The following excerpt is taken from:
[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 5, Parts 400 to 999]
[Revised as of October 1, 1998]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR571.209]

Sec. 571.209 Standard No. 209; Seat belt assemblies.

Most recent available citation: CFR Title 49, Part 571, Section 209 (text)

(g) Adjustment. (1) A Type 1 or Type 2 seat belt assembly shall be capable of adjustment to fit occupants whose dimensions and weight range from those of a 5th-percentile adult female to those of a 95th-percentile adult male. The seat belt assembly shall have either an automatic-locking retractor, an emergency-locking retractor, or an adjusting device that is within the reach of the occupant.  (2) A Type 1 or Type 2 seat belt assembly for use in a vehicle having seats that are adjustable shall conform to the requirements of S4.1(g)(1) regardless of seat position. However, if a seat has a back that is separately adjustable, the requirements of S4.1(g)(1) need be met only with the seat back in the manufacturer's nominal design riding position.  (3) The adult occupants referred to in S4.1(g)(1) shall have the following measurements:

(g)* * *
(3) The adult occupants referred to in S4.1(g)(1) shall have the following measurements:

                              5th percentile    95th percentile
                               adult female        adult male

Weight.......................... 102 lbs........... 215 lbs.
Erect sitting height............ 30.9 in........... 38 in.
Hip breadth (sitting)........... 12.8 in........... 16.5 in.
Hip circumference (sitting)..... 36.4 in........... 47.2 in.
Waist circumference (sitting)... 23.6 in........... 42.5 in.
Chest depth.....................  7.5 in........... 10.5 in.
Chest circumference:
Nipple.......................... 30.5 in........... 44.5 in.
Upper........................... 29.8 in........... 44.5 in.
Lower........................... 26.6 in........... 44.5 in.

Additional information available at http://www.ifisher.com/nhtsa

SAMPLE LETTERS

If you need an idea for how to word your letter, you might find these samples helpful.

SAMPLE LETTER #1

Administrator
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590

Dear Administrator:

I am writing in support of Elizabeth Fisher's petition to amend Federal Regulation SEC. 571.209 Standard No. 209, Seat Belt Assemblies.

There are laws in 49 states and the District of Columbia that require seat belt use, yet there is no federal regulation that requires vehicle manufacturers to make seat belt assemblies that fit people who weigh over 215 pounds. What good are stringent safety requirements if we cannot fasten our seat belts?

On the NHTSA website there is an advertisement for the Buckle Up America Campaign. How can you encourage rigorous enforcement of state and local seat-belt laws when your own regulation seems to be based on exclusion of a significant portion of our population?

Because fat is more prevalent in certain racial and ethnic populations, more common in women than in men, and more common in older people than young, denying fat people the protection of being included within the limits of federal seat belt regulations disproportionately affects these disadvantaged groups. That's discrimination.

Please amend 49CFR571.209 to provide a means for large people to buckle their seat belts in vehicles they are riding in.

Sincerely,

SAMPLE LETTER #2

Administrator
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590

Re: Elizabeth Fisher's Petition for an amendment to SEC. 571.209 Standard
No. 209, Seat Belt Assemblies.

Dear Administrator:

I am writing in support of Elizabeth Fisher's petition to amend Federal Regulation 49CFR571.209.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and President Clinton's Buckle Up America campaign are asking America to buckle up. In order for all Americans to buckle up, vehicle manufacturers must be required to manufacture seat belt assemblies that fit all people, not just those who weigh less than 215 lbs. Vehicles come in all shapes and sizes, just like people, and if a person fits in a vehicle, they ought to be able to buckle their seat belt.

Sincerely,

Additional information available at http://www.ifisher.com/nhtsa