Interpretation ID: nht73-3.22

DATE: 02/08/73

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; Robert L. Carter; NHTSA

TO: United States Senate

TITLE: FMVSS INTERPRETATION

TEXT: This is in reply to your letter of January 26, 1973, which was forwarded to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) by National Transportation Safety Board Chairman John H. Reed, regarding the position of the shoulder harness on the Toyota Corona purchased by Mr. John McCauley of Mattapan, Massachusetts. A copy of the constituent's letter is enclosed.

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, Occupant(Illegible Word) Protection, requires that all cars made after January 1, 1972, have lap and shoulder belts which fit specified occupant sizes. Our Office of Standards Enforcement has made telephone contact in order to obtain more detailed information on Mr. McCauley's vehicle and the exact nature of the safety belt problems which he experienced.

I appreciate Mr. McCauley's interest in motor vehicle safety and his bringing this situation to our attention. As we had recently received a similar complaint on another model Toyota automobile, our Office of Standards Enforcement is conducting an investigation of the entire matter.