Interpretation ID: nht68-4.23

DATE: 01/01/68 EST

FROM: Joseph R. O'Gorman -- Acting Director, Office of Performance Analysis, Motor Vehicle Safety Performance Services

TO: A. Nathan Darby

TITLE: None

ATTACHMT: Attached to letter dated 3-14-91 from Paul Jackson Rice to George Smyth (A37; Std. 101); Also attached to letter dated 7-30-75 from Richard B. Dyson (signed by Z. Taylor Vinson) to Byron A. Crampton; Also attached to letter dated 8-27-68 from Eugene B. Laskin to Barry G. Seitz (Std. 203; Std. 204); Also attached to letter dated 3-1-68 from George C. Nield to Earl Allgaier

TEXT:

Thank you for your letter of December 17, 1967, to the National Highway Safety Bureau, concerning the installation of dual controls on passenger cars.

The present Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards do not prohibit the installation of dual controls provided none of the requirements specified by the standards are eliminated or adversely affected by such installation. In other words, if a dealer or manufacturer modifies a conforming vehicle, then he assumes the responsibility for the vehicle's certification. We enclose a complete set of standards now in effect for your information.

In the event that dual steering controls and other controls are provided on driver training vehicles, the applicability of the appropriate standards is confined to the primary controls, For example, under Standard No. 101, the person seated behind the secondary steering control need not be able to reach all controls.

We trust this information will be of assistance to you in your desire to comply with existing safety standards.