[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 37 (Thursday, February 26, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8839-8841]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4098]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[U.S. DOT Docket No. FHWA-2008-0183]


FHWA Laboratory and Field Research; Agency Information Collection 
Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FHWA invites the public to comment on our intention to 
request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a new 
information collection. This collection is summarized below under 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. We are required to publish this notice in 
the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Please submit comments by April 27, 2009.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket ID Number FHWA-
2008-0183 by any of the following methods:
    Web Site: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
    Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
    Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    Hand Delivery or Courier: U.S. Department of Transportation, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Granda, PhD, Team Leader, Human 
Centered Systems, Office of Safety Research and Development, HRDS-07, 
Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, Federal Highway 
Administration, 6300 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA 22101, tel. 202-493-
3365 between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays, or Paul J. Tremont, PhD, (same address) at 202-493-
3338.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: FHWA Laboratory and Field Research.
    Background: The FHWA invites public comments on our intention to 
request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a total of 
30 laboratory/field research studies that will include collections of 
information from the general public. These studies will be conducted 
over a period not to exceed three years with a total burden of 
approximately 5250 hours and an annual burden of approximately 1750 
hours.
    These collections are integral to the performance of various 
analytical, field, and laboratory human factors research projects that 
FHWA plans to conduct in support of its mission of improving safety and 
increasing mobility on our Nation's highways through National 
Leadership, Innovation, and Program Delivery.
    The laboratory and field research FHWA conducts often involves 
observations of driver behavior. In the field, these studies are 
usually completely non-intrusive. However, some field and laboratory 
research studies require that interview data be collected from 
individual persons. For example, if drivers are participating in a 
research study on a novel intersection, interview data might be 
acquired from a subset of drivers to determine what they observed while 
driving or how they made their decisions. In these cases the interview 
will be brief (10-15 minutes). Similar interview data may be acquired 
when studies are conducted in a laboratory setting.
    This planned approval request does NOT include work subsumed under

[[Page 8840]]

Subtitle C of Public Law 109-59, Intelligent Systems Transportation 
Research (ITS). ITS work is exempted from requirements of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, by a Special Rule under Section 5305 of Public 
Law 109-59, that states the following: ``Any survey, questionnaire, or 
interview that the Secretary considers necessary to carry out the 
reporting of any test, deployment, project, or program assessment 
activity under this subtitle shall not be subject to Chapter 35 of 
Title 44, United States Code.''

Research Areas and Associated Collections

    The FHWA Office of Safety Research and Development intends to 
conduct analytical, laboratory and field research projects focused on 
highway safety that will require acquisition of data from small samples 
of the general public. This research is directed at human factors 
issues within the following broad program areas: (A) Infrastructure 
design including innovative intersection configurations and signage and 
roadway markings; (B) highway operations; (C) driver-vehicle and 
infrastructure-vehicle interfaces; (D) older and younger driver 
programs; and (E) pedestrian and bicyclist issues. Given that the focus 
of the research in the above areas is on human factors issues, it is 
necessary that data also be collected on a few key demographic 
variables such as age, gender, and driving experience. None of the data 
collected in any of the planned research will be linked to personal 
identifying information.

Situations That Require Collections of Information--Examples From Each 
Category

    Category A (Infrastructure Design). An example from Category A 
would be a study designed to test an innovative intersection design 
such as a Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI). This is a highly 
efficient intersection design, but if not properly implemented, it 
could potentially cause confusion. In a DDI, drivers cross over to the 
left side of the highway, with the result that opposing traffic is 
placed on their right side. When testing a DDI, FHWA will need to know 
whether drivers perceived any ambiguity in the signage, if they had any 
orientation problems seeing opposing traffic on their right, and if 
they have any suggestions for improving the overall ease with which 
such an intersection could be driven. Other innovative intersection 
designs would also benefit from similar information acquired from 
drivers. Roadway departure is another problem area that could benefit 
from individual driver data. For example, it would be helpful to know 
how drivers perceive their interaction with the roadway geometry and 
signage, and then apply that information to design decisions that can 
lead to reductions in roadway departures.
    Category B (Highway Operations). One of the many challenges 
confronting highway engineers is designing a signal system that 
maximizes throughput and minimizes delay. Excess delays could result in 
more drivers running red lights. This problem can be examined by 
observing drivers' behavior under differing signaling conditions. 
However, direct verbal reports of drivers are often needed to determine 
why drivers are making their decisions. For example FHWA may learn from 
questioning drivers that they would be less likely to speed up when 
approaching a signal if they knew the signal system would recognize 
this behavior and respond accordingly. One way this might happen is by 
advising the motorist earlier of the impending signal change. Driver 
interviews performed under this study area can provide information on 
many key issues including behavioral adaptation, decisionmaking, and 
reaction times to signal phases and changes. This kind of information 
could lead to improvements to signal controllers that increase mobility 
and improve safety. Speed management is another area of highway 
operations that could benefit from interview data. For example, lower 
speed limits in construction zones are difficult to enforce, and 
interview data with drivers can provide information on better methods 
of restraining driver speeds in these hazardous situations.
    Category C (Older and Younger Drivers). The opinions of these two 
high risk groups are needed for almost all FHWA safety related studies. 
For example, data on the ease of use expressed by older drivers with 
respect to an innovative design informs the engineer which aspects of 
the new design that present potential safety problems and may be in 
need of modification. In contrast, young drivers present a separate set 
of challenges for highway engineers. Their ability to negotiate a new 
design may be less of a concern, however; it is necessary to understand 
how these drivers regard the conflict points presented by new designs. 
This is of particular importance as some younger drivers may be willing 
to take extra risks in situations where ambiguity exists. Gathering 
verbal feedback from younger drivers will help engineers determine 
areas of potential ambiguity in design and modify these areas as 
necessary to ensure they are not introducing safety hazards.
    Category D (Pedestrians and Bicyclists). Research related to 
pedestrians and bicyclists arises from the need to determine the most 
effective ways to accommodate these infrastructure users. While overt 
pedestrian and bicyclist behavior can be directly observed fairly 
easily, it is sometimes necessary to collect user opinions and 
reactions. For example, when a new intersection design is being 
introduced (e.g., a triple lane roundabout), it is especially 
advantageous to acquire data that provides insights into the needs and 
challenges that pedestrians and bicyclists face as they negotiate such 
an intersection. The needs of disabled pedestrians are also considered 
when researching new intersection treatments, and in these efforts FHWA 
works closely with the U.S. Access Board to ensure that novel 
intersection treatments accommodate their needs. Another example of 
research in this area is determining bicyclists' reactions to such 
treatments as separately marked bicycle lanes, signage, and overall 
roadway configuration.

Description of How Field and Laboratory Study Participants Will Be 
Acquired

    Samples for research studies will be acquired by advertisement in 
local papers, by the distribution of flyers, or by postings to the 
Internet. Typically, interested parties contact FHWA and they are asked 
a few questions to determine whether they qualify for the study. These 
questions involve such issues as age, driver familiarity with the 
location or scenario being used, number of miles driven per year, and 
gender.

Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden 
Resulting From These Information Collections and Requests for Comments

    Respondents: Approximately 6,000 roadway users drawn from the 
general driving population.
    Frequency: This approval request is for 30 studies over a three-
year period.
    Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: FHWA estimates data 
acquisition from persons participating in a laboratory or field 
research study will average about 1 hour. For those field studies only 
using direct observation of driver behaviors and interviews of randomly 
selected drivers, the maximum burden (for the interview) will be 15 
minutes per participant.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: Assuming 15 studies will be 
laboratory based, 10 will be field based, and 5 will

[[Page 8841]]

use direct observation with 15-minute interviews (.25 hour), the burden 
is calculated as follows:

Laboratory studies: 15 studies x 200 participants x 1 hour = 3,000 
hours
Field studies: 10 studies x 200 participants x 1 hour = 2,000 hours
Field studies (interview only): 5 studies x 200 participants x .25 hour 
= 250 hours
3-year total = 5,250 hours
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,250/3 = 1,750 hours

    Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of 
these information collections, including: (1) Whether the proposed 
collections are necessary for FHWA's performance; (2) the accuracy of 
the estimated burden; (3) ways for FHWA to enhance the quality, 
usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) ways that 
the burden could be minimized, including the use of electronic 
technology, without reducing the quality of the collected information. 
FHWA will respond to your comments and summarize or include them when 
requesting clearance from OMB for these information data collections.

    Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48.

    Issued on February 20, 2009.
Judith Kane,
Acting Chief, Management Programs & Analysis Division.
[FR Doc. E9-4098 Filed 2-25-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P