b)(2) and 49 CFR 

381.300(b) to renew an exemption from 

the FMCSRs for subsequent 5-year 

periods if it finds that such exemption 

would likely maintain a level of safety 

that is equivalent to, or greater than, the 

level that would be achieved by the 

current regulation (49 CFR 381.305(a)). 

Stoneridge has requested a 5-year 

extension of its current exemption. 

III. Background 

Current Regulatory Requirements 

FMCSA requires in 49 CFR 393.80(a) 

that each bus, truck, and truck tractor be 

equipped with two rear-vision mirrors, 

one at each side. The mirrors must be 

positioned to reflect to the driver a view 

of the highway to the rear and the area 

along both sides of the CMV. Section 

393.80(a) also requires that the National 

Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 

standard for mirrors on motor vehicles 

in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 

Standard (FMVSS) No. 111 be met. 

Paragraph S7.1 of FMVSS No. 111 

provides requirements for mirrors on 

multipurpose passenger vehicles and 

trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating 

(GVWR) greater than 4,536 kg and less 

than 11,340 kg and each bus, other than 

a school bus, with a GVWR of more than 

4,536 kg. Paragraph S8.1 provides 

requirements for mirrors on 

multipurpose passenger vehicles and 

trucks with a GVWR of 11,340 kg or 

more. 

Original Exemption 

In its original exemption application, 

Stoneridge noted that the MirrorEyeTM

CMS consists of multiple digital 

cameras mounted on the exterior of the 

CMV and enclosed in an aerodynamic 

package that provides both 

environmental protection for the 

cameras and a mounting location for 

optimal visibility. Each camera has 

video processing software that presents 

a clear, high-definition image to the 

driver by means of a monitor mounted 

to each A-pillar of the CMV, i.e., the 

structural member between the 

windshield and door of the cab. 

Stoneridge explained that attaching the 

monitors to the A-pillars avoids the 

creation of incremental blind spots and 

eliminates the blind spots associated 

with conventional mirrors. Stoneridge 

stated that its MirrorEyeTM CMS meets 

or exceeds the visibility requirements 

provided in FMVSS No. 111 based on 

several factors: 

• Greater field of view than 

conventional mirrors—Mirrors are 

replaced by wide angle, narrow angle, 

and look-down cameras expanding the 

field of view by an estimated 25 percent. 

• Fail-safe design—The MirrorEyeTM

CMS has independent video processing 

of multiple camera images so that in the 

unlikely event of an individual camera 

failure, the other camera images 

continue to be displayed. This ensures 

that real-time images are continuously 

displayed without interruption. 

• Augmented and enhanced vision 

quality—The use of high-definition 

digital cameras provides for color night 

vision, low light sensitivity, and trailer 

panning capabilities. This assists with 

night driving and operating under other 

low lighting conditions and provides for 

glare reduction. 

• Trailer panning—The MirrorEyeTM

CMS automatically tracks the end of the 

trailer to keep it in view while the 

vehicle is moving forward. Stoneridge 

stated this feature could eliminate 

collisions associated with the CMV 

driver making a right-hand turn and the 

CMV striking a pedestrian or bicyclist 

during the turn. 

Stoneridge noted that the use of its 

MirrorEyeTM CMS may help to reduce 

driver fatigue by requiring less head 

movement by drivers compared to the 

number of head movements needed to 

use conventional mirrors. Stoneridge 

noted further that use of its MirrorEyeTM

CMS provides improved fuel economy 

because the housing for the system is 

more aerodynamic than the 

conventional mirrors required by 

§ 393.80(a). 

On February 21, 2019, following 

notice and consideration of the 

comments received, FMCSA determined 

that use of Stoneridge’s MirrorEyeTM

CMS would likely maintain a level of 

safety that is equivalent to or greater 

than the level of safety that would be 

obtained by complying with § 393.80(a) 

and granted Stoneridge’s exemption 

request for a 5-year period (84 FR 5557). 

In its decision, FMCSA noted that the 

use of the MirrorEyeTM CMS provides 

CMV drivers with an enhanced field of 

view when compared to the required 

rear-vision mirrors because (1) it 

eliminates the blind spots on both sides 

of the vehicle created by the required 

rear-vision mirrors, (2) the multi-camera 

system expands the field of view 

compared to the required rear-vision 

mirrors by an estimated 25 percent, and 

(3) the trailer panning feature 

automatically tracks the end of the 

trailer to keep it in view in forward 

motion. 

Additionally, FMCSA highlighted that 

the MirrorEyeTM CMS uses highdefinition cameras and monitors that 

include features such as color night 

vision, low light sensitivity, and light 

and glare reduction that together 

provide drivers with improved vision 

when compared to traditional rearvision mirrors. FMCSA also noted that 

the MirrorEyeTM CMS includes features 

such as self-cleaning lenses/cameras to 

eliminate problems with rain and dirt, 

a feature that is not required for 

traditional rear-vision mirrors, and an 

advanced defrosting system for winter 

driving. FMCSA did not find reason for 

concern about the possibility of 

electronic malfunctions compromising 

operation of the system or the 

possibility of increased driver 

distraction. 

Finally, FMCSA noted that the 

FMCSRs impose several operational 

controls that will help ensure that the 

MirrorEyeTM CMS is always functioning 

properly. Section 396.7 prohibits any 

vehicle from being operated in such a 

condition as to likely cause an accident 

or breakdown of the vehicle. Section 

392.7(a) requires each CMV driver to 

satisfy themself that a vehicle is in safe 

condition before operating the vehicle, 

which would include ensuring that the 

rear-vision mirrors (or in this case, the 

MirrorEyeTM CMS) are in good working 

order. Similarly, § 396.13(a) requires 

that, before driving a vehicle, a driver 

must be satisfied that the vehicle is in 

safe operating condition. If the 

MirrorEyeTM CMS (effectively 

functioning as the rear-vision mirrors) 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 23 / Friday, February 2, 2024 / Notices 7439 

1Schmidt, E.A., et al. ‘‘Camera-Monitor Systems 

as a Replacement for Exterior Mirrors in Cars and 

Trucks.’’ Federal Highway Research Institute 

(Germany), 2015. 

fails during operation, the driver must 

complete a driver vehicle inspection 

report at the completion of the workday 

as required by § 396.11 and the motor 

carrier must ensure that the defect is 

corrected. 

Application for Renewal of Exemption 

In its renewal application, Stoneridge 

reiterated the previous statements in 

support of its original exemption 

request. Stoneridge noted that since the 

2019 exemption was granted, the 

MirrorEyeTM CMS has been installed on 

over 1,000 vehicles in North America, 

logging over an estimated 100 million 

miles with no reported incidents caused 

by the system. Stoneridge stated that a 

leading fleet recently conducted a 

controlled study comparing accident 

costs across 24 million miles driven 

with the MirrorEyeTM CMS to 134 

million miles driven without the 

system. The study showed 

approximately a 65 percent reduction in 

accident costs in the group using the 

MirrorEyeTM CMS, including in key use 

cases such as lane change, left/right 

turning, and backing. Stoneridge also 

referenced a study by the German 

Federal Highway Research Institute that 

compared CMS with conventional 

exterior mirrors in a variety of 

conditions and generally concluded that 

CMS can provide views comparable to— 

and in some cases better than— 

conventional mirror systems.1

Stoneridge reported that in Europe its 

MirrorEyeTM CMS has been installed on 

over 1,110 buses and over 2,000 systems 

have been installed by commercial 

vehicle original equipment 

manufacturers. A copy of Stoneridge’s 

request to renew the exemption is 

available in the docket. 

IV. Equivalent Level of Safety Analysis 

FMCSA is not aware of any evidence 

showing that the operation of 

Stoneridge’s MirrorEyeTM CMS in 

accordance with the conditions of the 

original exemption has resulted in any 

degradation in safety. Moreover, the 

information provided by Stoneridge in 

its application supports that 

Stoneridge’s MirrorEyeTM CMS 

maintains the requisite statutory level of 

safety. Therefore, for the reasons 

discussed above and in the prior notice 

granting the original exemption request, 

FMCSA concludes that provisionally 

renewing the exemption granted on 

February 21, 2019, for a subsequent 5 

years, on the terms and conditions set 

forth in this exemption renewal 

decision, would likely maintain a level 

of safety that is equivalent to, or greater 

than, the level of safety achieved 

without the exemption. 

V. Exemption Decision 

A. Grant of Exemption 

FMCSA provisionally renews the 

exemption for a subsequent period of 5 

years subject to the terms and 

conditions of this decision and the 

absence of adverse public comments 

that would cause the Agency to revoke 

the exemption. The exemption from the 

requirements of 49 CFR 393.80 is 

otherwise effective February 13, 2024, 

through February 12, 2029, 11:59 p.m. 

local time, unless revoked. 

B. Applicability of Exemption 

During the temporary exemption 

period, motor carriers operating CMVs 

may install and use the Stoneridge 

MirrorEyeTM CMS in lieu of the two 

rear-vision mirrors required by § 393.80. 

C. Terms and Conditions 

1. This exemption is limited to the 

Stoneridge MirrorEyeTM CMS installed 

on CMVs and does not apply to any 

other camera-based mirror replacement 

system/technology. 

2. Drivers operating CMVs under this 

exemption must inspect the 

MirrorEyeTM CMS each time before 

operating the CMV and be satisfied that 

it is in proper working order. 

3. Drivers operating CMVs under this 

exemption must inspect the 

MirrorEyeTM CMS at the end of each 

day and note any defects in the 

equipment on the driver vehicle 

inspection report. The motor carrier 

must repair any defects noted by the 

driver before it operates the CMV again. 

4. The motor carrier must periodically 

inspect the MirrorEyeTM CMS in 

addition to the existing inspection 

required at least once every 12 months. 

D. Preemption 

In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 

31315(d), as implemented by 49 CFR 

381.600, during the period this 

exemption is in effect, no State shall 

enforce any law or regulation that 

conflicts with or is inconsistent with 

this exemption with respect to a person 

operating under the exemption. States 

may, but are not required to, adopt the 

same exemption with respect to 

operations in intrastate commerce. 

E. Revocation 

The exemption will be valid for 5 

years as provided in section V.A. above, 

unless revoked earlier by FMCSA. 

FMCSA does not believe that motor 

carriers, drivers, and CMVs covered by 

the exemption will experience any 

deterioration of their safety record. 

However, should this occur, FMCSA 

will take all steps necessary to protect 

the public interest, including revocation 

of the exemption without prior notice. 

The exemption will be immediately 

revoked if: (1) motor carriers, drivers, 

and/or CMVs fail to comply with the 

terms and conditions of the exemption; 

(2) the exemption has resulted in a 

lower level of safety than was 

maintained before it was granted; or (3) 

continuation of the exemption would 

not be consistent with the goals and 

objectives of 49 U.S.C. 31136 or chapter 

313. 

Interested parties possessing 

information that would demonstrate 

that this exemption or motor carriers 

operating CMVs utilizing the 

MirrorEyeTM CMS installed as an 

alternative to two rear-vision mirrors are 

not achieving the requisite statutory 

level of safety should immediately 

notify FMCSA by email at MCPSV@

DOT.GOV. The Agency will evaluate 

any such information and, if safety is 

being compromised or if the 

continuation of the exemption is not 

consistent with the goals and objectives 

of 49 U.S.C. 31136 or chapter 313, will 

take immediate steps to revoke the 

exemption. 

VI. Request for Comments 

In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 

31315(b), FMCSA requests public 

comment from all interested persons on 

Stoneridge’s application for renewal of 

its exemption from § 393.80. All 

comments received before the close of 

business on the comment closing date 

indicated at the beginning of this notice 

will be considered and will be available 

for examination in the docket at the 

location listed under the Addresses 

section of this notice. Comments 

received after the comment closing date 

will be filed in the public docket and 

will be considered to the extent 

practicable. In addition to late 

comments, FMCSA will also continue to 

file, in the public docket, relevant 

information that becomes available after 

the comment closing date. Interested 

persons should continue to examine the 

public docket for new material. 

Sue Lawless, 

Acting Deputy Administrator. 

[FR Doc. 2024–02081 Filed 2–1–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P 


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