[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 164 (Thursday, August 22, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43398-43399]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21237]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration


Research and Development Programs Meeting

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a public meeting at which the ITS Joint 
Program Office (JPO) of the Federal Highway Administration and the 
Office of Crash Avoidance Research, National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration (NHTSA), plan to conduct a dialogue primarily with 
industry to discuss the crash avoidance research program. Topics of 
interest will include the value and direction of the crash avoidance 
program and methods for improving the cooperation between DOT and 
industry on this program. Further, the notice requests suggestions for 
topics to be presented by the ITS JPO and NHTSA involved in the ITS 
crash avoidance research program.

DATES AND TIMES: The ITS Joint Program Office of the Federal Highway 
Administration and NHTSA will hold jointly a public meeting devoted 
primarily to establish a two-way dialogue on topics of mutual interest 
with the automotive industry on September 12, 1996, beginning at 1:30 
p.m. and ending at approximately 4 p.m. Interested parties are 
encouraged to suggest agenda topics prior to 4:15 p.m. on September 6, 
1996. Questions may be submitted in advance regarding the ITS/JPO 
Programs, NHTSA's ITS research and development projects, and other 
topics. They should be submitted in writing by August 29, 1996, to the 
address given below. If sufficient time is available, questions 
received after the August 29 date will be answered at the meeting in 
the discussion period. Topics and questions may also be provided at the 
meeting. The individual, group, or company asking a question does not 
have to be present for the question to be answered. A consolidated list 
of the questions submitted by August 29 will be available at the 
meeting and will be mailed to requesters after the meeting.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Tysons Westpark Hotel, 8401 
Westpark Drive, McLean, Virginia 22101. Suggestions for specific topics 
for the September 12, 1996, meeting relating to the research and 
development programs should be submitted to the Office of the Director, 
Office of Crash Avoidance Research NRD-50, National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration, Room 6220, 400 Seventh St., SW., Washington, DC 
20590, telephone 202-366-5662, fax number 202-366-7237, or Program 
Coordinator, ITS/JPO, HVH-1, 400 Seventh St., SW., Washington, DC 
20590, telephone 202-366-2182, fax number 202-366-8712.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ITS JPO and NHTSA intend to provide an 
overview about their research and development programs in this public 
meeting. The purpose is to make available information regarding the ITS 
research and development programs related to crash avoidance research 
and establish a channel for sharing information which is of interest to 
all parties concerned.
    The primary goal of the ITS crash avoidance research program is to 
facilitate the introduction of collision avoidance products into the 
motor vehicle fleet. Towards achieving this, NHTSA has undertaken 
research to analyze accident data, identify crash avoidance 
opportunities, develop countermeasure concepts and establish 
performance specifications for crash avoidance, and develop research 
tools to evaluate technical performance of the countermeasures and 
their effectiveness. In the next phase of our research program, while 
continuing our efforts to understand the system capabilities of crash 
avoidance products, the agency also plans to pursue research to fully 
understand the products' potential for user acceptance, considering 
factors such as system performance, usability, product cost, and 
overall safety benefits. Involvement of automobile manufacturers and 
suppliers are critical to the success of meeting this objective. The 
development and deployment of crash avoidance products will be 
facilitated by increased cooperation between JPO, NHTSA, and the 
automobile industry, and other innovators and suppliers of safety-
related products. With this in mind, we seek your response to questions 
such as:
     Are there other research areas beyond what is currently 
being done for crash avoidance that NHTSA should pursue?
     How can JPO and NHTSA accelerate/facilitate the deployment 
of crash avoidance countermeasures?
     How can we best transfer our knowledge and technologies to 
you to meet your needs?
     How could the products and countermeasures identified thus 
far become affordable to the consumer?
     Would any mechanism for standardization of performance 
requirements of safety systems be helpful? If so, what vehicle could be 
used for the purpose?
    ITS/JPO and NHTSA also request suggestions from interested parties 
on the specific agenda topics and questions to be discussed. The ITS/
JPO and NHTSA will base its decision about the final agenda, in part, 
on the suggestions it receives by close of business at 4:15 p.m. on 
September 6, 1996.
    Questions regarding research projects that have been submitted in 
writing not later than close of business on August 29, 1996, will be 
answered. A transcript of the meeting, copies of materials handed out 
at the meeting, if any, and copies of the suggestions offered by 
commenters will be available for public inspection in the NHTSA's 
Technical Reference Division, Room 5108, 400 Seventh St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20590, or the ITS Joint Program Office, Room 3422, 400 
Seventh St., SW., Washington, DC 20590. Copies of the

[[Page 43399]]

transcript will then be available at 10 cents a page, upon request to 
NHTSA's Technical Reference Division. The Technical Reference Division 
is open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    The organizers of the meeting will provide technical aids to 
participants as necessary, during the meeting. Thus, any person 
desiring the assistance of ``auxiliary aids'' (e.g., sign-language 
interpreter, telecommunication devices for deaf persons (TTDs), 
readers, taped texts, braille materials, or large print materials and/
or a magnifying device, please contact Rita Gibbons on 202-366-4862 by 
close of business September 4, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ray Resendes, ITS/JPO, HVH-1, 202-366-2182, or Joseph Kanianthra, 
Office of Crash Avoidance Research, NHTSA, 202-366-5662, 400 Seventh 
St., SW., Washington, DC 20590. Fax number: 202-366-7237.

    Issued: August 15, 1996.
Dr. Joseph N. Kanianthra,
Director, Office of Crash Avoidance Research.
[FR Doc. 96-21237 Filed 8-21-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P