[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]
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