[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 221 (Friday, November 15, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68902-68903]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27400]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[U.S. DOT Docket No. NHTSA-2013-0112]


Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping Requirements

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

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 reinstatements of previously approved collections.
    This document describes the collection of information for which 
NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 14, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number 
NHTSA-2013-0112 using any of the following methods:
    Electronic submissions: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the on-line 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: Dr. Kathy Sifrit, Contracting 
Officer's Technical Representative, Office of Behavioral Safety 
Research (NTI-132), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., W46-472, Washington, DC 20590. Dr. Sifrit's 
phone number is (202) 366-0868 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:

Physical Fitness and Driving Performance

    Type of Request--New information collection requirement.
    OMB Clearance Number--None.
    Form Number--NHTSA Form 1227.
    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 licensed drivers about their driving habits, and levels of 
physical activity in order to determine whether they are eligible to 
participate in a study of the effects of physical activity on driving 
performance. Study participation will be voluntary and solicited among 
residents of one or more planned communities in the vicinity of Chapel 
Hill, North Carolina. Solicitations will be in the form of flyers 
posted at a community center, and/or announcements in newsletters and 
on community listserves, and/or sign-ups at a weekly farmer's market 
and other local events. Interested residents will contact a designated 
staff member through a toll-free number to enroll. During a brief 
telephone pre-screening, a project assistant will explain inclusion and 
exclusion criteria for study participation. Candidate participants who 
meet inclusion criteria will respond to a telephone questionnaire to 
allow researchers to gauge activity and fitness level.
    A project assistant will make appointments to visit each enrollee 
to obtain his/her signature on the informed consent agreement, answer 
questions about study participation and provide the subject with a 
physical activity monitoring device. The remaining data necessary for 
this study will be collected by the physical activity monitoring 
device, a driving performance assessment conducted by a driving 
rehabilitation specialist, and an in-vehicle data collection system. 
The in-vehicle system will include a device to collect the vehicle's 
Global Positioning System coordinates and a companion device to capture 
an image of the driver to confirm that the driver for each trip is the 
study participant.
    Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the 
Information--NHTSA was established to reduce the number of deaths, 
injuries, and 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.
    Previous research indicates that gains in physical fitness improve 
a number of functional abilities important for safe driving. NHTSA 
needs to learn more about these relationships between fitness/activity 
and driving performance to support the development of recommendations 
and educational/outreach materials aimed at older driver safety. The 
proposed screening questions and questions about fitness and activity 
level will allow research

[[Page 68903]]

staff to ensure that prospective participants meet study inclusion 
criteria and facilitate their study participation.
    The purpose of the study is to assess the effect(s) of physical 
activity and physical fitness training on the driving performance of 
adults 70 and older. Analyses of these data will provide information 
about whether people age 70 and older who participate in regular 
physical activity perform better in a driving evaluation and/or drive 
more than do healthy, sedentary drivers of a similar age; whether 
particular physical training activities relate to improved functioning 
in specific driving tasks; and the extent to which driving performance 
and/or exposure of sedentary older adults will improve, following 
participation in physical activity. NHTSA will use the information to 
inform recommendations to the public regarding how improved physical 
fitness can result in better driving performance for the purpose of 
reducing injuries and loss of life on the highway.
    Description of the Likely Respondents (Including Estimated Number, 
and Proposed Frequency of Response to the Collection of Information)--
Respondents will include community dwelling, independently living 
licensed drivers, age 70 and older, from Chapel Hill, North Carolina 
and surrounding areas. It is estimated that 270 telephone conversations 
will be conducted with respondents to descriptive solicitations to 
yield 180 study participants. This assumes that up to one-third of 
interested older drivers will not meet inclusion/exclusion criteria for 
study participation.
    Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden 
Resulting from the Collection of Information--The 270 telephone 
conversations will average 15 minutes in length including introduction, 
qualifying questions, potential participant questions, logistical 
questions, and conclusion. The total estimated annual burden will be 
67.5 hours. Participants will incur no costs from the data collection 
and participants will incur no record keeping burden and no record 
keeping cost from the information collection.

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

    Issued on November 12, 2013.
Jeff Michael,
Associate Administrator, Research and Program Development.
[FR Doc. 2013-27400 Filed 11-14-13; 8:45 am]
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