By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued guidelines intended to limit the risk of driver distraction from in-vehicle electronic devices that are not directly applicable to driving a car. These voluntary guidelines do not have the effect of law and would apply to original equipment installed in new light-duty vehicles. 

The electronic devices covered include “information, navigation, communications and entertainment” products that require drivers to take their eyes off the road and hands off the wheel. For example, certain functions, such as inputting an address into a navigation system, text messaging, dialing a phone number or browsing the Internet would be disabled until the vehicle is in park. Operations that require less than two seconds at one time (12 seconds total to perform) and one hand to achieve would be permitted. 

The NHTSA has been researching driver distraction for years. The agency guidelines attempt to build on, but also go beyond, the best practices developed in recent years by the automakers. In the future, the NHTSA intends to issue a second guidance document for aftermarket products. Such devices include smartphones, electronic tablets and pads and other mobile communications devices. The NHTSA could also issue a third set of guidelines covering voice-activated control devices offered by the automakers and aftermarket. 

For additional information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued guidelines intended to limit the risk of driver distraction from in-vehicle electronic devices that are not directly applicable to driving a car. These voluntary guidelines do not have the effect of law and would apply to original equipment installed in new light-duty vehicles. 

The electronic devices covered include “information, navigation, communications and entertainment” products that require drivers to take their eyes off the road and hands off the wheel. For example, certain functions, such as inputting an address into a navigation system, text messaging, dialing a phone number or browsing the Internet would be disabled until the vehicle is in park. Operations that require less than two seconds at one time (12 seconds total to perform) and one hand to achieve would be permitted. 

The NHTSA has been researching driver distraction for years. The agency guidelines attempt to build on, but also go beyond, the best practices developed in recent years by the automakers. In the future, the NHTSA intends to issue a second guidance document for aftermarket products. Such devices include smartphones, electronic tablets and pads and other mobile communications devices. The NHTSA could also issue a third set of guidelines covering voice-activated control devices offered by the automakers and aftermarket. 

For additional information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Working with Nevada lawmakers, SEMA amended legislation that originally threatened to add abandoned, unregistered, inoperable or junk motor vehicles to the list of items that constitute a public nuisance. Under existing law, counties and cities may remove a public nuisance at the property owner’s expense if, after notice, the property owner does not remove the nuisance. Under the SEMA-drafted amendment, abandoned, inoperable or junk vehicles stored on private property would only require screening from public view. Unregistered vehicles could not be declared a nuisance under the SEMA amendment. After being approved by the Government Affairs Committee, the bill is pending consideration by the entire Nevada State Assembly.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Working with Nevada lawmakers, SEMA amended legislation that originally threatened to add abandoned, unregistered, inoperable or junk motor vehicles to the list of items that constitute a public nuisance. Under existing law, counties and cities may remove a public nuisance at the property owner’s expense if, after notice, the property owner does not remove the nuisance. Under the SEMA-drafted amendment, abandoned, inoperable or junk vehicles stored on private property would only require screening from public view. Unregistered vehicles could not be declared a nuisance under the SEMA amendment. After being approved by the Government Affairs Committee, the bill is pending consideration by the entire Nevada State Assembly.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Working with Nevada lawmakers, SEMA amended legislation that originally threatened to add abandoned, unregistered, inoperable or junk motor vehicles to the list of items that constitute a public nuisance. Under existing law, counties and cities may remove a public nuisance at the property owner’s expense if, after notice, the property owner does not remove the nuisance. Under the SEMA-drafted amendment, abandoned, inoperable or junk vehicles stored on private property would only require screening from public view. Unregistered vehicles could not be declared a nuisance under the SEMA amendment. After being approved by the Government Affairs Committee, the bill is pending consideration by the entire Nevada State Assembly.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA is supporting legislation to reduce the annual vehicle registration fees for automobiles and light trucks. The bill was approved by the Florida Senate Appropriations Committee. If enacted into law, the reduction in fees would result in a $12 annual decrease in the amount paid to register a motor vehicle and save Florida taxpayers up to $220 million per year. The reduction would be implemented by eliminating a tax credit for Florida insurance companies.  The bill will now be considered on the Senate floor in a vote by all members. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA is supporting legislation to reduce the annual vehicle registration fees for automobiles and light trucks. The bill was approved by the Florida Senate Appropriations Committee. If enacted into law, the reduction in fees would result in a $12 annual decrease in the amount paid to register a motor vehicle and save Florida taxpayers up to $220 million per year. The reduction would be implemented by eliminating a tax credit for Florida insurance companies.  The bill will now be considered on the Senate floor in a vote by all members. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA is supporting legislation to reduce the annual vehicle registration fees for automobiles and light trucks. The bill was approved by the Florida Senate Appropriations Committee. If enacted into law, the reduction in fees would result in a $12 annual decrease in the amount paid to register a motor vehicle and save Florida taxpayers up to $220 million per year. The reduction would be implemented by eliminating a tax credit for Florida insurance companies.  The bill will now be considered on the Senate floor in a vote by all members. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to approve a regulation allowing off-road vehicles to operate on trails included in the Hatfield-McCoy Recreation Area has been approved by the West Virginia legislature and is now awaiting the governor’s signature and enactment into law. These trails are currently restricted to all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) and motorcycles.  

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to approve a regulation allowing off-road vehicles to operate on trails included in the Hatfield-McCoy Recreation Area has been approved by the West Virginia legislature and is now awaiting the governor’s signature and enactment into law. These trails are currently restricted to all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) and motorcycles.  

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.