Archives for October 2018

DATES: Comments must be filed on or before December 11, 2018

Adaptive driving beam (‘‘ADB’’) headlamps use advanced technology that actively modifies the headlamp beams to provide more illumination while not glaring other vehicles. The proposed requirements would amend the existing regulations to permit this technology and ensure that it operates safely.

ADB is not supplemental lighting, but is part of the required headlamp system.  It would not comply with some of the current FMVSS 108 requirements.  NHTSA proposes to amend the standard to make ADB available in the United States.  To ensure that ADB systems operate safely, the standard would include additional requirements specific to ADB systems.

This NPRM proposes to subject ADB equipped vehicles to a dynamic compliance test to ensure the ADB system does not glare oncoming or preceding vehicles. The performance requirements NHTSA proposes specify the maximum level of illuminance an ADB system may cast on opposing or preceding vehicles.

In addition to these track-tested glare limits, under this proposal an ADB system would also be subject to some of the existing laboratory-based upper and lower beam photometry requirements. NHTSA also proposes applying some existing semiautomatic beam switching device requirements to ADB systems: Manual override (S9.4.1.2); fail safe operation (S9.4.1.3); and automatic dimming indicator (S9.4.1.4).

DATES: Comments on this document are due no later than November 26, 2018. This date has been subsequently extended.

EXERPTS: More specifically, NHTSA requests comments on the following topics related to ADS safety research. First, NHTSA seeks comments on potential factors that should be considered in designing a pilot program for the safe on-road testing and deployment of vehicles with high and full driving automation and associated equipment. Second, the Agency seeks comments on the use of existing statutory provisions and regulations to allow for the implementation of such a pilot program. Third, the Agency seeks comment on any additional elements of regulatory relief (e.g., exceptions, exemptions, or other potential measures) that might be needed to facilitate the efforts to participate in the pilot program and conduct on-road research and testing involving these vehicles, especially those that lack controls for human drivers and thus may not comply with all existing safety standards. Fourth, with respect to the granting of exemptions to enable companies to participate in such a program, the Agency seeks comments on the nature of the safety and any other analyses that it should perform in assessing the merits of individual exemption petitions and on the types of terms and conditions it should consider attaching to exemptions to protect public safety and facilitate the Agency’s monitoring and learning from the testing and deployment, while preserving the freedom to innovate.

NHTSA believes it is prudent to facilitate the conducting of research and gathering of data about these new and developing technologies in their various iterations and configurations.

The purpose of this ANPRM is to obtain public views and suggestions for steps that NHTSA can take to facilitate, monitor and learn from on-road research through the safe testing and eventual deployment of high and full automated vehicles, i.e., Level 4 and 5 1 ADS vehicles, primarily through a pilot program.

This ANPRM focuses on the related question of how the Agency can best encourage and facilitate the necessary research to allow for the development and establishment, as needed, of standards for ADS vehicles, including vehicles that have unconventional designs, can operate in ‘‘dual modes’’ (one of which may involve unconventional designs), and can comply with the existing FMVSS.