[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 223 (Monday, November 18, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58732-58733]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29484]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary


Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements; Agency Information 
Collection Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection 
Requests (ICRs) abstracted below have been forwarded to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for approval of a new collection, 
reinstatement, with change, of a previously approved collection for 
which approval has expired. The ICRs describes the nature of the 
information collection and its expected burden. The Federal Register 
Notice soliciting comments on collection of information 2127-new was 
published on July 1, 1996 [FR 61, page 33891] and the Federal Register 
Notice soliciting comments on collection of information 2127-0021 was 
published on July 12, 1996 [FR 61, page 36778].

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 18, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward Kosek, (202) 366-2590, and 
refer to the OMB Control Number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration (NHTSA)
    Title: Highway Crash Data Collection for Evaluation of Conspicuity 
Marking on Heavy Truck Trailers.
    Type of Request: New Collection.
    OMB Control Number: 2127-new.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Affected Public: State and local governments.
    Abstract: 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.
    Annual Estimated Burden: The total estimated annual burden is 2,666 
hours.

    Title: National Accident Sampling System (NASS).
    Type of Request: Reinstatement, with change, of a previously 
approved collection for which approval has expired.
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0021.
    Form Numbers: HS-433A, HS-433B, HS-435H, HS-435I, and HS-435F.
    Affected Public: Participation is voluntary for all respondents. 
NHTSA contractor employers begin by going to the police to get copies 
of accident reports. They select certain accidents, usually the more 
serious, to investigate. They interview occupants and witnesses, 
acquire medical records, and inspect the crash scene and vehicles. Data 
is coded on standard forms and entered into a computerized database.
    Abstract: NASS investigates high severity crashes. Once a crash has 
been selected for investigation, several activities are initiated by 
the NASS Crashworthiness Data System (CDS) team. Researchers locate, 
visit, measure, and photograph the crash scene; locate, inspect, and 
photograph all involved vehicles; conduct a telephone or personal 
interview with each involved person or surrogate; and obtain and record 
injury information from hospitals or emergency rooms for all injured 
victims. During each activity the researchers record information on the 
NASS vehicle, and occupant/ pedestrian forms as appropriate.
    Need for the Information and Proposed Use: NASS CDS data are used 
to describe and analyze circumstances, mechanisms, and consequences of 
high severity motor vehicle crashes in the United States. These 
descriptions and analyses in turn will help to describe the magnitude 
of vehicle damage and injury severity as related to traffic safety 
problems. It will give motor vehicle researchers an opportunity to 
specify areas in which improvements may be possible, design 
countermeasure programs, and evaluate the effects of existing and 
proposed safety measures. Users include virtually every program

[[Page 58733]]

area in NHTSA, other federal agencies such as the Federal Highway 
Administration, state and local governments, domestic and foreign motor 
vehicle manufacturers, insurance and consumer organizations, safety 
research organizations, universities, foreign government agencies, and 
individual citizens.
    Annual Estimated Burden: The total estimated annual burden is 5,807 
hours.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725-17th Street, NW, 
Washington, DC 20503, Attention OST Desk Officer.
    Comments are Invited on: whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Department, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; the accuracy of the Department's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize 
the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including 
the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 13, 1996.
Phillip A. Leach,
Clearance Officer, United States Department of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 96-29484 Filed 11-15-96; 8:45 am]
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