Comments Sought on Audi’s CMS Exemption Petition

NHTSA is seeking comment on an Audi petition for a temporary exemption from the requirements in FMVSS 111 that passenger cars, MPVs, and light trucks be equipped with an outside mirror on the driver’s side that meets certain field-of-view and mounting requirements. Instead of being equipped with FMVSS 111-compliant outside mirrors, the Audi vehicles, if exempted, would be equipped with a Camera Monitor System (CMS) that provides the driver with a video-generated image on a monitor. Audi states that the video-generated image meets the standard’s field-of-view requirements that apply to outside mirrors on the driver’s side. Audi submitted its petition on the basis that an exemption is needed to facilitate the development and field evaluation of a new motor vehicle safety feature (the CMS) and that that feature provides a level of safety at least equal to the level of safety would be provided if the vehicle were equipped with FMVSS-compliant outside mirrors. Comments will be due 30 days from the date in which the notice is published in the Federal Register.  Data collected from the Audi vehicle could be used by NHTSA in deciding how to move forward with its rulemaking in which it is considering amending FMVSS 111 to make CMS a compliance option for all manufacturers.  Note: FMVSS 111 has applicability to both light, medium and heavy vehicles.  An advance copy of the Federal Register notice is available here.