Interpretation ID: nht71-2.33

DATE: 04/29/71

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; Clue D. Ferguson; NHTSA

TO: Ashimori Industry Company, Ltd.

TITLE: FMVSS INTERPRETATION

TEXT: Thank you for your letter of April 1, 1971, regarding self-fastening seat belt systems.

Any system which requires no action by vehicle occupants can be used to meet the appropriate options of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208 - Occupant Crash Protection. "The action," in this case, means that no action is permitted by vehicle occupants other than would be required if the protective system were not present in the vehicle.

We have received a number of petitions for reconsideration or clarification of Notice 9, particularly in reference to the role of a passive (no action) safety belt system as it relates to the requirements for Type 1 or Type 2 seat belt installations prior to August 15, 1975. We are now in the process of resolving the petitions received, and our final decisions in response to the petitions will be issued in the Federal Register as soon as possible.

Your interest in our motor vehicle safety programs is most appreciated.