[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 151 (Friday, August 6, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 47980]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-17991]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[U.S. DOT Docket Number NHTSA-2004-18776]


Reports, Forms, and Record Keeping Requirements

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation.

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 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 reinstatement 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 October 5, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments must refer to the docket notice numbers cited at 
the beginning of this notice and be submitted to Docket Management, 
Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Please 
identify the proposed collection of information for which a comment is 
provided, by referencing its OMB Clearance Number. It is requested, but 
not required, that 2 copies of the comment be provided. The Docket 
Section is open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Complete copies of each request for 
collection of information may be obtained at no charge from Marcia 
Tarbet, NHTSA 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room 5208, NPO-321, Washington, 
DC 20590. Marcia Tarbet's telephone number is (202) 366-2570. Please 
identify the relevant collection of information by referring to its OMB 
Control Number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
before an agency submits a proposed collection of information to OMB 
for approval it must first 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 regulation (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;
    (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 for public 
comments on the following proposed collections of information:
    Title: Highway Crash Data Collection for the Evaluation of Antilock 
Brake Systems (ABS) and Rear Impact Guards on Heavy Vehicles.
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0614.
    Affected Public: State and Local Governments.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Abstract: As required by the Government Performance and Results Act 
of 1993 and Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735), NHTSA reviews existing 
regulations to determine if they are achieving policy goals. Federal 
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 105 (49 CFR 571.105) and FMVSS 
121 (49 CFR 571.121) require ABS and a malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) 
on all new heavy vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 
10,000 pounds or more. Implementation of the standards was performed 
over a three-year period: air-brake truck tractors manufactured on or 
after March 1, 1997, air-brake trailers and single-unit trucks 
manufactured on or after March 1, 1998, and hydraulic brake trucks 
manufactured on or after March 1, 1999.
    FMVSS 223 (49 CFR 571.223) and 224 (49 CFR 571.224) set minimum 
requirements for the geometry, configuration, strength and energy 
absorption capability of rear impact guards on full trailers and semi-
trailers over 10,000 pounds GVWR manufactured on or after January 26, 
1998. NHTSA's Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Budget is planning a 
highway crash data collection effort that will provide adequate 
information to perform an evaluation of the effectiveness of ABS and 
rear impact guards for heavy trucks. This study will estimate the 
actual safety benefits (crashes, injuries, and fatalities avoided) 
achieved by the standards and provide a basis for assessing whether the 
standards are functioning as intended. Highway crash data will be 
analyzed to the extent that the experiences of heavy trucks equipped 
with ABS and rear impact guards can be compared with the experiences of 
heavy trucks not so equipped.
    Estimated Annual Burden: The annual burden is estimated to be 4,036 
hours.
    Number of Respondents: The state police in one state will report 
information on a total of 12,500 crashes.

    Issued on: August 2, 2004.
Noble N. Bowie,
Associate Administrator for Planning, Evaluation, and Budget.
[FR Doc. 04-17991 Filed 8-5-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P