U.S. Department of Transportation
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590

Feb 28 2001

Dear Ms. Fisher:

The purpose of this letter is to notify you that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has made a determination to grant your petition dated April 18, 2000, requesting the agency to revise FMVSS No. 209 to require vehicle manufacturers to provide seat belts that fit all passengers, not just those up to 215 lbs.

Please note that the granting of this petition does not necessarily mean that this standard will be revised as requested. Rather the granting of this petition signifies that the agency believes that a further review of the issues raised in the petition appears to have merit. The determination of whether to issue a rule will be made in the course of the rulemaking proceeding, in accordance with statutory criteria.

Sincerely,
Stephen R. Kratzke
Associate Administrator
for Safety Performance Standards