NHTSA Proposes to Expedite Amendment Process

March 26, 2013
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is proposing to establish direct final rulemaking (DFR) procedures for use in adopting amendments to its regulations on which no adverse public comment is expected by the agency

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is proposing to establish direct final rulemaking (DFR) procedures for use in adopting amendments to its regulations on which no adverse public comment is expected by the agency.

Under these procedures, NHTSA would issue a direct final rule adopting amendments that become effective a number of days (specified in the rule) after the date of publication of the rule in the Federal Register, unless

NHTSA receives written adverse comment(s) or written notice of intent to submit adverse comment(s) by the specified date.

Adoption of these new procedures would expedite the promulgation of routine and noncontroversial rules by reducing the time and resources necessary to develop, review, clear and publish separate proposed and final rules.

NHTSA would not use direct final rule procedures for complex or controversial issues.