Pedestrian Protection Act

This Act may be cited as the “Pedestrian Protection Act”.

(a) In general.— Subchapter II of chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

“Sec. 30130. Pedestrian safety standards..—

(a) General motor vehicle safety standards.—

(1) Rulemaking proceeding.— Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall initiate a rulemaking proceeding to establish or modify, as applicable, safety standards for motor vehicles to reduce the likelihood of, and the number of deaths and injuries associated with, collisions by considering certain features of motor vehicles designed to protect covered road users, including—

(A) hood design;

(B) bumper design;

(C) windshield design;

(D) vehicle height; and

(E) vehicle weight.

(2) Final rule.—

(A) In general.— Not later than 2 years after the date of initiating such rulemaking proceeding, the Secretary shall issue a final rule pursuant to paragraph (1).

(B) Effective date.— The final rule described in subparagraph (A) shall require full compliance with each safety standard for motor vehicles established or modified, as applicable, pursuant to the final rule not later than 2 years after the date on which the final rule is issued.

(b) Motor vehicle minimum visibility safety standards.—

(1) Rulemaking proceeding.— Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall initiate a rulemaking proceeding to establish minimum visibility standards for motor vehicles to reduce the likelihood of collisions.

(2) Final rule.—

(A) In general.— Not later than 2 years after the date of initiating such rulemaking proceeding, the Secretary shall issue a final rule pursuant to paragraph (1).

(B) Effective date.— The final rule described in subparagraph (A) shall require full compliance with each minimum visibility standard for motor vehicles established pursuant to the final rule not later than 2 years after the date on which the final rule is issued.

(c) Definitions.— In this section:

(1) Collision.— The term “collision” means a crash between a motor vehicle and a covered road user, including such a crash—

(A) that occurs at a low speed; and

(B) that occurs in a driveway, parking lot, or private road.

(2) Covered road user.— The term “covered road user” means a pedestrian, bicyclist, or other vulnerable road user.”.

(b) Clerical amendment.— The table of sections for subchapter II of chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

Section 32302 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (f)—

(A) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and

(B) by inserting before paragraph (4), as so redesignated, the following:

“(3) Comparative ratings.— The Secretary shall publish comparative ratings of the vulnerable road user safety technology ratings described in paragraph (2)(A)(iv).”; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

“(g) Driver visibility.—

(1) Notice.— Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall publish a notice, for purposes of public review and comment, to establish a means for providing to consumers information relating to driver visibility of pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vulnerable road users, in accordance with subsection (a).

(2) Inclusions.— The notice under paragraph (1) shall include—

(A) an appropriate methodology for—

(i) determining which technologies and design features shall be included in the information;

(ii) developing performance test criteria for use by manufacturers in evaluating technologies and design features;

(iii) determining a distinct rating of driver visibility; and

(iv) updating overall vehicle ratings to incorporate driver visibility ratings; and

(B) such other information and analyses as the Secretary determines to be necessary to implement the rating of driver visibility.

(3) Comparative ratings.— The Secretary shall publish comparative ratings of the driver visibility ratings described in paragraph (2)(A)(iv).

(4) Report.— Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that describes a plan for implementing an information and rating system for driver visibility, in accordance with subsection (a).”.