[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 29, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68910-68911]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-30568]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
[U.S. DOT Docket No. FHWA-2009-0054]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments
for a New Information Collection, Titled: Reports, Forms and
Recordkeeping Requirements
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to
request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for a new
information collection, which is summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION. We published a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day
public comment period on this information collection on February 26,
2009. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
DATES: Please submit comments by January 28, 2010.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket ID Number FHWA-
2009-0054 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: Ray Krammes, Ph.D, PE, Acting
Director, 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: Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements.
The FHWA invites public comments on our intention to request the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a total of 30 field
and laboratory research studies that will include collections of
information from the general public. These studies will be conducted
over a period not to exceed 3 years with an annual burden of
approximately 2000 hours and a grand total burden of approximately 6000
hours. These collections are integral to the performance of various
analytical, field, and laboratory human factors research projects that
FHWA intends 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 usually involves observations of driver behavior
in controlled experimental settings. In the field and laboratory, these
studies are non-intrusive, as most data are driver performance data and
are automatically acquired.
Research Areas and Associated Collections
The FHWA Office of Safety Research and Development intends to
conduct analytical, field, and laboratory research projects focused on
highway safety that will require acquisition of human performance data
from small samples of the driving 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) older and
younger driver issues; and (D) pedestrian and bicyclist concerns. Given
that the focus of the research in the above areas is on human factors
issues, it will require that data be collected on a few key demographic
variables such as age, gender, and driving experience, however such
data will not be linked to personal identifying information. Before any
study is conducted under this approval request, a thorough review will
be undertaken to ensure such data is not currently available, and that
the proposed study does not duplicate other work.
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 Double Crossover Diamond Interchange (DCD). This is a highly
efficient intersection design, but if not properly implemented, it
could potentially cause confusion. In a DCD, drivers cross over to the
left side of the highway, with the result that opposing traffic is
placed on their right side. When testing DCD implementations, FHWA
needs to know whether drivers perceive any ambiguity in the signage,
and if they have any orientation problems seeing opposing traffic on
their right side. 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 observe drivers'
interactions with roadway geometry and signage so that such information
can be applied 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 delay can have the
unintended consequence of encouraging drivers to run 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
[[Page 68911]]
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, decision making, 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 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 driving behaviors of
these two high risk groups are of interest for almost all FHWA safety
related studies. For example, older driver's performance as they
negotiate new designs informs the engineer of those aspects of the
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 perform as they drive through these new designs. This
is important as some younger drivers may be willing to take extra risks
in situations where ambiguity exists. Such information 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 needs to be directly observed to
enable engineers to determine potential safety hazards to these user
groups. For example, when a new intersection design is being introduced
(e.g., a triple lane roundabout) it is especially advantageous to
acquire data that shows how pedestrians and bicyclists negotiate such a
new design. 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
Participants 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
Experimental Participants: Approximately 6,000 roadway users drawn
from the general driving population.
Frequency: This approval request is for 30 studies over a 3 year
period.
Estimated Average Burden per respondent: FHWA estimates data
acquisition from persons participating in research will require on
average about 1 hour per person.
Estimated Total and Annual Burden Hours: Assuming 20 studies will
be Laboratory based (Simulator), and 10 will be Field based (Field
Research Vehicle), the burden is calculated as follows:
Laboratory Experiments: 20 Simulator * 210 participants * 1 hour
= 4200
Field Experiments: 10 studies * 180 participants * 1 hour = 1800
hours
Estimated Total Burden Hours: = 6000 hours
Estimated Annual Burden Hours (over 3 years) = 2000 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 December 18, 2009.
Tina Campbell,
Acting Chief, Management Programs and Analysis Division.
[FR Doc. E9-30568 Filed 12-28-09; 8:45 am]
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