onto the roadway. Our analyses indicate that as many as half of these 30,000 people could have been saved had they used a proper restraint system. Unfortunately, the use of occupant restraints has traditionally been low in this country. Even now, the average use rate for cars of all model years is about 5 percent for lap and shoulder belts and 25 percent for lap belts alone. The warning systems in 1972 and 1973 cars, and the belt-starter interlock in 1974 cars, have brought about a dramatic increase in the usage of current belt systems. Our studles show about 50% of the 1974 model car users wearing their lap and shoulder belts. We recognize that there has been much public opposition to the belt-starter interlock, and the Department has stated its acceptance of the amendment that is now included in H.R. 5529 that would provide the public with a choice between the interlock and a simple sequential warning system. In the years since NHTSA was established, substantial advances have been made in varioccupant restraint technology. There are now available passive restraint systems that deploy automatically in a crash and provide a large measure of protection for all occupants. These systems do not interfere with the freedom of the driver and his passengers in their use of the vehicle, and therefore have eliminated most of the diadvantages that have caused the public opposition to the seat belt use-inducing systems. The costs and benefits associated with vehicle passive protection are still being assersed by NHTSA, and no final decision has been made on either the desirability of a mandatory rule or its effective date. However, it is vital that we retain the option to make the proper decision. I must also express my misgivings about Congress' legislating specific safety standards which we believe are more appropriately the subject of traditional regulatory action. I appreciate this opportunity to offer these comments. Sincerely, CLAUDE 8. BRINEGAR. As Introduced-Section 109 S. 355, as introduced, contains no comparable provision. As Enacted-Section 110 SEC. 110 TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. (a) DEFINITION OF SECRETARY.-Section 102(10) of the National 15 USC 1391. Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 is amended to read as follows: "(10) Secretary' means the Secretary of Transportation." (b) DATE OF ANNUAL REPORT.-The first sentence of section 120(a) 15 USC 1408. of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 is amended by striking out "March 1" and inserting in lieu thereof "July 1". (C) REGROOVED TIRES.-Section 204(a) of such Act is amended to 15 USC 1424. read as follows: (a) No person shall sell, offer for sale, or introduction for sale, or deliver for introduction in interstate commerce, any tire or motor vehicle equipped with any tire which has been regrooved, except that the Secretary may by order permit the sale, offer for sale, introduction for sale, or delivery for introduction in interstate commerce, of regrooved tires and motor vehicles equipped with regrooved tires which he finds are designed and constructed in a manner consistent with the purposes of this Act." Conference Report-Section 110 House Report 93-1452, Page 45 Senate bill TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS No comparable provisions. House amendments Section 110(a) of the House amendment amends section 102 (10) of the Act to state that "Secretary" means the Secretary of Transportation to whom all functions under the Act were transferred by the Department of Transportation Act. Section 110(b) amends Section 120 (a) of the Act to permit the Secretary to submit the Annual Report on the implementation of the Act on July 1 of each year rather than March 1. Section 110 (c) of the House amendment amended section 204 (a) of the Act to authorize the Secretary to permit by order the lease, as well as the sale, of regrooved tires and motor vehicles equipped with regrooved tires which he found were designed and constructed in a manner consistent with the purposes of the Act. Conference substitute The conference substitute adopts the House provisions. 15 House Passed Bill-Section 110 Congressional Record-House BEC. 109. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. (b) DATE OF ANNUAL REPORT.-The arst sentence of section 120(a) of the National (a) DEFINITION OF SECRETARY.-Section 102 Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 (10) of the National Trafic and Motor is amended by striking out "March 1" and Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 is amended to read inserting in lieu thereof "July 1". as follows: "(10) 'Secretary' means the Secretary of Transportation.". House Debate-Section 110 Congressional Record-House August 12, 1974, 27814 AMENDMENT OFFERED BY MR. MOSS under a leasing arrangement, and yet it Mr. MOSS. Mr. Chairman, I offer an is one of the more common occurences. amendment. The Clerk read as follows: Amendment offered by Mr. Moss: Page 50, after line 8, add the following new section and renumber the succeeding section: SEC. 112. Section 204 (a) of Public Law 89563 is amended to read as follows: "(a) No person shall sell, offer for sale, or Introduction for sale, or deliver for introduction in interstate commerce, any tire or motor vehicle equipped with any tire which has been regrooved, except that the Secretary may by order permit the sale, offer for sale, introduction for sale, or delivery for introduction in interstate commerce, of regrooved tires and motor vehicles equipped with regrooved tires which he finds are designed and constructed in a manner consistent with the purposes of this Act." Mr. MOSS. Mr. Chairman, what this amendment is intended to do is to clarify an inadvertent omission in this legisla tion. It is a fact that tires are not only sold in this country, but they are also leased, and frequently there may be fleet operations, leasing tires and leasing mileage. The language of the act as originally drafted was too restrictive and did not therefore permit the use of regrooves It is also a fact that many tires are manufactured with a sufficient tread depth thickness to take two or more regrooves without impairing in connection with that structural integrity of the tire carcass. So it is in an effort to accommodate a reasonable request and to recognize an inadvertent omission by the original draftman of the act that this amendment is offered. Mr. BROYHILL of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman will yield, I am somewhat familiar with the problem the gentleman from California just mentioned, and I do feel that this language is necessary in order to clear up this ambiguity. the gentleman will yield, I wish to say to the gentleman from California that this was an omission, and I am in full agreement with the amendment offered by the gentleman from California. Mr. STAGGERS. Mr. Chairman, if The CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Moss). The amendment was agreed to. Congressional Record-House Mr. STAGGERS. OTHER PROVISIONS Section 110 of this legislation adopts the technical and conforming amend ments as contained in the House-passed bill, including the section on regrooved tires. The section in the House-passed bill on reduction of motor vehicle weight and cost was deleted for two reasons. DOT considers weight and cost factors as a matter of course in standard-setting proceedings. Also, more comprehensive legislation designed to integrate Federal conservation, environmental, and safety goals for the motor vehicle is anticipated. Section III states that this legislation would take effect 60 days after enactment, as did the House-passed bill. House Committee Report-Section 110 House Report 93-1191, Page 39 SECTION 109. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS Section 109 (a) amends section 102(10) of the Act to state that "Secretary" means the Secretary of Transportation. Section 109 (b) amends section 120(a) of the Act to strike out "March 1" and insert in lieu thereof "July 1". This provision will permit the Secretary to submit the annual report on the administration of the Act on July 1 of each year rather than March 1, to allow sufficient time for the submittal and analysis of statistics and data on motor vehicle safety for the preceding calendar year. Senate Passed Bill-Section 110 No comparable provision. Senate Debate-Section 110 Contains nothing helpful. Senate Committee Report-Section 110 Contains nothing helpful. |