[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 8 (Friday, January 11, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2480-2481]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-00462]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[U.S. DOT Docket No. NHTSA-2013-0002]


Reports, Forms, and Record Keeping Requirements

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), U.S. 
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 March 12, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by the docket number in 
the heading of this document, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on 
the electronic docket site by clicking on ``Help'' or ``FAQ.''
     Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building 
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time, 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
    Regardless of how you submit comments, you should mention the 
docket number of this document.
    You may call the Docket Management Facility at 202-366-9826.
    Instructions: For detailed instructions on submitting comments and 
additional information on the rulemaking process, see the Public 
Participation heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this 
document. Note that all comments received will be posted without change 
to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided.
    Privacy Act: 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 (65 FR 19477-78) or you may visit http://www.dot.gov/privacy.html.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov, or the street 
address listed above. Follow the online instructions for accessing the 
dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Joyce, Marketing Specialist, 
Office of Communications and Consumer Information (NPO-520), National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., W52-
238, Washington, DC, 20590. Mike Joyce's phone number is 202-366-5600 
and his email address 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 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;

[[Page 2481]]

    (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 collection of information for which 
the agency is seeking approval from OMB:
    Title: Advanced Crash Avoidance Technologies Consumer Research.
    Requested Expiration Date of Approval: Three years from approval 
date.
    Abstract: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 
(NHTSA) was established by the Highway Safety Act of 1970 (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 the Nation's highways. In support of this mission, NHTSA 
proposes to conduct a limited number of focus group sessions and in-
depth interviews with members of the general public to help inform 
future revisions to the Monroney label and guide the development of a 
consumer education program. In addition, this consumer research will 
help to ensure that various advanced crash avoidance technologies the 
agency promotes are important and usable to consumers, and the 
information provided leads to consumer understanding of the benefits of 
these technologies.
    Summary of the Collection of Information: In this collection of 
information, NHTSA is seeking approval to conduct qualitative consumer 
research and in-depth interviews to test consumer familiarity and 
understanding of advanced crash avoidance technology systems so that 
labeling and consumer materials will help consumers make informed 
vehicle purchase decisions. Specifically, this research will be guided 
by the following objectives:
    (i) Explore consumer familiarity with and understanding of advanced 
crash avoidance technologies;
    (ii) Explore potential nomenclature, icons and rating systems that 
can be used to communicate information about advanced crash avoidance 
technologies;
    (iii) Guide considerations for design modifications of current New 
Car Assessment Program Government 5-Star Safety Ratings label to 
include information about advanced crash avoidance technologies;
    (iv) Guide the development of a consumer information program to 
improve awareness and understanding of advanced crash avoidance 
technologies.
    Description of the Need for the Information and the Proposed Use of 
the Information: NHTSA will obtain critical information that will 
fulfill a congressional mandate to improve highway traffic safety. 
Specifically, the data from this collection will be used to enhance 
consumer understanding of advanced crash avoidance technologies and 
guide the development of communication materials that will help 
consumers as they factor these technologies into their vehicle purchase 
decisions. This research, along with previously conducted qualitative 
research, will also help to inform a quantitative survey that will 
explore potential redesigns for the New Car Assessment Program's 
Government 5-Star Safety Ratings section of the Monroney Label.
    Affected Public: For the focus group phase of this collection, 
NHTSA plans to conduct a total of 9 focus groups, each lasting 
approximately two hours. In each group, 8 participants will be seated. 
Therefore, a total of 72 people will participate in the group sessions. 
For recruiting of these participants, however, a total of 108 potential 
participants (12 per group) will be recruited via telephone screening 
calls, which are estimated to take 10 minutes per call. Based on 
experience, it is prudent to recruit up to 12 people per group in order 
to ensure at least 8 will appear at the focus group facility at the 
appointed time.
    Thus, the total burden per person actually participating in this 
focus group phase of research is estimated to be 130 minutes (10 
minutes for the screening/recruiting telephone call plus 120 minutes in 
the focus group discussion session). Additionally, the total burden per 
person recruited (but not participating in the discussions) is 10 
minutes. Therefore, the total annual estimated burden imposed by this 
portion of the collection is approximately 162 hours. NHTSA also plans 
to conduct eight 30-minute dealer interviews. Accounting for recruiting 
and interviewing time, the total annual estimated burden imposed by 
this portion of the collection is approximately 8 hours.
    In total, the annual estimated burden imposed by this collection of 
information is approximately 170 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 170 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 80.
    The results of this research will be used to inform a quantitative 
survey that will explore potential redesigns for the New Car Assessment 
Program's Government 5-Star Safety Ratings section of the Monroney 
Label that NHTSA will conduct, which this notice does not address.
    Comments are invited on: Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Department, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; the accuracy of the Department's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize 
the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including 
the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.

    Issued on: January 7, 2013.
Gregory A. Walter,
Senior Associate Administrator, Policy and Operations.
[FR Doc. 2013-00462 Filed 1-10-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P