Action
Notice of application for exemption; request for comments.
Summary
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requests public comment on an application for exemption from SmartDrive Systems, Inc. (SmartDrive) to allow an Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) camera to be mounted lower in the windshield than is currently permitted. Mounting the camera in this location does not meet the driver's field of view requirements for windshields. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) require devices meeting the definition of "vehicle safety technology" to be mounted not more than 4 inches below the upper edge of the area swept by the windshield wipers, or not more than 7 inches above the lower edge of the area swept by the windshield wipers, and outside the driver's sight lines to the road and highway signs and signals. Because the ADAS camera would be mounted outside of the driver's normal sight lines to the road ahead, highway signs, signals or any mirrors, SmartDrive believes that they will maintain a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety achieved without the exemption.