[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 92 (Friday, May 10, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21528-21529]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11748]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[NHTSA Docket No. 96-042-No1]
Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Survey (II)
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments on data collection.
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SUMMARY: NHTSA's purpose in conducting this survey is to assist the
Agency in fulfilling its Congressional mandate to reduce the injuries,
fatalities, and economic loss resulting from motor vehicle crashes.
There is overwhelming evidence that the regular and proper use of
safety devices such as safety belts, child safety seats, and helmets is
effective in reducing injuries and fatalities in vehicle crashes. It
is, therefore, important that effective strategies be developed to
promote the use of such devices. To understand how best to encourage
use of these safety devices, NHTSA needs up-to-date information on the
patterns of their use and reasons for non-use by the public. By
collecting these data, NHTSA will be able to determine where its
efforts should be targeted and where new strategies may be needed.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before June 28, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, Docket Section, Room 5111, Docket # 96-042-No1,
400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Alan Block, Contracting Officer's
Technical Representative, Office of Program Development and Evaluation
(NTS-31), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh
Street, S.W., Room 6240, Washington, D.C. 20590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
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 safety
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 1994, total fatalities had fallen
to 40,676, representing a 20% decline from 1966. In addition, the
resident population and the number of vehicle miles traveled increased
greatly over the past 25 years. When fatality rates are computed per
100,000 population, the rate for 1994 (15.62) was more than 40 percent
lower than the 1966 rate (26.02). In sum, heightened highway safety
activity conducted over the past two 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. Up-
to-date information is essential to plot the direction of future
activity that will
[[Page 21529]]
achieve the more difficult gains 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 safety belts, child safety seats, airbags,
bicyclist safety, pedestrian safety, motorcyclist safety, and Emergency
Medical Services. It also contained small segments on alcohol use and
on speeding.
The proposed survey is the second Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety
Survey. The survey will collect data on topics included in the first
(1994) survey and will monitor changes over time in the use of occupant
protection measures 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. NHTSA is also
exploring some additional topics related to issues identified since the
previous survey, particularly regarding airbags and children, that have
important public safety implications.
II. Method of Data Collection
The survey will be conducted by telephone among a national
probability sample of 8,000 adults (age 16 and older). Participation by
respondents is voluntary. NHTSA's information needs require safety 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 survey instrument will be
divided into two series of modules. Each module will be administered to
one-half the total number of subjects to be interviewed. Module Series
#1 of the questionnaire will focus on safety belts and include smaller
sections on airbags, motorcyclist safety, general driving (including
speed), and crash experience. Module Series #2 will focus on child
safety seats, accompanied by smaller sections on bicyclist safety and
Emergency Medical Services. Both series will contain sections on
drinking and driving because of the extensive impact of alcohol on the
highway safety problem. Some basic safety belt questions contained in
Module Series #1 will be duplicated on Module Series #2. (Some topics
may be changed from one series to the other in the final
questionnaires.)
The interviewers will use computer-assisted telephone interviewing
to reduce interview length and minimize recording errors. A Spanish-
language translation and bilingual interviewers will be used to
minimize language barriers to participation. The survey will be
anonymous and confidential.
III. Use of Findings
The findings of this study will assist NHTSA in addressing the
problem of motor vehicle occupant safety and in formulating programs
and recommendations to Congress. NHTSA will use the findings 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 will 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.
IV. Data
OMB Number: None
Form Number: None
Type of Review: Regular Submission
Affected Public: The population of the United States age 16 and older
living in households with telephones.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 8000
Estimated Time Per Respondent: 20 minutes
Estimated Total Burden: 2667 hours
Estimated Total Cost: $46.97 per survey respondent
V. Requests for Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden
(including the hours and cost) of the proposed collection of
information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of
the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of
the collection of information on respondents, including through the use
of automated collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for approval by the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) of this information collection. Copies of all comments
will be placed in Docket 96-042, Notice 1, in the NHTSA Docket Section
in Room 5109, Nassif Building, 400 7th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C.
20590, and will become a matter of public record.
James H. Hedlund,
Associate Administrator for Traffic Safety Programs.
[FR Doc. 96-11748 Filed 5-9-96; 8:45 am]
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