[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 243 (Tuesday, December 18, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65248-65249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-31109]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[U.S. DOT Docket No. NHTSA-01-10911]


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 February 19, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to U.S. Department of 
Transportation Dockets, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Plaza 401, Washington, 
DC 20590. Docket No. NHTSA-01-10911.

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:

Buckle Up America Telephone Surveys 2002-2004

    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, 2004.
    Summary of the Collection of Information--NHTSA proposes to conduct 
telephone surveys both immediately before, and after, biannual national 
mobilizations carried out as part of the Buckle Up America (BUA) 
Campaign. Participation by respondents would be voluntary. The national 
mobilizations are conducted each year during May and November. The 
mobilizations are designed to increase seat belt and child restraint 
use through education and enforcement of restraint laws. NHTSA would 
conduct four survey waves per year over a three year period beginning 
in 2002. During each year, NHTSA would conduct a survey wave: (1) 
Immediately preceding the May Mobilization; (2) immediately following 
the May Mobilization; (3) immediately preceding the November 
Mobilization; and (4) immediately following the November Mobilization. 
Each survey wave would be composed of a national sample of 1200 
respondents, as well as multiple independent State samples of 500 
respondents each. An average of 25 independent State samples would be 
surveyed per survey wave across the three year period, producing an 
average of 13,700 total interviews per survey wave. Prior to each 
mobilization, NHTSA would select specific States to be included among 
the independent State samples based on mobilization activities planned 
within the States. The surveys would collect information regarding 
public awareness of the mobilization, public perceptions of enforcement 
of motor vehicle restraint laws, public attitudes concerning motor 
vehicle restraint use, and the public's reported use of motor vehicle 
restraint systems.
    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 crashes. 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.
    Wearing a seat belt is the most effective action a person can take 
to avert death or injury in the event of a

[[Page 65249]]

motor vehicle crash. Research has found that lap/shoulder belts reduce 
the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 
percent and the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 50 percent. For 
light truck occupants, seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury by 60 
percent and moderate-to-critical injury by 65 percent.
    Buckle Up America (BUA) is a Presidential Initiative for increasing 
seat belt use and child restraint use nationwide. National goals are to 
increase seat belt use to 90 percent by 2005, and reduce child (0-4 
years) occupant fatalities by 25 percent (from the 1995 number) by 
2005. The BUA strategic plan, developed with input from both the public 
and private sectors, contains four key elements for achieving the 
goals: (1) Building public-private partnerships; (2) enactment of 
strong legislation by States; (3) active, high visibility law 
enforcement; and (4) effective public education. Guided by the 
strategic plan, the BUA Campaign carries out regularly scheduled 
national mobilizations that combine high visibility enforcement with 
education.
    The national mobilizations are a major component of the BUA 
Campaign. As such, there is a need to evaluate their effectiveness. The 
proposed surveys would provide pre- and post-test measures for each 
mobilization conducted during the three year period beginning May 2002. 
The two measures would be compared to assess whether the mobilization 
activities and messages penetrated public awareness, whether the public 
found the message of increased enforcement activity credible, and 
whether the mobilization affected attitudes and (self-reported) 
behavior concerning restraint use. Many of the comparisons would need 
to be made at the State level because of substantial differences across 
States in their mobilization activities (e.g., intensity of enforcement 
efforts, use of media, publicized support, etc.). NHTSA would select 
specific States from which to draw independent samples based on their 
planned mobilization activities.

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 ten 
minutes in length would be administered to randomly selected members of 
the general public age 16 and older in telephone households. There 
would be a total of 12 survey waves conducted over a period of three 
years (four per year). An average of 13,700 persons would be 
interviewed per survey wave. Each survey wave would be comprised of a 
national sample, and multiple independent State samples. The national 
sample would be selected from all 50 States plus the District of 
Columbia. The independent State samples would be composed of 500 
persons per State. There would be an average of 25 independent State 
samples per survey wave. Together with the national sample, there would 
be an average of 13,700 interviews per survey wave. 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. 
No respondent would participate in more than one survey wave.

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 10 minutes to complete the telephone interview. The number 
of estimated reporting burden hours a year on the general public 
(13,700 respondents multiplied by one interview multiplied by 10 
minutes multiplied by four survey waves) would be 9,133. 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, Office of Traffic Safety Programs.
[FR Doc. 01-31109 Filed 12-17-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P