89TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. 3005 ADMINISTRATION BILL IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 2, 1966 Mr. MAGNUSON introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce A BILL To provide for a coordinated national safety program and establishment of safety standards for motor vehicles in interstate commerce to reduce traffic accidents and the deaths, injuries, and property damage which occur in such accidents. 1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 3 That this Act may be cited as the "Traffic Safety Act of 4 1966". 5 SEC. 2. The Congress hereby declares that the purpose 6 of this Act is to reduce traffic accidents and the deaths, in7 juries, and property damage resulting from traffic accidents. 8 To this end, the Secretary of Transportation shall have 9 authority to establish motor vehicle safety standards for 1 motor vehicles and equipment in interstate commerce; to 2 undertake and support necessary safety research and devel3 opment; and to encourage and provide financial assistance 4 in developing State traffic safety programs under effective 5 standards for drivers, motor vehicles, postaccident care, and 6 the traffic environment, including highways. 7 TITLE I-MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS 10 (a) "Motor vehicle safety" means the performance of 11 motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment in such a manner 12 that the public is protected against unreasonable risk of acci13 dents occurring as a result of the design of motor vehicles 14 and is also protected against unreasonable risk of death, 15 injury, or property damage in the event accidents do occur. 16 (b) "Motor vehicle safety standard" means a minimum 17 standard for motor vehicle performance, or motor vehicle 18 equipment performance, which is practicable, which meets 19 the need for motor vehicle safety and which provides objec20 tive criteria on which the public may rely in assuring motor 21 vehicle safety. 22 (c) "Motor vehicle" means any vehicle driven or 23 drawn, by mechanical or other power, primarily for use on 24 the public roads, streets, and highways, other than (1) a 25 vehicle subject to safety regulations under part II of the 1 Interstate Commerce Act, as amended (chapter 8, title 49 2 of the United States Code), or under the Transportation of 3 Explosives Act as amended (sections 831-835 of chapter 4 39, title 18, of the United States Code), and (2) a vehicle 5 6 or car operated exclusively on a rail or rails. (d) "Motor vehicle equipment" means any system. 7 part, or component of a motor vehicle as originally manu8 factured or any similar part or component manufactured or 9 sold for replacement or improvement of such system, part, or component or as an accessory, or addition to the motor 11 vehicle. 10 12 (e) "State" means any State of the United States, the 13 District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory or possession of the United States. 14 15 16 17 18 19 (f) "Interstate commerce" means commerce between any place in a State and any place in another State, or between places in the same State through another State. (g) "Secretary" means Secretary of Transportation. FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS 20 SEC. 102. (a) The Secretary shall, from time to time, 21 22 23 24 review existing public and private motor vehicle safety standards and the degree of effective compliance existing with respect to such standards. If, at any time after two years from the date of the enactment of this Act, he de 1 termines that there is a need for a new or revised motor 2 vehicle safety standard and that— 3 4 5 6 7 8 Co 9 10 11 12 (1) no motor vehicle safety standard exists; (2) any existing motor vehicle safety standard is inadequate to protect the public against unreasonable risk of accidents or of death, injury, or property damage resulting therefrom, as defined in section 101 (a); (3) any existing motor vehicle safety standard is not based upon all measurements of performance necessary to the achievement of motor vehicle safety; or (4) the degree of effective compliance with respect to any existing motor vehicle safety standard is insuffi13 cient to achieve adequate motor vehicle safety; then 23 14 15 16 17 18 19 the Secretary is authorized to establish and issue by order, in accordance with section 4 of the Adminis trative Procedure Act, appropriate Federal motor ve hicle safety standards for motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment. (b) A Federal motor vehicle safety standard issued by 20 order pursuant to subsection (a) shall become effective on 21 a date specified by the Secretary in that order, which shall 22 be no sooner than one hundred and eighty days nor later than 23 two years from the date on which the standard is issued. No 24 State or local government law, regulation, or ordinance shall 25 establish a safety standard for a motor vehicle or item of |