[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 14, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69814-69815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32275]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[U.S. DOT Docket No. NHTSA-99-6484
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 new 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 one collection of information for which
NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 14, 2000.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to U.S. Department of
Transportation Dockets, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Plaza 401,
Washington, D.C. 20590. Docket No. NHTSA-99-6484.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Alan Block, Contracting Officer's
Technical Representative, Office of Research and Traffic Records (NTS-
31), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh
Street, S.W., Room 6240, Washington, D.C. 20590.
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:
2000 Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Survey
Type of Request--New information collection requirement.
OMB Clearance Number--None.
Form Number--This collection of information uses no standard forms.
Requested Expiration Date of Approval--December 31, 2001.
Summary of the Collection of Information--NHTSA proposes to conduct
a year 2000 Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Survey by telephone among a
national probability sample of 12,000 adults (age 16 and older).
Participation by respondents would be voluntary. NHTSA's information
needs require seat belt and child safety seat sections too large to
merge into a single survey instrument without producing an inordinate
burden on respondents. Rather than reduce these sections, the proposed
survey instrument would be divided into two series of modules. Each
module would be administered to one-half the total number of subjects
to be interviewed. Module Series #1 of the questionnaire would focus on
seat belts and include smaller sections on air bags, motorcyclist
safety, and general driving (including speed). Module Series #2 would
focus on child restraint use, accompanied by smaller sections on air
bags and Emergency Medical Services. Both series would contain sections
on crash injury experience, and on drinking and driving because of the
extensive impact of alcohol on the highway safety problem. Some basic
[[Page 69815]]
seat belt questions contained in Module Series #1 would be duplicated
on Module Series #2.
In conducting the proposed survey, the interviewers would use
computer-assisted telephone interviewing to reduce interview length and
minimize recording errors. A Spanish-language translation and bilingual
interviewers would be used to minimize language barriers to
participation. The proposed survey would be anonymous and confidential.
Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the
Information--The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
was established to reduce the mounting number of deaths, injuries and
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.
During the late 1960s and early 1970s, more than 50,000 persons
were killed each year in motor vehicle crashes in the United States.
Diverse approaches were taken to address the problem. Vehicle safety
designs and features were improved; restraint devices were improved;
safety behaviors were mandated in state legislation (including seat
belt use, child safety seat use, and motorcycle helmet use); alcohol-
related legislation was enacted; this legislation was enforced; public
information and education activities were widely implemented; and
roadways were improved.
As a result of these interventions and improvements, crash
fatalities dropped significantly. By 1992, total fatalities had fallen
to 39,250, representing a 23% decline from 1966. In addition, the
resident population and the number of vehicle miles traveled increased
greatly over those years. When fatality rates are computed per 100,000
population, the rate for 1992 (15.39) was about 40 percent lower than
the 1966 rate (25.89). In sum, heightened highway safety activity
conducted over the past three decades corresponds with major strides in
reducing traffic fatalities.
Remaining barriers to safety will be more resistant to programmatic
influences now that the easy gains have already been accomplished.
Moreover, crash fatalities have edged higher since 1992, totaling
41,471 in 1998. Thus significant effort will be needed just to preserve
the gains that already have been made. Up-to-date information is
essential to plot the direction of future activity that will achieve
reductions in crash injuries and fatalities in the coming years.
In order to collect the critical information needed by NHTSA to
develop and implement effective countermeasures that meet the Agency's
mandate to improve highway traffic safety, NHTSA conducted its first
Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Survey in 1994. The survey included
questions related to seat belts, child safety seats, air bags,
bicyclist safety, motorcyclist safety, and Emergency Medical Services.
It also contained small segments on alcohol use and on speeding. The
survey was repeated in 1996 and 1998, with the survey instrument
updated to incorporate emergent issues and items of increased interest.
The proposed survey is the fourth Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety
Survey. The survey would collect data on topics included in the
preceding surveys and would monitor changes over time in the use of
occupant protection devices and in attitudes related to vehicle
occupant safety. It is important that NHTSA monitor these changes so
that the Agency can determine the effects of its efforts to promote the
use of safety devices and to identify areas where its efforts should be
targeted and where new strategies may be needed. As in 1996 and 1998,
NHTSA proposes to make a small number of revisions to the survey
instrument to address new information needs.
If approved, the proposed survey would assist NHTSA in addressing
the problem of motor vehicle occupant safety and in formulating
programs and recommendations to Congress. The results of the proposed
survey would be used to: (a) Identify areas to target current programs
and activities to achieve the greatest benefit; (b) develop new
programs and initiatives aimed at increasing the use of occupant safety
devices by the general public; and (c) provide informational support to
States and localities in their traffic safety efforts. The findings
would also be used directly by State and local highway safety and law
enforcement agencies in the development and implementation of effective
countermeasures to prevent injuries and fatalities to vehicle
occupants.
Description of the Likely Respondents (Including Estimated Number,
and Proposed Frequency of Response to the Collection of Information)--
Under this proposed effort, a telephone interview averaging
approximately 20 minutes in length would be administered to each of
12,000 randomly selected members of the general public age 16 and older
in telephone households. The respondent sample would be selected from
all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. Interviews would be
conducted with persons at residential phone numbers selected through
random digit dialing. Businesses are ineligible for the sample and
would not be interviewed. No more than one respondent would be selected
per household. Each member of the sample would complete one interview.
Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Record Keeping Burden
Resulting from the Collection of Information--NHTSA estimates that each
respondent in the sample would require an average of 20 minutes to
complete the telephone interview. Thus, the number of estimated
reporting burden hours a year on the general public (12,000 respondents
multiplied by 1 interview multiplied by 20 minutes) would be 4000 for
the proposed survey. 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.
Rose A. McMurray,
Associate Administrator Traffic Safety Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-32275 Filed 12-13-99; 8:45 am]
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