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Title 49, TransportationRelease 119-110

§30128 Vehicle Rollover Prevention and Crash Mitigation

Title 49 › SUBTITLE VI — MOTOR VEHICLE AND DRIVER PROGRAMS › PART A — GENERAL › CHAPTER 301 — MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY › SUBCHAPTER II — STANDARDS AND COMPLIANCE › § 30128

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must start rulemaking to reduce rollovers and cut deaths and injuries for motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of not more than 10,000 pounds. Rules include setting performance criteria to prevent rollovers using stability‑enhancing technology (proposed Oct 1, 2006; final Apr 1, 2009), standards to reduce complete and partial ejections from outboard seats while considering ejection‑mitigation systems (final Oct 1, 2009), upgrading FMVSS No. 206 on door locks within 30 months of enactment, and upgrading FMVSS No. 216 roof strength (proposed Dec 31, 2005; final Jul 1, 2008). If a final deadline cannot be met, the Secretary must tell the House and Senate committees why and set a new deadline.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §30128

Transportation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In General.—
The Secretary shall initiate rulemaking proceedings, for the purpose of establishing rules or standards that will reduce vehicle rollover crashes and mitigate deaths and injuries associated with such crashes for motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of not more than 10,000 pounds.
(b)Rollover Prevention.—
One of the rulemaking proceedings initiated under subsection (a) shall be to establish performance criteria to reduce the occurrence of rollovers consistent with stability enhancing technologies. The Secretary shall issue a proposed rule in this proceeding by rule by October 1, 2006, and a final rule by April 1, 2009.
(c)Occupant Ejection Prevention.—
(1)In general.—
The Secretary shall also initiate a rulemaking proceeding to establish performance standards to reduce complete and partial ejections of vehicle occupants from outboard seating positions. In formulating the standards the Secretary shall consider various ejection mitigation systems. The Secretary shall issue a final rule under this paragraph no later than October 1, 2009.
(2)Door locks and door retention.—
The Secretary shall complete the rulemaking proceeding initiated to upgrade Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 206, relating to door locks and door retention, no later than 30 months after the date of enactment of this section.
(d)Protection of Occupants.—
One of the rulemaking proceedings initiated under subsection (a) shall be to establish performance criteria to upgrade Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 216 relating to roof strength for driver and passenger sides. The Secretary may consider industry and independent dynamic tests that realistically duplicate the actual forces transmitted during a rollover crash. The Secretary shall issue a proposed rule by December 31, 2005, and a final rule by July 1, 2008.
(e)Deadlines.—
If the Secretary determines that the deadline for a final rule under this section cannot be met, the Secretary shall—
(1)notify the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce and explain why that deadline cannot be met; and
(2)establish a new deadline.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The date of enactment of this section, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 109–59, which was approved Aug. 10, 2005. Codification section 10301(a) of Pub. L. 109–59, which directed that this section be added at the end of subchapter II of chapter 301, without specifying the title to be amended, was executed by adding this section at the end of subchapter II of this chapter, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 30128

Title 49, Transportation

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110