Interior Systems/Occupant Safety Interaction Commitee

Mission Statement:   To provide a forum for AORC member companies to review, analyze and take action as a representative of the industry on the issues involving the regulatory environment and safety of interior systems (including vehicle entry door systems). Industry action strategies, regulatory responses and promotion of safer interior systems are primary goals for the committee.

Strategic Initiatives:
•  Assess possible industry actions to enhance occupant safety as it relates to interior systems
•  Review legislative and regulatory activities and determine needed areas of support and/or concerns and develop appropriate responsive actions.
•  Coordinate activities with other industry representative associations to provide broader consensus on any of the aforementioned actions.
•  Inform the general public of the benefits of passive and active interior safety system technologies.

Proposed Future Projects/Programs/Initiatives:
•  Review and analyze the current global regulatory environment affecting interior systems. Specific research of NHTSA’s FMVSS regulatory activity around interior systems products (FMVSS 101, 103, 118, 201, 203, 204, 205, 206, 208, 214, 219, 302 & 401).
•  Prioritize above relative to industry implications and prepare action list.
•  Identify areas of joint industry/government collaboration, such as:
      •  Conduct studies to identify / quantify the safety issues based on field data in an effort to understand societal benefit
      •  Develop industry accepted standards for specification and validation of new interior systems technologies affecting safety compliance / improvement / effectiveness measurement
      •  Proactively participate in government sponsored programs
      •  Engage with NHTSA and other global regulatory agencies, as appropriate, to educate and support the development of effective evaluation measures/criteria for interior systems safety regulations.
•  Promote global harmonization of regulations / standards
•  Identify the scope of interior system products. As a starting point:
      •  Instrument panels, consoles, cockpit modules
      •  Door systems – including latching, opening and security
      •  Seat systems
•  Support inter-committee cooperation / joint projects as appropriate