[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 9, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32838-32839]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-13857]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[U.S. DOT Docket Number NHTSA-2010-0065]


Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping 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 August 9, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation Dockets, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., W46-474, Washington, 
DC 20590. Docket No. NHTSA-2010-0065.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angela Eichelberger, Ph.D., Office of 
Behavioral Safety Research (NTI-132), 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590. Dr. Eichelberger's telephone number is (202) 366-
5586 and her e-mail is [email protected].

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 for public 
comments on the following proposed collections of information:
    Title: National Child Restraint Use Special Study (NCRUSS).
    Type of Request: Reinstatement with change of a previously approved 
collection.
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0577.
    Form Number: This collection of information uses no standard forms.
    Requested Expiration Date of Approval: 3 years from the date of OMB 
approval (estimated March 30, 2014).
    Summary of the Collection of Information: The National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposes to collect observational 
data on correct and incorrect use of child restraint systems in 
passenger vehicles, as well as interview information from drivers about 
their knowledge and perceptions of child restraint systems. The primary 
population for observation will be restrained and unrestrained child 
passengers riding in any seating position in passenger vehicles. 
Participation in the study will be voluntary. Interviews with drivers 
who agree to participate will be used to obtain the following data: 
demographic information on occupants, the driver's knowledge about the 
specific CRS in the vehicle, and the driver's general knowledge and 
experience with different types of restraint systems. While the 
interview is being conducted, a trained observer will collect 
information about the CRS in the vehicle, including the type of 
restraint that is used, the type of installation (seat belt or LATCH), 
how the CRS is installed, harness use, and seat belt fit. The observer 
will not remove the child or CRS from the vehicle. At the conclusion of 
the survey, respondents will receive information on child passenger 
safety and specific information regarding the locations of inspection 
stations and seat check events that are available in the area.
    Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the 
Information: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 
was established by the Highway Safety Act of 1966 (23 U.S.C. 101) to 
carry out a Congressional mandate to reduce the mounting number of 
deaths, injuries and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle 
crashes on our Nation's highways. In support of this mission, NHTSA 
proposes to conduct information collections to assess the levels of 
child restraint system use and misuse for children riding in passenger 
vehicles, and to examine whether the levels of use and/or misuse are 
related to any specific characteristics of the drivers, their 
passengers and/or their vehicles. Previous studies have shown that 
there is a gap between recommended child restraint use and observed 
use. Actions have been taken by NHTSA to close the gap. In March 1999, 
NHTSA published a final rule establishing a uniform child restraint 
attachment system known as LATCH, Lower Anchors and Tethers for 
Children (Federal Motor Vehicles Safety Standard 213, Child Restraint 
Systems and FMVSS 225, Child Restraint Anchorage Systems), in order to 
provide another, easier method of attaching a child restraint to the 
vehicle. This new collection of data is necessary in order to evaluate 
the effectiveness of FMVSS 225 and FMVSS 213, as well as to obtain an 
up to date snapshot of child restraint use and misuse across the United 
States. This information will be used in assessing what additional 
actions NHTSA should take to improve child passenger safety. In 
addition, NTHSA will publish the findings of this research study to 
provide information to States, localities, and other interested 
organizations in support of their efforts to reduce and prevent 
injuries among child occupants.
    Description of the Likely Respondents (Including Estimated Number, 
and Proposed Frequency of Response to the Collection of Information): 
NHTSA anticipates conducting approximately 5,000 observations of 
children in passenger vehicles and interviews with

[[Page 32839]]

the drivers of these vehicles. Data collection is expected to take 
place over a 3-5 month period in the spring and summer of 2011. To 
minimize the survey start-up cost and to provide a trained cadre of 
data collectors, field data collection will be conducted through the 
infrastructure of the National Automotive Sampling System (NASS) 
Crashworthiness Data System (CDS). The NASS CDS consists of 24 Primary 
Sampling Units (PSUs) that are a probability sample selected from a 
sample frame of 1,195 PSUs across the United States. The NASS PSUs are 
used to obtain a nationally representative probability sample of police 
reported crashes in the U.S. Within each PSU, drivers will be 
approached at specific types of locations where children are likely to 
be riding in a passenger vehicle. Data collection sites may include gas 
stations, fast food restaurants, shopping centers, hospitals/clinics, 
and/or day care centers.
    Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Record Keeping Burden 
Resulting from the Collection of Information: Each of the 5,000 
interview/observation sessions will last 15 minutes including the 
initial screening. Therefore, the estimated annual burden is 1,250 
hours. 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. 
Additionally, respondents would receive information on child passenger 
safety and a list of inspection stations where they may choose to have 
their child restraint system inspected. Consequently, the respondent is 
potentially receiving benefit in return for his/her participation.

    Authority: 44 U.S.C. Section 3506(c)(2)(A).

Jeff Michael,
Associate Administrator, Research and Program Development.
[FR Doc. 2010-13857 Filed 6-8-10; 8:45 am]
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