NHTSA Proposal to Ensure Participation in Vehicle Safety
23 June 1998
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHTSA 32-98
NHTSA Proposes Ways to Ensure
Active Public Participation in Development
Of Global Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today laid out
its plan to ensure effective public participation at the earliest stage
in the consideration of global motor vehicle safety regulations.
An agreement on global technical regulations is expected to be signed in
Geneva this week.
"Public input is essential at the earliest possible stage in the crafting
of strong vehicle safety standards. We proposed steps that will make
sure that the implementation of the agreement is shaped by the best
insights of the public," said Dr. Ricardo Martinez, NHTSA administrator.
In 1997, the Department of State authorized NHTSA and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conclude an agreement under the
auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE)
concerning the establishment of global technical regulations relating to
motor vehicles, equipment and parts. In March 1998, the U.S., Japan and
the European Communities reached agreement on a text, which will be
finalized and officially opened for signature on June 25, 1998, by all
countries that are members of the United Nations.
Dr. Martinez, who guided the negotiations on behalf of the United States,
said several key requirements had to be met for the agency to become
involved in any international activity concerning vehicle safety
standards. These include:
* Advancing vehicle safety by identifying and adopting best practices;
* Preserving the ability of countries to adopt measures that meet their
vehicle safety needs; and
* Ensuring opportunity for public participation, including advance
notice and periodic reports to the public with an opportunity for
everyone to weigh in before the next steps are taken.
Dr. Martinez laid out NHTSA's plan for promoting effective
public participation. A public workshop for discussion of the plan will
be scheduled and a statement of policy will be published in the Federal
Register so that the public can review and comment on it.
The statement of policy will provide for including representatives of
non-governmental organizations on the U.S. delegation that attends the
meetings in Geneva. The policy statement also will provide for parallel
dissemination of domestic information about the development of
international standards in Geneva. These procedures will include the
following practices to ensure that information about developing
regulatory standards is provided to the American public:
* Access to information. NHTSA will post on its Website information
such as a periodically-updated agenda of pending and planned standard
development activities and scheduled meetings under the agreement; key
documents, such as proposed global technical regulations referred under
the agreement to working parties of experts for their consideration; and
working party reports recommending establishment of specific global
technical regulations. NHTSA already has worked with the UN/ECE to
ensure that its Website is accessible to the U.S. public. NHTSA also has
worked with the UN/ECE to ensure that meetings under the agreement are
open to the public. In that respect, the sign on the door will be
changed from "Private" to "Public" at the upcoming UN/ECE session in next
week.
* Opportunity to be heard. NHTSA will solicit comments from the public
on the agenda and key documents, as well as on NHTSA plans for submitting
proposals for establishing a global technical regulation under the
agreement. NHTSA will place those comments in the U.S. Department of
Transportation's Internet-accessible public docket.
* Opportunity to discuss. NHTSA will hold periodic public meetings
to discuss developments at recent meetings of the full membership of
the global agreement and meetings of the working parties of experts.
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary ~ Office of Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20590
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Visit the DOT Public Affairs Web Site at:
http://www.dot.gov/briefing.htm
