Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Head Impact Protection

This document denies petitions for reconsideration submitted by the American Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA) and ASC, Incorporated (ASC). On April 8, 1997, NHTSA published a final rule amending provisions in Standard No. 201, Head Impact Protection, relating to upper interior head impact protection. The amendments revised and clarified test procedures, added an optional compliance phase-in plan, allowed carry-forward credits to facilitate compliance, and excluded small buses from the Standard's upper interior impact protection requirements. ASC's petition stated the company's concerns about the impact of the final rule on the integrated convertible roof and frame designs and requested a further amendment to the definition of ``convertible roof frame system.'' AAMA's petition requested that NHTSA reconsider and modify the final rule in reference to approach angles, moveable side glazing, multiple impacts, the procedure for locating CG-F (a reference point corresponding to the location of a front seat occupant's head), and the definition of ``forehead impact zone.''