By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff
SEMA-supported legislation directing the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to conduct a study on requirements for recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs) proposed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) was passed by the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and awaits a vote before the full Senate. A U.S. House subcommittee also reviewed the bill and is expected to pass it in the coming weeks. ROVs generally accommodate a side-by-side driver/passenger in a compartment equipped with roll bars and can attain speeds greater than 30 mph.
The legislation would postpone further action on the CPSC’s proposed rule pending the study. SEMA submitted a letter in support of the legislation and has joined with other companies and organizations to support an alternative industry ROV standard that would not stifle future design innovations and potentially limit use. The industry standard recognizes that there are a wide variety of uses and terrains for which ROVs are constructed, from utility to recreation.
For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network website. For details, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.