NHTSA Final Rule: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Anti-Ejection Glazing for Bus Portals; Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release

This final rule establishes Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 217a, “Anti-ejection glazing for bus portals; Mandatory applicability beginning October 30, 2027,” to drive the installation of advanced glazing in over-the-road buses (motorcoaches) and other large buses to reduce passenger and driver ejections. This final rule, issued pursuant to the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), specifies impactor tests of the glazing material of side and roof windows. The impactor and impact speed simulate the loading from an average size unrestrained adult male impacting a window on the opposite side of a large bus in a rollover.

DATES:

Effective date: December 30, 2024.

Compliance date: The compliance date for FMVSS No. 217a and the amendments to FMVSS No. 217 is October 30, 2027. Optional early compliance with the standards is permitted. Published in the Federal Register October 30, 2024, page 86255.

View final rule.