Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
Q. Do the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) (49 CFR 571) apply to rail cars?
A. The FMVSS requirements in 49 CFR 571 apply to motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment only. The standards do not apply to rail cars. (Revised August 24, 2009)
Q. I am a bus operator. How do I complain about the fleet of unsafe buses I drive?
A. The FTA provides financial assistance to public transit agencies. Two
other DOT modes are responsible for regulating vehicle safety matters. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is the DOT mode
responsible for motor vehicle and highway safety standard and regulations:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.5928da45f99592381601031046108a0c/ . You can file a complaint via their website:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm. In addition, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration contributes to ensuring safety in motor carrier operations through strong enforcement of safety regulations, targeting high-risk carriers and commercial motor vehicle drivers; improving safety information systems and commercial motor vehicle technologies; strengthening commercial motor vehicle equipment and operating standards; and increasing safety
awareness. You can contact them at:
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/contact/who-to-contact/contactus.htm. (Posted: December 2009)
Q. Are there any Safety Regulations that would limit or prohibit the amount of standees in an aisle for a Commuter Express type service or a par transit vehicle (cutaway) used on a fixed route type of service? Also, what would the standee capacity be for a cutaway bus w/ a passenger capacity of 19 seat & 4 wheelchair securement devices? Should this type of bus be used for standees?
A. The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards are administered by NHTSA, not FTA. You should direct your question to them: http://www.nhtsa.gov/
(Posted: November, 2010)
