Federal Register #2026-20496

NHTSA Requests Comment on Motorcoach Side-Facing Seat-Belt Exemption Renewals

NHTSA is seeking public input on motorcoach manufacturers’ requests to renew exemptions for seat belts on side-facing seats. - Government buyer and office: U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); a specific NHTSA office is not identified. - Manufacturers named in the petitions: All Access Coach Leasing LLC; Amadas Coach; Creative Mobile Interiors; D&S Classic Coach Inc.; Encore Luxury Coach Leasing, Inc. (formerly Nitetrain Coach Company, Inc.); Farber Specialty Vehicles; Florida Coach, Inc.; Geomarc, Inc.; Integrity Interiors LLC; Pioneer Coach Interiors LLC; Roberts Brothers Coach Company; Russell Coachworks LLC; and Ultra Coach Inc. - Requested action: Renew temporary exemptions from Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208 so side-facing seats in entertainer-type motorcoaches may use Type 1 lap-only belts instead of Type 2 lap-and-shoulder belts. - Scope and rationale: The petitions concern side-facing seats only. Forward-facing seats remain subject to the Type 2 belt requirement. The manufacturers contend that requiring shoulder belts on side-facing seats would prevent them from selling vehicles with an overall safety level at least equal to vehicles that do not receive an exemption. - NHTSA is requesting public comments on the petitions and production totals from the manufacturers for their initial exemption period. - This is a regulatory notice, not a procurement of products or services; no quantities, part numbers, contract value, or performance period are provided.

Description

NHTSA received identical petitions from 13 final-stage manufacturers of entertainer-type motorcoaches seeking renewal of temporary exemptions from the shoulder-belt requirement in FMVSS No. 208 for side-facing seats. The requested exemptions would allow Type 1 lap-only seat belts at those positions instead of the required Type 2 lap-and-shoulder belts. The manufacturers state that compliance would prevent them from selling vehicles with an overall safety level at least equal to nonexempted vehicles. NHTSA is notifying the public and requesting comments on the petitions by November 6, 2026.

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