Highway Fatality and Injury Reduction Act of 1991

Highway Fatality and Injury Reduction Act of 1991 - Requires all passenger cars, trucks, buses, and multipurpose passenger vehicles manufactured after a specified date to be equipped with airbags.

 
Calendar No. 104
102d CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 591
[Report No. 102-70]
A BILL
To require airbags for certain newly manufactured vehicles.
June 3, 1991
Reported without amendment
S 591 RS
Calendar No. 104
102d CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 591
[Report No. 102-70]
To require airbags for certain newly manufactured vehicles.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
MARCH 7 (legislative day, FEBRUARY 6), 1991
Mr. BRYAN (for himself, Mr. DANFORTH, Mr. GORTON, Mr. ADAMS, Mr. HOLLINGS,
and Mr. GORE) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
June 3, 1991
Reported by Mr. HOLLINGS, without amendment
A BILL
To require airbags for certain newly manufactured vehicles.
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
  States of America in Congress assembled,
SHORT TITLE
  SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the `Highway Fatality and Injury
  Reduction Act of 1991'.
DEFINITIONS
  SEC. 2. In this Act, the term--
  (1) `bus' means a motor vehicle with motive power, except a trailer, designed
  for carrying more than 10 persons and having a gross vehicle weight rating of
  8,500 pounds or less and an unloaded vehicle weight of 5,500 pounds or less.
  (2) `multipurpose passenger vehicle' means a motor vehicle with motive
  power (except a trailer), designed to carry 10 persons or less, which is
  constructed either on a truck chassis or with special features for occasional
  off-road operation, and which has a gross vehicle weight rating of 8,500
  pounds or less and an unloaded vehicle weight of 5,500 pounds or less.
  (3) `passenger car' means a motor vehicle with motive power (except a
  multipurpose passenger vehicle, motorcycle, or trailer), designed for
  carrying 10 persons or less.
  (4) `truck' means a motor vehicle with motive power, except a trailer,
  designed primarily for the transportation of property or special purpose
  equipment and having a gross vehicle weight rating of 8,500 pounds or less
  and an unloaded vehicle weight of 5,500 pounds or less.
AIRBAGS
  SEC. 3. (a) Passenger cars, trucks, buses, and multipurpose passenger
  vehicles shall, in accordance with the following schedule, be equipped
  with airbags complying with the occupant crash protection requirements
  under S4.1.2.1 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208, published as
  section 571.208 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations:
  (1) All passenger cars manufactured on and after September 1, 1995,
  shall be so equipped for both the driver and right front seat outboard
  seating positions.
  (2) All trucks, buses, and multipurpose passenger vehicles manufactured
  on and after September 1, 1996, and before September 1, 1997, shall,
  at a minimum, be so  equipped for the driver side.
  (3) All trucks, buses, and multipurpose passenger vehicles manufactured
  on and after September 1, 1997, shall be so equipped for both the driver
  and right front seat outboard seating positions.
  (b) For purposes of sections 108 through 112, 114, 115, 116, 118, 120, 121,
  and 151 through 158 of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act
  of 1966 (15 U.S.C. 1397 though 1401, 1403, 1404, 1405, 1406, 1408, 1409,
  and 1411 through 1418), the requirements of subsection (a) are deemed to
  be a Federal motor vehicle safety standard prescribed pursuant to section
  103 of that Act (15 U.S.C. 1392).