[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 127 (Monday, July 1, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 33891-33895]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-16697]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 571

[Docket No. 96-066; Notice 01]
RIN 2127-AG19
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Lamps, Reflective Devices, and 
Associated Equipment; Heavy Truck Conspicuity; Evaluation Plan

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.

ACTION: Request for comment on proposed collection of information.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NHTSA is initiating a study to evaluate the safety effects of 
the Conspicuity Systems requirement (Section 5.7) of Federal Motor 
Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No.108, ``Lamps, Reflective Devices, 
and Associated Equipment. To carry out the study, NHTSA has requested 
that special motor vehicle crash data be collected by two state law 
enforcement agencies. Before a Federal agency can collect certain 
information, 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 the proposed collection of

[[Page 33892]]

information. In compliance with these procedures, NHTSA requests 
comments on the issues contained at the end of this notice.

DATES: Comments must be received by August 30, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket and notice numbers set 
forth above and be submitted to the Docket Section, NHTSA, Room 5109, 
400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590 (Docket hours are from 
9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday). It is requested, but not 
required, that one original plus 2 copies of the comments be provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles J. Kahane, Chief, Evaluation 
Division, Office of Strategic Planning and Evaluation, National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 
20590. Telephone: (202) 366-1574. (For information on OMB processing 
procedures for the proposed information collection, contact: Ed Kosek, 
NHTSA Information Collection Clearance Officer, NHTSA, 400 Seventh 
Street SW., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone (202) 366-2589).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In September 1992, the NHTSA amended FMVSS 
Number 108 (49 CFR 571.108), ``Lamps, Reflective Devices, and 
Associated Equipment''. This revision, effective December 1, 1993, 
requires that heavy truck trailers (i.e., those 80 or more inches in 
width with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating over 10,000 pounds) 
manufactured after this date be equipped with retroreflective material 
(57 FR 58406). Two types of material are permitted--(1) retroreflective 
sheeting, or tape, and (2) reflex reflectors. The purpose of the 
material is to reduce traffic accidents, and resulting deaths and 
injuries, by increasing the visibility of heavy truck trailer 
combination vehicles and making them more conspicuous to other 
motorists. Nighttime collisions of other vehicles into the sides and 
rear of large tractor trailer trucks are the primary types of crashes 
targeted to be reduced by the retroreflective material.
    Under Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review'' (58 
FR 51735), NHTSA is required to conduct periodic evaluations to assess 
the effectiveness of the vehicle safety standards it has promulgated. 
These studies estimate the actual safety benefits achieved by the 
standards and provide a basis for assessing whether the standards are 
functioning as intended. Typically, the evaluation studies consist of 
the analyses of highway crash data which compare the experience of 
vehicles equipped with a given standard with the experience of vehicles 
not equipped with the standard. In addition to all trailers 
manufactured since December 1993, which are required to have 
conspicuity marking, some companies have also equipped their older 
trailers with the material. Trailers equipped prior to December 1993 
sometimes used colors and patterns which differ from those specified in 
the standard. A data collection effort is planned to provide crash 
information for the purpose of evaluating the safety effects of the 
conspicuity requirement under FMVSS No.108. NHTSA will analyze the data 
to estimate the safety benefits, in terms of crashes, injuries, and 
fatalities avoided that can be attributed to the requirement.
    It is proposed that the data be collected by state law enforcement 
officers (i.e., state police) who investigate and report on highway 
motor vehicle crashes as part of their regularly assigned duties. For 
each crash involving a large truck trailer combination vehicle, the 
information to be provided will consist of a copy of the standard state 
accident report, which is regularly filed with applicable state 
authorities, plus a special accident report supplement designed to 
record data specific to the study of the effects of the retroreflective 
material on the trailers. The officers investigating the heavy truck 
crashes will complete the data items on the supplement for each such 
crash occurring within their jurisdiction. Data from both the report 
supplement and the corresponding state accident report are required in 
order to evaluate the safety effects of the conspicuity standard. Two 
states, Pennsylvania and Florida, are being proposed as the data 
collection sites. All state-reported crashes of tractor trailer 
combination vehicles which occur within the boundaries of the two 
states will be reported. A tractor trailer combination vehicle is 
defined as a truck tractor pulling one or two trailers--i.e., tractor 
with semi-trailer or tractor with double trailers.
    The data to be provided to NHTSA will consist of two parts. Part 1 
will be a copy of the official state motor vehicle accident report 
involving a heavy truck tractor combination vehicle that is filed with 
the applicable authorities in the states where the study is being 
conducted. Part 2 will consist of the special supplement to each state 
motor vehicle accident report for the designated truck crashes. A copy 
of the proposed supplement, ``Investigator's Supplementary Truck-
Tractor Trailer Accident Report,'' is shown in the accompanying 
illustration. The instructions for completing the supplement are also 
shown. The supplement would be printed as a one-page form with the 
report form on one side and the instructions on the other side. In 
order to have sufficient data for a definitive statistical evaluation, 
it is proposed that the two states collect and provide the specified 
information for a two-year period. The accident reports would be 
collected at the state level and forwarded to NHTSA on a monthy basis.
    NHTSA estimates that the reporting burden per heavy truck crash 
report will average 30 minutes. This includes the time to review the 
instructions, complete the accident report supplement, transmit the 
information (state report plus supplement), and to coordinate and 
oversee the collection at the state level. Based on recent crash 
statistics from the two selected states, it is estimated that 
approximately 2,000 reports of tractor trailer crashes per year will be 
reported by each state. The number of respondents (officers who file 
reports for the designated crashes) cannot be precisely determined, but 
based on the annual number of crashes and the size of the law 
enforcement agencies in the two states, the typical officer would 
complete one report per year. In actuality, some officers may complete 
no reports while others could complete several reports. This will be a 
function of where, throughout the state road systems, the crashes 
occur, and the specific officers who have investigation and reporting 
jurisdiction over those areas at the time the crashes occur. The total 
reporting burden for the proposed information collection project is 
therefore best estimated on the basis of the total estimated number of 
crashes expected to be reported. For the two study states over the two-
year period, it is estimated that 8,000 crashes will be reported. Thus, 
the total reporting burden is estimated at 4,000 hours (8,000 crashes 
times 0.5 hours per crash).
    NHTSA has consulted with the two selected states and has obtained 
their consent to support the agency in its evaluation study of 
retroreflective marking on heavy truck trailers. In compliance with the 
requirements of the Office of Management and Budget (5 CFR part 1320, 
``Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements,'' effective August 29, 
1995), NHTSA requests comments on the proposed collection of 
information. Comments will be used by the agency in:
    a. Evaluating whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including

[[Page 33893]]

whether the information will have practical utility;
    b. Evaluating 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;
    c. Enhancing the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and
    d. Minimizing the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including through 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.

Submission of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit comments. All comments 
received before the close of business on the comment closing date will 
be considered and will be available for examination in the docket at 
the above address both before and after that date. To the extent 
possible, comments filed after the closing date will also be 
considered.

    Authority: 44 U. S. C. 3506 (c); delegation of authority at 49 
CFR 1.50.
L. Robert Shelton,
Acting Associate Administrator for Plans and Policy.

BILLING CODE 4910-59-P

[[Page 33894]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP01JY96.060



[[Page 33895]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP01JY96.061


[FR Doc. 96-16697 Filed 6-28-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-C