Kid Car Seats Get School Bus Breaks and Extra Time from NHTSA
Published Date: 5/30/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
NHTSA is updating rules for child car seats to make things easier for school bus seats by giving them some exceptions and new labels. They’re also pushing back the deadline to follow these rules from June 2025 to December 2026. Plus, they’re changing how crash test dummies are used to keep testing fair and accurate.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 1 mixed.
School Bus Seats Exempted From Side-Impact Rule
NHTSA proposes to exempt child restraint systems (CRSs) used on school buses from FMVSS No. 213a, the side impact protection standard, provided those school bus CRSs meet specified labeling requirements.
School Bus Seats Excluded From Anchorage Attachment Rule
NHTSA proposes to amend FMVSS No. 213 and FMVSS No. 213b to exclude school-bus child restraint systems from the requirement to provide attachments for connection to the vehicle's child restraint anchorage system.
Compliance Deadline Pushed to December 5, 2026
NHTSA proposes delaying the compliance date for the FMVSS No. 213a amendments from June 30, 2025 to December 5, 2026, postponing when affected school-bus child restraint changes must be met.
Change in Crash Test Dummy Use and Positioning
NHTSA proposes that the CRABI-12MO crash test dummy will not be used to test forward-facing child restraint systems and proposes changes to the CRABI-12MO positioning procedures to guide testing.
Labeling Requirements Updated for School-Bus CRSs
NHTSA proposes changes to certain labeling requirements in FMVSS No. 213 and FMVSS No. 213b so labels for school-bus child restraint systems reflect how those restraints are used on school buses.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-11072, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 214; Side Impact Protection; Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 305a; Electric-Powered Vehicles: Electric Powertrain Integrity; Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 307; Fuel System Integrity of Hydrogen Vehicles
Starting July 6, 2026, car makers must follow updated safety rules that clean up old, outdated side-impact protection standards and fix related rules for electric and hydrogen vehicles. These changes make the rules clearer without adding new costs or big changes for manufacturers. If anyone wants to challenge the updates, they have until July 20, 2026, to speak up.
2026-08144, Administrative Rulemaking, Guidance, and Enforcement Procedures
The Department of Transportation is bringing back and improving its rules for making new policies, giving guidance, and enforcing laws. This affects anyone involved in transportation regulations, making the process clearer and more consistent. These changes kick in on May 27, 2026, aiming to save time and avoid confusion without adding extra costs.
2026-05024, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Modernization of FMVSS No. 102 To Accommodate ADS-Equipped Vehicles
NHTSA wants to update a safety rule to help self-driving cars that don’t have steering wheels or gear shifts. They’re proposing to remove the need for a gear position display in these automated vehicles, cutting costs without hurting safety. If you have thoughts, speak up by April 15, 2026!
2026-05023, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Modernization of FMVSS No. 103 and FMVSS No. 104 To Accommodate ADS-Equipped Vehicles; Incorporation by Reference
NHTSA is updating rules for windshield defrosting, defogging, wiping, and washing to better fit self-driving cars that don’t have steering wheels or pedals. These cars won’t have to follow old rules meant for human drivers, cutting costs and unnecessary requirements without hurting safety. The changes kick in about six months after the final rule, and manufacturers can still add these features if they want.
2025-22674, Public Hearing for Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards: The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicle Rule III for Model Years 2022 to 2031 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks
The government is holding a virtual public hearing on January 7, 2026, about new fuel economy rules for cars and light trucks from 2022 to 2031. These rules aim to keep vehicles safer and more affordable while improving fuel efficiency. If you care about how much gas your car uses or how much you pay at the pump, this is your chance to speak up before the rules are finalized.
2026-16749, Denial of Motor Vehicle Defect Petition, DP26002
NHTSA said no to a request to investigate wheel fasteners on big trucks because the problem didn’t seem serious enough. Truck drivers and manufacturers can keep rolling without changes or extra costs for now. The agency carefully checked the facts and decided this issue doesn’t need a safety fix at this time.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-09749, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards No. 304, Compressed Natural Gas Fuel Container Integrity
NHTSA is cleaning up the rules for compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel containers in vehicles by removing old, outdated reporting requirements. This update mainly affects vehicle makers who use CNG tanks, making their paperwork simpler and clearer. The change won’t cost extra and helps everyone focus on what really matters for safety.
Next: 2025-09751, Removing Obsolete Directives From Phase-In Reporting Requirements
NHTSA is cleaning house by removing old, outdated rules from their phase-in reporting requirements. This change mainly affects car makers who report safety info, making their job simpler and clearer. No new costs or deadlines—just a smoother process starting soon!