The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) is looking into minor changes in federal regulations concerning drivers with disabilities. Two new rules have so far been proposed and the public is given until January 27 to air comments.
The first proposal allows rental car companies to rent vehicles with temporarily disabled knee airbags. This works for people who might need to use hand pedals while driving. The suggestion was raised by Enterprise Rent-A-Car, the DOT said.
On the other hand, the second proposal looks at permitting authorized dealers and repair businesses to install “rear-mounted transporters for wheelchairs and power scooters.” Without a change in the law, this is forbidden as it can block the view of backup cameras that are part of a car’s security system.
The second rule was proposed by scooter and lift manufacturer, Bruno Independent Living Aids. The company, which advocates an independent lifestyle for people with disabilities and mobility issues, shared it wants to ensure that installation of its transporters to vehicles will not violate the law.
Both proposals may present a possibility to reduce the overall safety of a vehicle; however, the DOT sees the reasons for their enactment as logical. For instance, the DOT said that if a knee-bolster airbag deploys in a crash, “the resulting force of the deployment could cause the hand controls to strike the driver with extreme forces and create a serious risk to the safety of the driver.”
For the second rule change, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao pointed out that it will be “easier for individuals with disabilities to achieve greater mobility and freedom in their lives.”
According to the Federal Code, it is illegal for any vehicle manufacturer, distributor, dealer, rental company, or repair business to “knowingly make inoperative any part of a device or element of design installed in or on a motor vehicle in compliance with an applicable [federal motor vehicle safety standard].”
If the proposed rule changes are approved, registered companies will be allowed to make specific changes provided they add a permanent label to the modified vehicle stating it is non-compliant with vehicle safety standards.
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