[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 125 (Wednesday, June 30, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39542-39544]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-14761]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2004-17794]


Long Range Strategic Planning

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is 
currently conducting an environmental scan, in preparing the agency to 
meet the challenges it faces in the coming years in improving motor 
vehicle and traffic safety in the United States. This foundational work 
will assist the agency in shaping its 2005-2010 strategic plan.
    This notice invites comments, suggestions and recommendations from 
all individuals and organizations that have an interest in motor 
vehicle and highway safety, non-safety programs administered by the 
agency, and/or other NHTSA activities. Respondents can choose to answer 
any number of questions proposed in this notice. The agency values any 
comments received and would also like input on the strategic planning 
process in general. Please include any elements believed important for 
NHTSA to consider in shaping its vision and building its 2005-2010 
strategic plan.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than August 16, 2004.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Long Range Strategic 
Planning DOT DMS Docket Number (NHTSA-2004-17794) by any of the 
following methods:
     Web Site: http://dms.dot.gov. Follow the instructions for 
submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-001.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and 
docket number. It is suggested that commenters limit their responses to 
ten (10) pages with unlimited attachments. Note that all comments 
received will be posted without change to http://dms.dot.gov, including 
any personal information provided.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://dms.dot.gov at any time or to Room PL-
401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane S. Dion, Director, Office of 
Strategic and Program Planning, National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, Room 5208, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590, telephone: 202-366-1574.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NHTSA was established as the successor to 
the National Highway Safety Bureau in 1970, to carry out safety 
programs under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 
1966 (chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code) and the Highway 
Safety Act of 1966 (chapter 4 of title 23, United States Code). The 
agency also administers consumer programs established by the Motor 
Vehicle Information and Cost Saving Act of 1972 (part C of subtitle VI

[[Page 39543]]

(chapters 321, 323, 325, 327, 329 and 331) of title 49, United States 
Code).
    NHTSA's mission is to save lives, prevent injuries and reduce 
traffic-related health care and other economic costs. The agency 
develops, promotes and implements effective educational, engineering, 
and enforcement programs aimed at ending preventable tragedies and 
reducing the economic costs associated with motor vehicle use and 
highway travel.
    As an integral part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), 
the agency improves public health and enhances the quality of 
transportation by helping to make highway travel safer. A multi-
disciplinary approach is used that draws upon diverse fields such as 
epidemiology, engineering, biomechanics, the social sciences, human 
factors, economics, education, law enforcement and communication 
science to address one of the most complex and challenging public 
health problems facing our society.
    NHTSA is the national and international leader in collecting and 
analyzing motor vehicle crash data, and in developing countermeasures 
relevant to preventing and mitigating vehicle crashes, thereby reducing 
and preventing resulting fatalities and traumatic injury. The agency 
regulates motor vehicle and motor vehicle equipment manufacturers 
through its safety standards and enforcement programs; provides 
national and international leadership in understanding and assessing 
the safety impact of advanced technologies; sponsors critical research; 
spurs progress in harmonizing international safety standards; and 
conducts innovative projects to improve traffic and motor vehicle 
safety. All aspects of engineering, education, enforcement and 
evaluation are incorporated into programs to address the challenges of 
crash and injury prevention involving people, vehicles, and the roadway 
environment.
    Motor vehicle crashes are responsible for 95 percent of all 
transportation-related deaths and 99 percent of all transportation-
related injuries, and are the leading cause of death for Americans age 
2 and every age 4 through 33. The economic costs associated with these 
crashes also seriously impact the Nation's fiscal health. The cost to 
our economy of all motor vehicle crashes was approximately $230 billion 
in 2000, or 2.3 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product. This 
economic cost includes $33 billion in medical expenses, $61 billion in 
lost workplace productivity, and $59 billion in total property damage. 
Alcohol-involved crashes cost over $50 billion, accounting for 22 
percent of all crash costs. In 2003, failure to wear safety belts cost 
$18 billion. Twenty-six percent of overall crash costs are paid by 
those individuals directly involved in these crashes. The remaining 74 
percent is paid by the public through insurance premiums, taxes, and 
higher health care costs.
    Over the last 38 years, the agency has had a solid record of 
achievement in reducing traffic crash fatalities and resulting 
injuries. Since 1966, the crash fatality rate has dropped from 5.5 
deaths per 100 million vehicles miles of travel (VMT) to a historic low 
of 1.5 in 2002. Declining fatalities in passenger cars and injuries 
overall can be attributed to more crashworthy vehicles in the fleet and 
increases in safety belt use.
    Despite the agency's many successes, NHTSA still has much 
unfinished business. Preliminary crash injury and fatality estimates 
for 2003 show mixed results. Injuries from motor vehicle crashes 
declined slightly in 2003, to the lowest levels since such data have 
been kept. However, fatalities on the nation's highways increased 
slightly to 43,220 deaths overall from 42,815 in 2002.
    To prepare to meet the challenges on the horizon, NHTSA is 
embarking upon a long range strategic planning initiative. The 
initiative will have two phases. Phase I begins with this solicitation 
of comments from individuals and public and private organizations 
interested in the nation's motor vehicle and highway safety programs, 
non-safety programs (e.g., fuel economy, vehicle theft and odometer 
fraud) administered by the agency, and/or other NHTSA activities. Phase 
I will also include an environmental scan, to collect a broad range of 
data and information about critical current and future trends expected 
to impact motor vehicle and highway safety. The information gathered 
from the completed environmental scan will serve as the foundation for 
Phase II--NHTSA's strategic plan 2005-2010. For Phase II, information 
and data generated from Phase I will assist the agency at shaping its 
future vision, mission and goals. Phase I will serve as the centerpiece 
by which strategies are developed and incorporated into NHTSA's 2005-
2010 strategic plan.
    NHTSA requests comments, suggestions and recommendations that will 
assist the agency in assessing and understanding the potential effects 
and implications that changes in demographic, economic, environmental, 
institutional, and technological factors will have on motor vehicle and 
highway traffic safety.
    The following are some of the key issues that the agency would like 
commenters to address. In addition to general comments, the public is 
requested to submit documents, studies, or references relevant to the 
issues. The agency is particularly interested in learning about 
emerging or potential safety problems and in receiving recommendations 
for addressing such problems effectively. While the strategic plan 
NHTSA is developing will cover 2005-2010, the ``future'' timeframe the 
agency would like commenters to express their views on and consider is 
trends up to the year 2020.

A. Future Factors and Issues

    (A1) What are the critical highway safety issues facing the nation?
    (A2) What will future key demographic and social influences be on 
highway safety (e.g., novice and older drivers, gender, cultural 
diversity, geographic distribution, alcohol consumption)?
    (A3) In general, how will driving behaviors change in the United 
States? How will demographic and social factors change driving 
behaviors and impact highway safety?
    (A4) What changes in the auto fleet, including size and mix, will 
impact highway safety?
    (A5) What changes in commercial vehicle use will impact highway 
safety?
    (A6) What international trends and technologies will influence 
future developments in the American automotive industry?
    (A7) What changes in energy and environmental issues will impact 
public policy and highway safety? How will these changes impact vehicle 
use?
    (A8) What change in the highway or energy distribution 
infrastructures will either affect or be needed for improved highway 
safety?
    (A9) What changes in auto and medical insurance might affect 
highway safety?
    (A10) What changes in the national, state and local economies will 
impact public policy and highway safety? Will these changes require 
modification in Federal funding programs or delivery systems for 
highway safety?
    (A11) How might changes in vehicle theft and odometer fraud impact 
NHTSA's future program efforts in these areas?
    (A12) What are new and emerging areas of automotive safety research 
that would enable NHTSA and the auto industry to improve motor vehicle 
safety?
    (A13) What additional analytical data need to be collected with 
respect to motor vehicle and highway safety? How

[[Page 39544]]

might data and information be combined for more effective and valuable 
results? How might these data be collected, linked, analyzed and made 
available in a more efficient and cost-effective manner?
    (A14) How can crash avoidance data be gathered?
    (A15) What role will public education and consumer information play 
in the future of highway safety? What other cost effective tools should 
NHTSA use to promote motor vehicle and highway safety programs?
    (A16) What changes in the area of Federal, state and local 
legislation are appropriate and how might that legislation affect 
traffic safety in the future?
    (A17) How might homeland security affect traffic safety in the 
future?

B. Technology

    (B1) How will vehicle-related technologies impact the future of 
motor vehicle and highway safety?
    (B2) What future technologies should be researched and encouraged 
to enhance highway safety?
    (B3) What changes in roadway design and infrastructure are needed? 
How might these changes impact motor vehicle and highway safety?
    (B4) What technological changes are necessary in other modes of 
passenger and freight transportation to positively impact motor vehicle 
and highway safety?
    (B5) What changes in medical technology and emergency medical 
services will impact motor vehicle and highway safety and health 
outcomes?
    (B6) What changes do you envision in automation, information 
management and workplace alternatives (e.g., telecommuting)? How will 
these activities impact highway safety and commuting and travel 
behaviors?
    (B7) What changes in law enforcement practices and technologies 
might impact highway safety?

C. Institutional Relationships

    (C1) How do you and/or your organization (include organization's 
name) interact with NHTSA? Please explain the dynamics of this 
relationship.
    (C2) How could NHTSA improve its relationship with your 
organization and with other organizations and institutions?

D. NHTSA's Role and Mission

    (D1) In your view, should there be major changes in NHTSA's role/
mission in the future?
    (D2) What are NHTSA's strengths? Weaknesses?
    (D3) How can NHTSA have a greater impact in the reduction of injury 
and loss of life on the nation's highways?
    (D4) What is NHTSA doing well? Not so well? How can NHTSA improve 
the way it does business? Please identify possible improvements or 
ideas for doing better.

How Do I Prepare and Submit Comments?

    Your comments must be written and in English. To ensure that your 
comments are correctly filed in the Docket, please include the Docket 
number of this document (Long Range Strategic Planning, NHTSA-2004-
17794) in your comments.
    Please send two paper copies of your comments to Docket Management 
or submit them electronically. The mailing address is Docket Management 
Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-001. If you submit 
your comments electronically, log onto the Docket Management System Web 
site at http://dms.dot.gov and click on ``Help & Information'' or 
``Help/Info'' to obtain instructions.

How Can I Be Sure That My Comments Were Received?

    If you wish Docket Management to notify you upon its receipt of 
your comments, enclose a self-addressed, stamped postcard in the 
envelope containing your comments. Upon receiving your comments, Docket 
Management will return the postcard by mail.

How Do I Submit Confidential Business Information?

    If you wish to submit any information under a claim of 
confidentiality, send three copies of your complete submission, 
including the information you claim to be confidential business 
information, to the Chief Counsel, NCC-01, National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration, Room 5219, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 
DC 20590. Include a cover letter supplying the information specified in 
our confidential business information regulation (49 CFR Part 512).
    In addition, send two copies from which you have deleted the 
claimed confidential business information to Docket Management 
Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-001.

Will the Agency Consider Late Comments?

    NHTSA will consider all comments that Docket Management receives 
before the close of business on the comment closing date indicated 
above under DATES. To the extent possible, we will also consider 
comments that Docket Management receives after that date.
    Please note that even after the comment closing date, we will 
continue to file relevant information in the Docket as it becomes 
available. Some people may submit late comments. Accordingly, we 
recommend that you periodically check the Docket for new material.

How Can I Read the Comments Submitted by Other People?

    You may read the comments by visiting Docket Management in person 
at Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC from 10 a.m. to 
5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
    You may also see the comments on the Internet by taking the 
following steps:
     Go to the Docket Management System (DMS) Web page of the 
Department of Transportation (http://dms.dot.gov).
     On that page, click on ``search.''
     On the next page ((http://dms.dot.gov/search/) type in the 
five-digit Docket number shown at the beginning of this document (Long 
Range Strategic Planning, NHTSA-2004-17794). Click on ``search.''
     On the next page, which contains Docket summary 
information for the Docket you selected, click on the desired comments. 
You may also download the comments.
    Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments 
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477-78) or you may visit 
http://dms.dot.gov.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30111, 30117, 30168; delegation of 
authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.

Noble N. Bowie,
Associate Administrator for Planning, Evaluation & Budget.
[FR Doc. 04-14761 Filed 6-29-04; 8:45 am]
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