To improve tire safety and labeling, and for other purposes.

January 26, 2004

Mr. DEWINE introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

To improve tire safety and labeling, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Tire Safety Awareness Act of 2004'.

SEC. 2. DATE OF MANUFACTURE INFORMATION.

(a) IN GENERAL- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall, in consultation with the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, undertake to modify the regulations relating to tire safety that are administered by the Administration through the promulgation of regulations that require that such date of manufacture information is disclosed clearly and understandably, in writing, to consumers at the point of sale on an invoice, sales receipt, or equivalent record.

(b) EXCEPTION- The date of manufacture information required to be disclosed pursuant to the regulations promulgated under subsection (a) shall not apply to tires that are--

(1) sold with new motor vehicles;

(2) exempt from testing under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 139; or

(3) sold for use on vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 10,001 pounds or more.

SEC. 3. REPORT ON TIRE SAFETY.

(a) IN GENERAL- Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to commission a report to Congress on the effects of age on light vehicle tires (within the meaning of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 139), including--

(1) a study of the effect on tire safety resulting from tire aging characteristics, including but not limited to the chemical breakdown and oxidation that occur over time with respect to tires, irrespective of use;

(2) recommendations on how to best communicate information, including tire aging characteristics, to consumers, and an assessment of the utility and benefits of this information with respect to motor vehicle safety;

(3) an examination of whether the imposition of limits on the age of tires available for sale in interstate commerce would enhance motor vehicle safety;

(4) an examination of--

(A) currently available, scientifically proven technologies that may assist consumers in assessing tire age; and

(B) the feasibility of developing technologies in the future that may assist consumers in assessing tire age; and

(5) any other information the Secretary determines appropriate.

(b) CONSIDERATION OF EXISTING RESOURCES- The report shall take into consideration relevant scientific studies performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the American Society for Testing and Materials Committee F09 on Tires.

(c) REPORT REQUIRED- The Secretary shall submit the report to Congress not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

END