[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 138 (Thursday, July 20, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33554-33555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15219]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[U.S. DOT Docket No. NHTSA-2017-0051]
Reports, Forms, and Record Keeping Requirements
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.
ACTION: Request for public comment on proposed 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, 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 the collection of information for which NHTSA
intends to seek OMB approval.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 18, 2017.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket Number
NHTSA-2017-0051 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.
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: Kathy J. Sifrit, Contracting Officer's
Representative, Office of Behavioral Safety Research (NPD-320),
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue
SE, W46-466, Washington, DC 20590. Dr. Sifrit's phone number is 202-
366-0868, 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: Older Driver Rearview Video Systems.
Type of Request: New information collection.
OMB Clearance Number: None.
Form Number: NHTSA Forms 1398 and 1399.
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 older licensed drivers about their driving performance, driving
habits, and levels of familiarity with rearview video systems (RVSs),
and to measure their ability to avoid obstacles while backing using an
RVS as compared to using only mirrors and shoulder checks. Following
[[Page 33555]]
initial data collection, the research team will develop a training
protocol based on common errors participants made during the first
study segment. During the training segment of the study, a new sample
of participants will complete backing tasks similar to those in the
first segment. Then participants will be randomly assigned to either a
training group or a placebo group. Following training all participants
will again complete a series of backing tasks. Analyses will test
whether the training improved drivers' ability to use the RVS
appropriately. This research would give the traffic safety community
greater insight into the extent to which older drivers are able to use
RVSs effectively and whether training in proper use of the devices
improves their ability to use the systems to back safely.
Study participation will be voluntary and will be solicited among
residents of residential communities, senior centers, and/or service-
or faith-based organizations in the southeastern Pennsylvania area
through community newsletters and other community media. Interested
older adults will attend a public meeting to learn about the research
opportunity including inclusion and exclusion criteria. Following the
meeting, interested older adults will provide their name and telephone
number on a signup sheet. A project assistant will then call
individuals on the signup sheet and conduct a brief telephone pre-
screening to ensure that all participants meet inclusion and exclusion
criteria; the project assistant will also answer questions about study
participation. For interested candidate participants who meet inclusion
criteria, the project assistant will make appointments to conduct
either a controlled, off-road backing performance evaluation or a
training protocol evaluation, at a mutually convenient time. At the
beginning of the appointment, the project assistant will obtain a
signature from each participant on an informed consent. A driving
rehabilitation specialist (DRS) will then conduct the off-road backing
performance evaluation or training protocol evaluation. Participants
will then receive compensation of $100 for study participation.
Throughout the project, the privacy of all participants would be
protected. Access to the participants' data would be controlled using
password-protection for both the computer and the files. Personally-
identifiable information, such as participants' postal addresses, would
be kept separate from the data collected and would be stored in a wall
safe in password-protected folders on an external hard drive that is
only accessible to study staff who need to access such information. In
addition, all participant data would be reported in aggregate, and
identifying information would not be used in any reports resulting from
this data collection effort. Rigorous de-identification procedures
would be used to prevent participants from being identified through
reconstructive means.
Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the
Information--NHTSA was established by the Highway Safety Act of l970
(23 U.S.C. 101) to carry out a Congressional mandate to reduce deaths,
injuries, and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes on
the Nation's highways. As part of this mandate, NHTSA is authorized to
conduct research as a foundation for the development of traffic safety
programs.
A 2014 final rule issued by NHTSA (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 111, ``Rear visibility'') requires rear visibility
technology in all new vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR) under 10,000 pounds by May 2018, but the anticipated safety
gains depend in part on the extent to which drivers understand and use
the technology as intended. This study has two purposes. The first
purpose is to assess the driving performance of adults 50 and older
using mirrors and an RVS while operating a motor vehicle in reverse.
The second purpose is to develop, implement, and assess the
effectiveness of an RVS training protocol. Findings will provide
information about whether people ages 50 and older differ in backing
performance when using RVS versus only mirrors, whether elements of RVS
use are particularly difficult for this cohort, and whether RVS
training improves older drivers' ability to avoid obstacles while
backing. NHTSA will use the information to inform recommendations to
the driving public regarding safe backing practices.
Description of the Likely Respondents (Including Estimated Number,
and Proposed Frequency of Response to the Collection of Information)--
Respondents will include independently living licensed drivers, age 50
and older, in the southeastern Pennsylvania area. It is estimated that
300 one-time telephone conversations will be conducted with those who
sign up after the public meeting, to yield 200 participants. Of the 200
participants, 120 will complete a one-time controlled, off-road backing
performance evaluation that will inform the development of the
training. The remaining 80 will complete the one-time training protocol
evaluation.
Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Record Keeping Burden
Resulting from the Collection of Information--The total estimated
burden for this information collection is 365 hours. The 300 telephone
pre-screening will average 15 minutes in length including introduction,
qualifying questions, potential participant questions, logistical
questions, and conclusion for an estimated total burden of 75 hours.
For the 120 participants who complete the controlled, off-road backing
performance evaluation, the estimated average burden is 75 minutes (15
minutes for the informed consent form plus 60 minutes for the backing
evaluation) for a total estimate of 150 hours. For the 80 participants
who complete the training protocol evaluation, the estimated average
burden is 105 minutes because of the additional 30 minutes for training
(or placebo) for a total estimate of 140 hours. Participants will incur
no costs from the data collection and participants will incur no record
keeping burden and no record keeping cost from the information
collection.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. Section 3506(c)(2)(A).
Issued in Washington, DC on July 17, 2017.
Jeff Michael,
Associate Administrator, Research and Program Development.
[FR Doc. 2017-15219 Filed 7-19-17; 8:45 am]
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