Motor Vehicle and Schoolbus Safety Amendments of 1974
Public Law 93-492 · S. 355 · 93rd Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Oct 27, 1974 · Transportation and Public Works
Sponsor: Sen. Warren Magnuson (D-WA)
Cosponsors (7): Sen. Walter Mondale, Sen. Gaylord Nelson,
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Motor Vehicle and Schoolbus Safety Amendments - =Title I: Motor Vehicle Safety= - Authorizes to be appropriated, to carry out the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, $55,000,000 and $60,000,000 for fiscal years 1975 and 1976, respectively.
Requires a manufacturer of motor vehicles or tires to notify the Secretary of Transportation and owners, purchasers and dealers of any defect or failure to comply with any Federal motor vehicle safety standard. Prescribes procedures for notification by the Secretary to manufacturers if such defect or failure to comply is determined through testing and research carried out pursuant to this Act. Sets forth the form, time, and contents of such required notices.
Directs manufacturers to remedy the defect or failure to comply without charge through either repair, replacement or refund procedures.
Provides for the enforcement of notification and remedy orders, setting forth the procedures for civil actions under this Act.
Provides an exemption from giving notice and remedying where the defect or failure to comply is inconsequential.
Prescribes the information, disclosure, and recordkeeping duties of manufacturers of motor vehicles and tires regarding any defects or failures to comply.
Defines the terms used in this Act. Makes technical and conforming amendments to specified acts.
Authorizes the Secretary to conduct inspections and investigations necessary for enforcement or which relate to the facts of any motor vehicle accident related to this Act. Enumerates the administrative powers of the Secretary in carrying out such inspections and investigations.
States that whenever a manufacturer opposes an action of the Secretary on the ground of increased cost the manufacturer shall submit such cost information as necessary to properly evaluate the manufacturer's statement.
Permits any interested person to file a petition with regard to agency responsibility.
Directs the Secretary to promulgate a fuel system integrity standard, within 90 days after the effective date of this Act, to protect occupants of vehicles from fuel-fed fires.
Provides that such fuel standard shall be effective on or after September 1, 1977.
Prohibits the sale of regrooved tires in interstate commerce except upon approval of the Secretary based on his finding that such tires are designed and constructed in a manner consistent with the purposes of this Act.
Prohibits mandatory Federal motor vehicle standards requiring a safety belt interlock system, any warning device other than a warning light to indicate that safety belts are not fastened, or any occupant restraint system other than integrated lap and shoulder belts for front outboard occupants and lap belts for other occupants.
=Title II: Schoolbus Safety= - Directs the Secretary to publish proposed Federal motor vehicle safety standards for schoolbuses and schoolbus equipment, setting forth minimum standards for specified aspects of performance, including: (1) emergency exists; (2) interior protection for occupants; (3) floor strength; (4) seating systems; (5) crash worthiness of body and frame (including protection against rollover hazards); (6) vehicle operating systems; (7) windows and windshields; and (8) fuel systems.
=Title III: Motor Vehcile Demonstration Projects= - Directs the Secretary to establish a special motor vehicle diagnostic inspection demonstration project to assist in the development of inspection and diagnostic equipment for standardized, high-volume inspection facilities.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 17 actions.
- Oct 27, 1974Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 93-492.
- Oct 17, 1974PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Oct 15, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report.
- Oct 10, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- Oct 8, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 93-1452.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 93-1452.
- Aug 21, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Aug 15, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- Aug 12, 1974FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 5529.
- May 21, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee
- May 17, 1973FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- May 14, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Jan 12, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.