FMCSA clears way for windshield-mounted safety devices
Sept. 22, 2016
Noting that modern safety technologies such as video event recorders, lane departure warning system sensors, and forward collision warning and mitigation systems did not exist when the rules to keep truck windshields clear of obstructions were last amended, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued a final rule to amend the safety regulations (FMCSRs) to allow their voluntary mounting, including placement within the area that is swept by the windshield wipers.
Noting that modern safety technologies such as video event recorders, lane departure warning system sensors, and forward collision warning and mitigation systems did not exist when the rules to keep truck windshields clear of obstructions were last amended, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued a final rule to amend the safety regulations (FMCSRs) to allow their voluntary mounting, including placement within the area that is swept by the windshield wipers.
Congress directed the change in a provision in the FAST Act, the five-year highway bill passed last December. In addition, the highway bill states that all windshield-mounted devices and technologies with a limited two-year exemption in effect on the date of enactment shall be considered to meet the equivalent-or-greater safety standard required for the initial exemption.
The announcement of this final rule is a nondiscretionary, ministerial action that does not require prior notice and public comment under the Administrative Procedure Act, FMCSA said.
Truck weight isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when considering operational efficiency, hours-of-service regulations, and safety ratings, but it can affect all three.
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