The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Monday morning published in the Federal Register its long-awaited final rule amending Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) 111 to require rear backup systems/cameras on light duty vehicles.
The regulation was mandated by Congress in 2007.
“The agency anticipates that today’s final rule will significantly reduce back-over crashes involving children, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and other pedestrians who currently have the highest risk associated with back-over crashes,” the ruling reads. “Specifically, (Monday’s) final rule specifies an area behind the vehicle which must be visible to the driver when the vehicle is placed into reverse and other related performance requirements. The agency anticipates that, in the near term, vehicle manufacturers will use rearview video systems and in- vehicle visual displays to meet the requirements of this final rule.”
The new regulations, scheduled to be phased-in as a percentage of a vehicle manufacturer’s production between May 1, 2016 and May 1, 2018, will apply to all vehicles 10,000 lb. gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and less except motorcycles and trailers.
