Posted by CO a p bloom in NY on Thursday, October 20, 2005 at 9:38PM :
In Reply to: dated me (and I am Not old like paul) posted by RICHARD BOWMAN on Thursday, October 20, 2005 at 9:04PM :
STATE OF NEW YORK
Department of Motor Vehicles
One Harriman Plaza Albany New York
Date: 1 January 2005
To: All Owners of Motor Vehicles Registered in New York State
All New York State Dealers of New and Used Motor Vehicles
All New York State Law Enforcement Personnel
From: Gerald M. Maszo, General Counsel’s Office
Re: Amendment to HRVM 265:114A, (Section 2d)
Effective 1 Jan 2005, all motor vehicles sold in the State of New York will be required to have a headlight dimmer switch mounted on the floorboard of the vehicle. The dimmer switch must be mounted in a position to allow operation by pressing the switch with the left foot. The switch must be located far enough from the foot pedals to avoid inadvertent operation of said pedals.
Effective 1 Mar 2006, ALL OTHER VEHICLES with steering-mounted dimmer switches must be retro-fitted with a floorboard dimmer switch as described above. Owners of vehicles who fail to comply with these requirements will be subject to a $100 fine. Also effective 1 Mar 2006, lack of compliance will be cause for failure of the annual New York State Safety Inspection.
It is recognized that compliance will cause some hardship for the motoring public. However this amendment was enacted in the interest of public safety. A 2002 study conducted by the National Highway Safety Board and the New York State Department of Transportation entitled:
"Initiation Sequence in New York State Nighttime Highway Traffic Accidents"
revealed that 67% of all New York State nighttime accidents were caused by Pakistani drivers who got their feet caught in the steering wheel while attempting to operate the headlight dimmer switch.
It is hoped that relocating the dimmer switch to the floorboard area will result in a marked decrease in these accidents.
Thank you for your anticipated co-operation in this matter.
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