[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 24, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14303-14304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-7074]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[U.S. DOT Docket No. NHTSA-99-5199]


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 May 24, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to U.S. Department of 
Transportation Dockets, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Plaza 401, Washington, 
DC 20590. Docket No. NHTSA-99-5199.

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, SW, Room 6240, Washington, DC 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:

National Survey of Pedestrian and Bicyclist Attitudes, Knowledge, 
and Behavior

    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 National Survey of Pedestrian and Bicyclist Attitudes, Knowledge, and 
Behavior by telephone among a national probability sample of 4,200 
adults (age 16 and older). Participation by respondents would be 
voluntary. The proposed survey would collect information on pedestrian 
and bicycling behavior, obstacles to walking and bicycling, use of 
bicycle helmets, training in bicycling safety, pedestrian and bicyclist 
safety education for children, knowledge of safety issues and rules of 
the road, assessment of existing community facilities for walking and 
bicycling, and other related issues.
    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-related 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 safety standards and traffic safety programs.
    While not as much in the public eye as other traffic safety 
problems, motor vehicle crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists 
exact a heavy toll. Pedestrians and bicyclists account for 15 percent 
of all traffic fatalities, and more than 130,000 injuries each year. 
Yet there are simple things that people can do to reduce these risks, 
provided that they are sufficiently aware and willing to take the 
appropriate steps. For example, a study published in the Journal of the 
American Medical Association found that the universal use of helmets by 
all bicyclists could have prevented as many as 2,500 deaths and 757,000 
head injuries between 1984 and 1988.
    There is a lack of data concerning the public's exposure to risk as 
pedestrians and bicyclists, their awareness of correct pedestrian and 
bicyclist safety practices, their perceptions of the responsibilities 
of other roadway users, and their perceptions of risks. Without this 
information, safety professionals are left with inadequate tools for 
determining if there are critical deficits in education or training 
that should be addressed, or whether interventions are efficiently 
targeted to where they are most needed. This in turn would pose severe 
constraints on the ability to meet the U.S. Secretary of 
Transportation's goal of reducing by 10 percent the number of

[[Page 14304]]

injuries and fatalities occurring to bicyclists and pedestrians.
    Besides reducing pedestrian/bicyclist injuries and fatalities, the 
U.S. Secretary of Transportation has called for a doubling in the 
national percentage of transportation trips made by bicycling and 
walking. Both goals are part of the DOT Secretarial Initiative for 
Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety. This is a national effort to promote 
walking and bicycling as safe, efficient, and healthy ways to travel. 
It involves partnering with numerous groups to foster the development 
of a more balanced transportation system. Yet while the Initiative 
calls for an increase in pedestrian and bicyclist activities, there are 
no exposure data to measure its progress. Moreover, there is a lack of 
information on the obstacles to walking and bicycling that would have 
to be addressed to meet the Secretarial goal; as well as information on 
how persons decide whether or not to walk, or to bike.
    The proposed survey would collect data to meet the informational 
needs described above. The survey instrument would include items to 
measure exposure, knowledge, risk perception, community 
characteristics, and decision factors. The survey data would be used to 
assess the adequacy of present strategies to increase pedestrian and 
bicyclist safety, and to help guide policies aimed at encouraging these 
modes of transportation.
    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 23.5 minutes in length would be administered to each of 
4,200 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 23.5 minutes to 
complete the telephone interview. Thus, the number of estimated 
reporting burden hours a year on the general public (4,200 respondents 
multiplied by 1 interview multiplied by 23.5 minutes) would be 1645 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 for Traffic Safety Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-7074 Filed 3-23-99; 8:45 am]
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