Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Designated Seating Positions

This document completes the agency's response to petitions for reconsideration of an October 2008 final rule that amended the definition of the term, "designated seating position," as used in the Federal motor vehicle safety standards, to facilitate the determination of which areas within the interior of a vehicle meet that definition. The final rule made the new definition applicable to vehicles manufactured on and after September 1, 2010. Previously, the agency granted petitions requesting one year of additional lead time until the new definition became applicable, removal the portion of the regulatory text stating that State tort law requirements are preempted, and technical corrections. This final rule addresses the remaining issues raised in the petitions for reconsideration and makes clarifying changes to the manner in which designated seating positions are measured. We are also including technical corrections addressing side- facing seats and longer seating surfaces.