Interpretation ID: 1983-1.49

TYPE: INTERPRETATION-NHTSA

DATE: 05/03/83

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; F. Berndt; NHTSA

TO: Teledyne Continental Motors -- T.A. Eschbaugh, General Products Division

TITLE: FMVSS INTERPRETATION

ATTACHMT: 2/8/83 letter from Frank Berndt to Talbot Engineers Inc.

TEXT:

Mr. T. A. Eschbaugh Teledyne Continental Motors General Products Division 76 Getty Street Muskegon, Michigan 49442

Dear Mr. Eschbaugh:

This responds to your letter of March 22, 1983, asking whether any Federal motor vehicle safety standard (FMVSS) specifies wiped area requirements for multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks and buses. The answer to your question is no.

FMVSS No. 104, Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, specifies requirements for windshield wiping and washing systems. As discussed in an enclosed letter of interpretation, while the standard applies to passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks and buses, the standard's wiped area requirements only apply to passenger cars. Neither FMVSS No. 104 nor any other Federal motor vehicle safety standard specifies wiped area requirements for multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks and buses.

Sincerely,

Frank Berndt Chief Counsel

(Enclosure omitted here.)

22 March, 1983

Chief Counsel for Legal Interpretation, NHTSA Subject: Clarification of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Requirement 104 Re: Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations 571.104 Paragraph S.2 and S.4.1.2

Dear Sir:

Paragraph S.2 of the above cited reference states that Requirement 104 applies to passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks and buses. Paragraph S.4.1.2 specifies wiped area requirements for passenger cars. Multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks and buses are not mentioned in Paragraph S.4.1.2.

Question: Are wiped area requirements for multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks and buses specified by FMVSS requirement?

If these requirements are specified, what are the appropriate references?

Very truly yours,

TELEDYNE CONTINENTAL MOTORS General Products Division

T. A. Eschbaugh

TAE/js cc: Messrs. A. Saporito, E. Blackburne, R. Schuler, T. Schwallie