SUMMARY: This document initiates rulemaking to amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 111@ Rearview Mirrors@1 to improve a driver's ability to see areas to the rear of a motor vehicle in order to mitigate fatalities and injuries associated with backover incidents. The agency and Congress are concerned that vehicles have ????blind zones@'' 2 areas behind the vehicle in which drivers may have difficulty seeing and avoiding a person or other obstacle. Through this notice@ NHTSA presents its initial research efforts and solicits additional information that will enable the agency to develop an effective proposal to mitigate backover incidents related to vehicle rear blind zones. 1 49 CFR 571.111@ Standard No. 111@ Rearview Mirrors. 2 We note that this is different than what many people informally call a ????blind spot@'' a term used to describe an area to the side of the car where people may not be able to see a vehicle when changing lanes.