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Motor Vehicle Safety: Passive Restraints Needed to Make Light Trucks Safer

RCED-90-56 Published: Nov 30, 1989. Publicly Released: Dec 14, 1989.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) activities regarding light truck safety.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Transportation The Secretary of Transportation should direct the Administrator, NHTSA, to establish a timetable for promptly moving the light truck passive restraint proposal through the rulemaking process and to periodically report on its progress to the Secretary.
Closed – Implemented
On March 20, 1991, NHTSA issued final rule extending the requirements for front seat automatic crash protection to light trucks. The requirement will be phased in on a 4-year period, beginning for vehicles manufactured after September 1, 1994.

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