Vehicle Safety Compliance

The Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance, investigates compliance with Federal motor vehicle safety standards and associated regulations, and to this end may verify that manufacturers certify compliance with all applicable safety standards collect field reports from all sources. Inspect manufacturers certification test data and other supporting evidence, including dealer communications, inspect vehicles and equipment already in use or new vehicles and equipment at any stage of the manufacturing, distribution and sales chain. Conduct selective compliance tests and Utilize other means necessary to conduct investigations.

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards

In order to reduce traffic accidents, and deaths and injuries resulting from traffic accidents, the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act was enacted on September 9, 1966. The law directed the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to promulgate Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), to which manufacturers of motor vehicles and items of motor vehicle equipment must conform and certify compliance.

The Secretary of Transportation delegated the authority to promulgate FMVSS (FMVSS compliance) to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which promulgated the first FMVSSs in 1967 and made them effective for vehicles manufactured on or after January 1, 1968, for sale or use in the United States. NHTSA has promulgated many additional FMVSS (FMVSS compliance) since then, has updated or amended nearly all of them, and has rescinded a few.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a legislative mandate under Title 49 of the United States Code, Chapter 301, Motor Vehicle Safety, to issue Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and Regulations to which manufacturers of motor vehicle and equipment items must conform and certify compliance. FMVSS 209 was the first standard to become effective on March 1, 1967. A number of FMVSS became effective for vehicles manufactured on and after January 1, 1968. Subsequently, other FMVSS have been issued. New standards and amendments to existing standards are published in the Federal Register.

These Federal safety standards are regulations written in terms of minimum safety performance requirements for motor vehicles or items of motor vehicle equipment. These requirements are specified in such a manner that the public is protected against unreasonable risk of crashes occurring as a result of the design, construction, or performance of motor vehicles and is also protected against unreasonable risk of death or injury in the event crashes do occur.

FMVSS Compliance

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard - FMVSS compliance regulates all automotive lighting, signalling and reflective devices in the United States. Like all other Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, FMVSS - is administered by the United States Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.