Regulatory area
Closing Summary
The 2016-2017 Canada-US Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC) Work Plan for Motor Vehicle Safety Standards is now closed. The U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) and Transport Canada (TC) will continue to explore opportunities to align their respective guidelines, standards and regulations and collaborate on joint research and testing. US DOT and TC will also continue to further strengthen collaboration on the development of safety requirements for emerging vehicle technologies, including vehicle automation and electric vehicles. Recent and ongoing collaboration includes advancing joint positions at the UN Global Forum for Road Traffic Safety (WP.1), and the UN World Forum for the Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) on the development of international safety guidance for automated vehicles (e.g. functional safety requirements and test methods). Canada and the US have also worked closely on the development of Global Technical Regulations for electric vehicle safety at WP.29 to ensure that requirements take into account our common self-certification regulatory regime.
Preamble Text
The following work plan between the Motor Vehicle Safety group of Transport Canada ( TC ) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( NHTSA ) is designed to help facilitate the alignment of light and heavy duty vehicle motor vehicle safety standards. This work will be done through enhanced communication and collaboration at the early stages of the contemplation of new regulations and by identifying rulemaking initiatives of common interest.
Timelines and Deliverables
Forward Plan Area of Work
Pursue greater harmonization of existing motor vehicle safety standards notably by developing a consistent approach to align and adopt motor vehicle standards that take into account each country's safety risks and needs.
Deliverable Outcome
| Initiative A: Complete the regulatory amendments of ongoing files | Initiative B: Undertake new regulatory initiatives aimed at regulatory alignment | Initiative C: Undertake joint regulatory development work with the intention to align regulatory requirements | Initiative D: Undertake joint research and testing with the intention of introducing aligned requirements or directives in the longer term |
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Further align the following standards:
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| Interim Deliverables | |||
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Three to six months Transport Canada to complete the Part I publication of CMVSS 136 for heavy truck and bus ESC. |
Three to six months Review opportunities to perform joint test procedure development to support electric vehicle safety. |
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Six to 12 months Transport Canada to complete the Part II publication of:
NHTSA to finalize a regulation in Part 543 for vehicle theft protection Immobilizers. |
Six to 12 months Transport Canada to complete the Part I publication for bus seat belt and installation requirements. NHTSA to initiate rulemaking to consider upgrading the frontal child restraint test buck and align some of the requirements for child restraint systems. Transport Canada will review opportunities to align the technical requirements. |
Six to 12 months Review opportunities to perform joint child restraint regulatory development as necessary. Review opportunities to perform joint development work on hydrogen safety of fuel cell vehicles. Review opportunities to perform joint test procedure development to support electric vehicle safety. |
Six to 12 months Joint research work on driver-vehicle interfaces for connected and automated vehicles. Joint work with the goal to develop bi-national and international test procedures for automated driving systems. |
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12 to 18 months Transport Canada to complete the Part II publication of CMVSS 108 for lighting. |
12 to 18 months NHTSA to initiate rulemaking to consider adoption of the Hydrogen GTR. Transport Canada will review opportunities to align the technical requirements Transport Canada to complete the Part I publication of CMVSS 111 for rear visibility. NHTSA to publish FMVSS 225 final rule to improve the usability of lower anchorages and tethers for child seats. Transport Canada will review opportunities to align the technical requirements. |
12 to 18 months Review opportunities to perform joint child restraint regulatory development as necessary. |
12 to 18 months Joint research work on driver-vehicle interfaces for connected and automated vehicle. Joint work with the goal to develop bi-national and international test procedures for automated driving systems. |
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Beyond 18 months NHTSA to complete rulemaking for trailer underride guards, FMVSS 223/224, which also includes requirements for aerodynamic boat tails for trailers. |
Beyond 18 months NHTSA to complete rulemaking for the side impact child restraint test procedure and Q3s dummy. Transport Canada will review opportunities to align the technical requirements. Transport Canada to complete the Part II publications for:
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Beyond 18 months Continue with joint work joint research work on driver-vehicle interfaces for connected and automated vehicles. Joint work with the goal to develop bi-national and international test procedures for automated driving systems. |
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Contact Information
Canada: Ibrahima Sow, Transport Canada – Executive Director Road Safety and Vehicle Regulations, 1 (613) 990-5317, ibrahima.sow@tc.gc.ca
United States: Ryan Posten, NHTSA - Associate Administrator for Rulemaking, 1 (202) 366-1810, ryan.posten@dot.gov