The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) are
U.S.
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
federal
vehicle regulations specifying design, construction, performance, and durability requirements for
motor vehicle
A motor vehicle, also known as motorized vehicle or automotive vehicle, is a self-propelled land vehicle, commonly wheeled, that does not operate on Track (rail transport), rails (such as trains or trams) and is used for the transportation of pe ...
s and regulated
automobile safety
Automotive safety is the study and practice of design, construction, equipment and regulation to minimize the occurrence and consequences of traffic collisions involving motor vehicles. Road traffic safety more broadly includes roadway design ...
-related components, systems, and design features. They are the U.S. counterpart to the UN Regulations developed by the
World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations
The World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations is a working party (WP.29) of the Inland Transport Committee (ITC) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Its responsibility is to manage the multilateral Agreements ...
and recognized to varying degree by most countries except the United States.
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
has a system of analogous rules called the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS), which overlap substantially but not completely in content and structure with the FMVSS. The FMVSS/CMVSS requirements differ significantly from the international UN requirements, so
private import of foreign vehicles not originally manufactured to North American specifications is difficult or impossible.
Structure
FMVSS are currently codified in
Title 49 of the
Code of Federal Regulations
In the law of the United States, the ''Code of Federal Regulations'' (''CFR'') is the codification of the general and permanent regulations promulgated by the executive departments and agencies of the federal government of the United States. ...
, Part 571, Subpart B (), with each FMVSS standard as a section of Part 571, e.g., FMVSS Standard No. 101 is . FMVSS are developed and enforced by the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA ) is an agency of the U.S. federal government, part of the Department of Transportation. It describes its mission as "Save lives, prevent injuries, reduce vehicle-related crashes" rela ...
(NHTSA) pursuant to statutory authorization in the form of the
National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, which is now codified at .
FMVSS are divided into three categories: crash avoidance (100-series),
crashworthiness
Crashworthiness is the ability of a structure to protect its occupants during an impact. This is commonly tested when investigating the safety of aircraft and vehicles. Depending on the nature of the impact and the vehicle involved, different crit ...
(200-series), and post-crash survivability (300-series). The first regulation, FMVSS No. 209, was adopted on 1 March 1967 and remains in force to date though its requirements have been periodically updated and made more stringent. It stipulates the requirements for
seat belts
A seat belt (also known as a safety belt, or spelled seatbelt) is a vehicle safety device designed to secure the driver or a passenger of a vehicle against harmful movement that may result during a collision or a sudden stop. A seat belt red ...
in roadgoing vehicles.
Other FMVSS include:
Crash avoidance
* FMVSS No. 101: Controls and displays
* FMVSS No. 102: Transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect
* FMVSS No. 103:
Windshield defrosting and defogging systems
* FMVSS No. 104:
Windshield wiping and washing systems
* FMVSS No. 105: Hydraulic and electric brake systems
*
FMVSS No. 106: Brake hoses
*
FMVSS No. 107: eserved/span> (previously "Reflecting surfaces", rescinded in 1996)
* FMVSS No. 108: Lamps, reflective device and associated equipment
* FMVSS No. 109: New pneumatic tires for passenger cars
* FMVSS No. 110: Tire selection and rims for passenger cars
* FMVSS No. 111: Rear view and side view mirrors
* FMVSS No. 112: eserved/span> (previously "Headlamp concealment devices", canceled in 1996 and incorporated into #108)Vehicle identification number
A vehicle identification number (VIN) (also called a chassis number or frame number) is a unique code, including a serial number, used by the automotive industry to identify individual motor vehicles, towed vehicles, motorcycles, scooters ...
", moved to Part 565 in 1983)
* FMVSS No. 116: Motor vehicle brake fluids
* FMVSS No. 117: Retreaded pneumatic tires
* FMVSS No. 118: Power-operated window, partition, and roof panel systems
* FMVSS No. 119: New pneumatic tires for vehicles other than passenger cars
* FMVSS No. 120: Tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars
* FMVSS No. 121: Air brake systems
* FMVSS No. 122: Motorcycle brake systems
* FMVSS No. 123: Motorcycle controls and displays
* FMVSS No. 124: Accelerator control systems
* FMVSS No. 125: Warning devices
* FMVSS No. 126: Electronic stability control systems
* FMVSS No. 127: eserved/span> (previously "Speedometer
A speedometer or speed meter is a gauge that measures and displays the instantaneous speed of a vehicle. Now universally fitted to motor vehicles, they started to be available as options in the early 20th century, and as standard equipment f ...
s and odometer
An odometer or odograph is an instrument used for measuring the distance traveled by a vehicle, such as a bicycle or car. The device may be electronic, mechanical, or a combination of the two (electromechanical). The noun derives from ancient Gr ...
s", revoked in 1982)
* FMVSS No. 128: eserved/span> (previously "Fields of direct view", rescinded in 1981)
* FMVSS No. 129: New non-pneumatic tires for passenger cars- new temporary spare non-pneumatic tires for use on passenger cars
* FMVSS No. 131: School bus pedestrian safety devices
* FMVSS No. 135: Light vehicle brake systems
* FMVSS No. 136: Electronic stability control systems on heavy vehicles
* FMVSS No. 138: Tire-pressure monitoring system
A tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) monitors the air pressure inside the pneumatic tires on vehicles.
A TPMS reports real-time tire-pressure information to the driver, using either a gauge, a pictogram display, or a simple low-pressure wa ...
s
* FMVSS No. 139: New pneumatic radial tires for light vehicles
* FMVSS No. 140: roposed/span> ("Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Speed Limiting Devices", released for public comment in September 2016)
* FMVSS No. 141: Minimum sound requirements for hybrid and electric vehicles
Crashworthiness
* FMVSS No. 201: Occupant protection in interior impact
* FMVSS No. 202: Head restraint
Head restraints (also called headrests) are an automotive safety feature, attached or integrated into the top of each seat to limit the rearward movement of the adult occupant's head, relative to the torso, in a collision — to prevent or ...
s for passenger vehicles
* FMVSS No. 203: Impact protection for the driver from the steering control system
* FMVSS No. 204: Steering control rearward displacement
* FMVSS No. 205: Glazing materials
* FMVSS No. 206: Door locks and door retention components
* FMVSS No. 207: Seating Systems
* FMVSS No. 208: Occupant crash protection
* FMVSS No. 209: Seat belt assemblies
* FMVSS No. 210: Seat belt anchorages
* FMVSS No. 211: eserved/span> (previously "Wheel nuts, wheel discs and hub caps")
* FMVSS No. 212: Windshield mounting
* FMVSS No. 213: Child restraint systems
* FMVSS No. 214: Side impact protection
* FMVSS No. 215: eserved/span> (previously "Exterior protection")
* FMVSS No. 216: Roof crush
Roof crush is the failure and displacement of an automobile roof into the passenger compartment during a rollover accident.
Every year approximately 10,000 Americans are killed in rollover accidents, accounting for about 30% of all light vehic ...
resistance
* FMVSS No. 217: Bus emergency exits and window retention and release.
* FMVSS No. 218: Motorcycle helmets
* FMVSS No. 219: Windshield zone intrusion
* FMVSS No. 220: School bus rollover protection
* FMVSS No. 221: School bus body joint strength
* FMVSS No. 222: School bus passenger seating and crash protection
* FMVSS No. 223: Rear impact guards
* FMVSS No. 224: Rear impact protection
* FMVSS No. 225: Child restraint anchorage systems
* FMVSS No. 226: Ejection mitigation
* FMVSS No. 227: Bus rollover structural integrity
Post-crash survivability
* FMVSS No. 301: Fuel system integrity
* FMVSS No. 302: Flammability of interior materials
* FMVSS No. 303: Fuel system integrity of compressed natural gas vehicles
* FMVSS No. 304: Compressed natural gas fuel container integrity
* FMVSS No. 305: Electric-powered vehicles: Electrolyte spillage and electrical shock protection
Miscellaneous
* FMVSS No. 401: Interior trunk release
* FMVSS No. 402: eserved/span> (previously "Radiator and coolant reservoir caps venting of motor vehicle coolant systems")
* FMVSS No. 403: Platform lift systems for motor vehicles
* FMVSS No. 404: Platform lift installation in motor vehicles
* FMVSS No. 500: Low-speed vehicles
Other regulations relating to transportation
Aside from the FMVSS in Part 571, there are numerous federal regulations pertaining to motor vehicles under Title 49, including:
* Part 523: Vehicle Classification
* Part 525: Exemptions from average fuel economy standards
* Part 526: Petitions and plans for relief under the Automobile Fuel Efficiency Act of 1980
* Part 529: Manufacturers of multistage automobiles
* Part 531: Passenger automobile average fuel economy standards
* Part 533: Light truck fuel economy standards
* Part 534: Rights and responsibilities of manufacturers in the context of changes in corporate relationships
* Part 536: Transfer and trading of fuel economy credits
* Part 537: Automotive fuel economy reports
* Part 538: Manufacturing incentives for alternative fuel vehicles
* Part 541: Federal motor vehicle theft prevention standard
* Part 542: Procedures for selecting light duty truck lines to be covered by the theft prevention standard
* Part 543: Exemption from vehicle theft prevention standard
* Part 544: Insurer reporting requirements
* Part 545: Federal motor vehicle theft prevention standard phase-in and small-volume line reporting requirements
* Part 551: Procedural rules
* Part 552: Petitions for rulemaking, defect, and noncompliance orders
* Part 553: Rulemaking procedures
* Part 554: Standards enforcement and defects investigation
* Part 555: Temporary exemptions from motor vehicle safety and bumper standards
* Part 556: Exemption for inconsequential defect or noncompliance
* Part 557: Petitions for hearings on notification and remedy of defects
* Part 563: Event data recorders
* Part 564: Replaceable light source and sealed beam headlamp information
* Part 565: Vehicle identification number
A vehicle identification number (VIN) (also called a chassis number or frame number) is a unique code, including a serial number, used by the automotive industry to identify individual motor vehicles, towed vehicles, motorcycles, scooters ...
requirements
* Part 566: Manufacturer identification
* Part 567: Certification
* Part 568: Vehicles manufactured in two or more stages
* Part 569: Regrooved tires
* Part 570: Vehicle-In-Use inspection standards
* Part 572: Anthropomorphic test devices
* Part 573: Defect and noncompliance responsibility and reports
* Part 574: Tire identification and record keeping
* Part 575: Consumer information
* Part 576: Record retention
* Part 577: Defect and noncompliance notification
* Part 578: Civil and criminal penalties
* Part 579: Reporting of information and communications about potential defects
* Part 580: Odometer disclosure requirements
* Part 581: Bumper standard
* Part 582: Insurance cost information regulation
* Part 583: Automobile parts content labeling
* Part 585: Phase-in reporting requirements
* Part 586: eserved/span>
* Part 587: Deformable barriers
* Part 588: Child restraint system recordkeeping requirements
* Part 589: eserved/span>
* Part 590: eserved/span>
* Part 591: Importation of vehicles and equipment subject to federal safety, bumper, and theft prevention standards
* Part 592: Registered importers of vehicles not originally manufactured to conform to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
* Part 593: Determinations that a vehicle not originally manufactured to conform to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards is eligible for importation
* Part 594: Schedule of fees authorized by
* Part 595: Make inoperative exemptions
* Part 596: eserved/span>
* Part 597: eserved/span>
* Part 598: eserved/span>
* Part 599:
References
External links
List of FMCSA standards for motor vehicles
*
Tests for compliance with various FMVSS (broken has to be fixed)
{{Vehicle regulations
Standards of the United States
Automotive safety
Vehicle law