The Washington-based National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration has issued a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard final rule for hydraulic and electric brake systems.

The rule, which was issued in mid-December and became effective one month later, gives manufacturers the option of using a roll bar structure on medium and heavy vehicles during compliance testing of parking brake systems at lightly loaded vehicle weight (LLVW), service brake systems at LLVW and service brake systems in partial failure mode at LLVW. A roll bar structure is used to protect technicians and drivers conducting the tests from vehicle rollover.

To view the final rule, visit www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/ and click on the “Page Number” link under the “1994 through 2005” heading. Then, select the 2004 Federal Register, enter the page number “75486” and click “submit.”