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Proposed Federal Rules for Modifying Vehicles for People with Disabilities

23 September 1998

Transportation Secretary Slater Announces Proposed Rules for Modifying Vehicles for People with Disabilities

    WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 -- To promote safety and preserve the
mobility of people with disabilities, U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney E.
Slater today announced proposed modification rules for cars, trucks and vans
that are altered to meet the needs of the physically disabled.
    "Our transportation system for the 21st century must be inclusive in
service," Secretary Slater said. "This proposal balances the safety and
mobility goals for people with disabilities."
    Today's proposal by the department's National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) identifies features that can be altered, if needed,
when vehicles are modified for people with disabilities. These features were
chosen after carefully balancing their safety significance against the types
of modifications needed to allow persons with disabilities to use the motor
vehicles.
    "For most of us, mobility is a given," said NHTSA Administrator Ricardo
Martinez, M.D. "These proposed vehicle modification rules will ensure all
Americans enjoy the same mobility."
    The following are examples of exemptions from standards that would be
allowed:

    -- Some occupant crash protection requirements if other seat belt and
       anchorage requirements are met.
    -- The dynamic test requirement for side impact protection, in cases where
       the seat belt position must be changed.
    -- Steering control rearward displacement, in cases where the
       modification requires a structural change to or removal of the original
       steering shaft.

    Federal law currently prohibits businesses from removing or altering any
original equipment that was installed in vehicles by the manufacturer to
comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. According to NHTSA, this
prohibition sometimes interferes with the appropriate modification of vehicles
for people with disabilities.
    NHTSA estimates that there are about 383,000 vehicles on the road today
that are modified for use by people with disabilities. That number is expected
to increase as the population ages and as the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) increases travel and employment opportunities for people with
disabilities.
    This is the latest in a series of initiatives by the department to
accommodate the needs of disabled Americans. Other steps include:

    -- Federal Transit Administration grants to help purchase accessible
       buses, rail cars and vans and a requirement that all new and used
       public buses be wheelchair accessible by the year 2003.
    -- Federal Aviation Administration requirements that airport operators
       make facilities accessible.
    -- Amtrak currently has many intercity stations in compliance with
       Americans with Disabilities Act requirements and all others must comply
       by 2010.  Now, one car per train meets ADA standards but all new Amtrak
       passenger rail cars will meet requirements for accessibility.

    Public comments are sought for the proposed rule for the next 90 days.
Comments should refer to Docket Number 98-4332 and be submitted in duplicate
to Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 7th Street, S.W., Room 5219,
Washington, D.C. 20590.