[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 172 (Thursday, September 5, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54729-54730]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-21556]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[U.S. DOT Docket No. NHTSA-2013-0086]


Reports, Forms, and Record Keeping Requirements

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.

ACTION: Request for public comment on proposed revision of the 
previously approved 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 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), before seeking OMB approval, 
Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of 
information, including extensions and reinstatements of previously 
approved collections.
    This document describes an Information Collection Request (ICR) for 
which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 4, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number 
NHTSA-2013-0086 using any of the following methods:
    Electronic submissions: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the online instructions for submitting comments.
    Mail: Docket Management Facility, M-30, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590.
    Hand Delivery: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
    Instructions: Each submission must include the Agency name and the 
Docket number for this Notice. Note that all comments received will be 
posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov including any 
personal information provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristie Johnson, Ph.D., Contracting 
Officer's Technical Representative, Office of Behavioral Safety 
Research (NTI-131), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., W46-498, Washington, DC 20590. Dr. 
Johnson's phone number is 202-366-2755 and her 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 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 public comment on 
the following proposed collection of information:
    Title--NHTSA Distracted Driving Survey Project.
    Type of Request--Revision of previously approved collection of 
information.
    OMB Clearance Number--2127-0665.
    Form Number--NHTSA Form 1082.
    Requested Expiration Date of Approval--3 years from date of 
approval.
    Summary of the Collection of Information--The National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposes to collect information 
from a random sample of 6,000 members of the general public age 16 and 
older. The sample will be stratified by NHTSA region, age, and gender. 
The National Survey on Distracted Driving Attitudes and Behaviors 
(NSDDAB) will ask about (a) attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions 
related to driving distractions and electronic device use while 
driving, and (b) the effectiveness of high visibility enforcement 
demonstration programs to increase public awareness of the dangers of, 
and legislation related to, distracted and unsafe driving behaviors. 
The estimated average amount of time to complete the survey is 20 
minutes. This approval would be for the third and fourth 
administrations of the NSDDAB. Participation by respondents would be 
voluntary and anonymous. The survey will be conducted over the phone, 
with respondents including those in landline telephone households as 
well as those who primarily or exclusive use a cell phone. All results 
will be reported in the aggregate.
    The telephone interviewers would use computer-assisted telephone 
interviewing. A Spanish-language translation and bilingual interviewers 
would be used to minimize language barriers to participation. In 2010 
and 2012, NHTSA conducted the NSDDAB. The findings from the proposed 
information collection would build on and add to the existing knowledge 
on distracted driving and would help track behavior and attitude 
changes that can be used to tailor distraction program efforts.
    Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the 
Information--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

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economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes on the Nation's 
highways. As part of this statutory mandate, NHTSA is authorized to 
conduct research as a foundation for the development of motor vehicle 
standards and traffic safety programs.
    Driver distraction contributes to crash-related fatalities and 
injuries, particularly among younger drivers, with 13% of drivers in 
fatal distraction-affected crashes under age 20. Overall, 9% of fatal 
crashes in the United States in 2010 involved driver distraction, and 
13% of the drivers in these fatal crashes were reported to have been 
using a cell phone at the time of the crash (National Center for 
Statistics and Analysis, 2012). In support of its mission, NHTSA 
proposes to conduct a series of telephone surveys that will examine the 
extent to which drivers are distracted by various activities; 
demographic and typological descriptions of drivers prone to 
distractions; the extent and frequency of using cell phones and texting 
while driving; attitudes and perceptions about distracted driving; 
knowledge of and attitudes toward measures to deter distracted driving; 
perceptions about the danger of distracted driving; exposure to the 
consequences of distracted driving; willingness to intervene when 
someone is distracted while driving; and changes and trends in 
distracted driving behavior and attitudes. The increase in cell phone 
ownership and usage combined with the widespread availability of many 
other devices that can easily divert drivers' attention from the task 
of driving an automobile have made information on drivers' behaviors 
and attitudes toward distracted driving important to the safety of 
America's roadways. An essential part of this effort is to compare 
behavior and attitude trends to determine the effects of efforts to 
reduce distracted driving and to identify areas where efforts should be 
targeted and where new strategies may be needed. Up-to-date information 
is essential to plot the direction of future activities aimed at 
reducing driver distraction and achieving reductions in crash injuries 
and fatalities in the coming years.
    As part of its collection of information used to develop and 
implement effective countermeasures to improve highway traffic safety, 
NHTSA conducted its first NSDDAB in 2010. As in previous years, NHTSA 
proposes to make a small number of revisions to the survey instrument 
to address new information needs. This will include adding a small 
number of drowsy driving questions. If approved, the proposed survey 
would assist NHTSA in identifying distracted driving behaviors and 
attitudes and in formulating programs and recommendations. The results 
of the proposed survey would be used to: (a) identify commonalities 
among distracted drivers so that current programs can be targeted to 
achieve the greatest benefit; (b) develop new programs and initiatives 
aimed at reducing distracted driving; and (c) provide informational 
support to States in their traffic safety efforts to reduce distracted 
driving.
    Description of the Likely Respondents (Including Estimated Number, 
and Proposed Frequency of Response to the Collection of Information)--
This proposed effort would involve cognitive testing of the 
questionnaires (if significant changes are made to the questionnaire), 
and telephone survey administration. The cognitive testing would 
consist of one-on-one cognitive interviews with each of nine persons 
selected from the general public for the questionnaire, for a total of 
9 cognitive interviews. All would be drivers 18 and older. For the 
national telephone survey, the 20 minute survey will be administered 
biennially to 6,000 randomly selected members of the general public age 
16 and older who drive, including those in landline telephone 
households as well as those who primarily or exclusive use a cellular 
phone. For interviews conducted with persons using landline phones, no 
more than one respondent per household would be selected. For 
interviews conducted with persons on cell phones, a single user of the 
cell phone would be selected. Each sample member would complete just 
one interview. Businesses are ineligible for the sample and would not 
be interviewed. The respondent sample would be selected from all 50 
States plus the District of Columbia.
    Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Record Keeping Burden 
Resulting from the Collection of Information--NHTSA estimates that the 
respondents participating in the cognitive interviewing would average 
1\1/2\ hours to carry out that activity, for a total of 13.5 hours for 
the 9 cognitive interviews. The 6,000 survey interviews, with an 
average duration of 20 minutes, would produce a burden of 2,000 hours. 
The maximum annual reporting burden for the NSDDAB would be 13.5 hours 
for the cognitive testing and 2,000 hours for the telephone survey for 
a grand total of 2,027 hours. Interviewing for each round of the 
questionnaire would occur during a single calendar year with the survey 
conducted biennially. Thus, the annual reporting burden would be 2,027 
hours x 2 collection periods for a total of 4,054 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.

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

    Issued on: August 30, 2013.
Jeff Michael,
Associate Administrator, Research and Program Development.
[FR Doc. 2013-21556 Filed 9-4-13; 8:45 am]
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