[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 172 (Thursday, September 5, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54729-54730]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-21556]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[U.S. DOT Docket No. NHTSA-2013-0086]
Reports, Forms, and Record Keeping Requirements
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.
ACTION: Request for public comment on proposed revision of the
previously approved collection of information.
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SUMMARY: Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from
the public, it must receive approval from the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB). Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), before seeking OMB approval,
Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of
information, including extensions and reinstatements of previously
approved collections.
This document describes an Information Collection Request (ICR) for
which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 4, 2013.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number
NHTSA-2013-0086 using any of the following methods:
Electronic submissions: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow
the online instructions for submitting comments.
Mail: Docket Management Facility, M-30, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
Instructions: Each submission must include the Agency name and the
Docket number for this Notice. Note that all comments received will be
posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov including any
personal information provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristie Johnson, Ph.D., Contracting
Officer's Technical Representative, Office of Behavioral Safety
Research (NTI-131), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., W46-498, Washington, DC 20590. Dr.
Johnson's phone number is 202-366-2755 and her email address is
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
before an agency submits a proposed collection of information to OMB
for approval, it must publish a document in the Federal Register
providing a 60-day comment period and otherwise consult with members of
the public and affected agencies concerning each proposed collection of
information. The OMB has promulgated regulations describing what must
be included in such a document. Under OMB's regulations (at 5 CFR
1320.8(d)), an agency must ask for public comment on the following:
(i) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have practical utility;
(ii) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
(iii) How to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and
(iv) How to minimize the burden of the collection of information on
those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic
submission of responses.
In compliance with these requirements, NHTSA asks public comment on
the following proposed collection of information:
Title--NHTSA Distracted Driving Survey Project.
Type of Request--Revision of previously approved collection of
information.
OMB Clearance Number--2127-0665.
Form Number--NHTSA Form 1082.
Requested Expiration Date of Approval--3 years from date of
approval.
Summary of the Collection of Information--The National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposes to collect information
from a random sample of 6,000 members of the general public age 16 and
older. The sample will be stratified by NHTSA region, age, and gender.
The National Survey on Distracted Driving Attitudes and Behaviors
(NSDDAB) will ask about (a) attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions
related to driving distractions and electronic device use while
driving, and (b) the effectiveness of high visibility enforcement
demonstration programs to increase public awareness of the dangers of,
and legislation related to, distracted and unsafe driving behaviors.
The estimated average amount of time to complete the survey is 20
minutes. This approval would be for the third and fourth
administrations of the NSDDAB. Participation by respondents would be
voluntary and anonymous. The survey will be conducted over the phone,
with respondents including those in landline telephone households as
well as those who primarily or exclusive use a cell phone. All results
will be reported in the aggregate.
The telephone interviewers would use computer-assisted telephone
interviewing. A Spanish-language translation and bilingual interviewers
would be used to minimize language barriers to participation. In 2010
and 2012, NHTSA conducted the NSDDAB. The findings from the proposed
information collection would build on and add to the existing knowledge
on distracted driving and would help track behavior and attitude
changes that can be used to tailor distraction program efforts.
Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the
Information--NHTSA was established by the Highway Safety Act of 1970
(23 U.S.C. 101) to carry out a Congressional mandate to reduce the
mounting number of deaths, injuries, and
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economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes on the Nation's
highways. As part of this statutory mandate, NHTSA is authorized to
conduct research as a foundation for the development of motor vehicle
standards and traffic safety programs.
Driver distraction contributes to crash-related fatalities and
injuries, particularly among younger drivers, with 13% of drivers in
fatal distraction-affected crashes under age 20. Overall, 9% of fatal
crashes in the United States in 2010 involved driver distraction, and
13% of the drivers in these fatal crashes were reported to have been
using a cell phone at the time of the crash (National Center for
Statistics and Analysis, 2012). In support of its mission, NHTSA
proposes to conduct a series of telephone surveys that will examine the
extent to which drivers are distracted by various activities;
demographic and typological descriptions of drivers prone to
distractions; the extent and frequency of using cell phones and texting
while driving; attitudes and perceptions about distracted driving;
knowledge of and attitudes toward measures to deter distracted driving;
perceptions about the danger of distracted driving; exposure to the
consequences of distracted driving; willingness to intervene when
someone is distracted while driving; and changes and trends in
distracted driving behavior and attitudes. The increase in cell phone
ownership and usage combined with the widespread availability of many
other devices that can easily divert drivers' attention from the task
of driving an automobile have made information on drivers' behaviors
and attitudes toward distracted driving important to the safety of
America's roadways. An essential part of this effort is to compare
behavior and attitude trends to determine the effects of efforts to
reduce distracted driving and to identify areas where efforts should be
targeted and where new strategies may be needed. Up-to-date information
is essential to plot the direction of future activities aimed at
reducing driver distraction and achieving reductions in crash injuries
and fatalities in the coming years.
As part of its collection of information used to develop and
implement effective countermeasures to improve highway traffic safety,
NHTSA conducted its first NSDDAB in 2010. As in previous years, NHTSA
proposes to make a small number of revisions to the survey instrument
to address new information needs. This will include adding a small
number of drowsy driving questions. If approved, the proposed survey
would assist NHTSA in identifying distracted driving behaviors and
attitudes and in formulating programs and recommendations. The results
of the proposed survey would be used to: (a) identify commonalities
among distracted drivers so that current programs can be targeted to
achieve the greatest benefit; (b) develop new programs and initiatives
aimed at reducing distracted driving; and (c) provide informational
support to States in their traffic safety efforts to reduce distracted
driving.
Description of the Likely Respondents (Including Estimated Number,
and Proposed Frequency of Response to the Collection of Information)--
This proposed effort would involve cognitive testing of the
questionnaires (if significant changes are made to the questionnaire),
and telephone survey administration. The cognitive testing would
consist of one-on-one cognitive interviews with each of nine persons
selected from the general public for the questionnaire, for a total of
9 cognitive interviews. All would be drivers 18 and older. For the
national telephone survey, the 20 minute survey will be administered
biennially to 6,000 randomly selected members of the general public age
16 and older who drive, including those in landline telephone
households as well as those who primarily or exclusive use a cellular
phone. For interviews conducted with persons using landline phones, no
more than one respondent per household would be selected. For
interviews conducted with persons on cell phones, a single user of the
cell phone would be selected. Each sample member would complete just
one interview. Businesses are ineligible for the sample and would not
be interviewed. The respondent sample would be selected from all 50
States plus the District of Columbia.
Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Record Keeping Burden
Resulting from the Collection of Information--NHTSA estimates that the
respondents participating in the cognitive interviewing would average
1\1/2\ hours to carry out that activity, for a total of 13.5 hours for
the 9 cognitive interviews. The 6,000 survey interviews, with an
average duration of 20 minutes, would produce a burden of 2,000 hours.
The maximum annual reporting burden for the NSDDAB would be 13.5 hours
for the cognitive testing and 2,000 hours for the telephone survey for
a grand total of 2,027 hours. Interviewing for each round of the
questionnaire would occur during a single calendar year with the survey
conducted biennially. Thus, the annual reporting burden would be 2,027
hours x 2 collection periods for a total of 4,054 hours. The
respondents would not incur any reporting cost from the information
collection. The respondents also would not incur any record keeping
burden or record keeping cost from the information collection.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A).
Issued on: August 30, 2013.
Jeff Michael,
Associate Administrator, Research and Program Development.
[FR Doc. 2013-21556 Filed 9-4-13; 8:45 am]
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