[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 83 (Wednesday, April 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24494-24495]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-09840]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[U.S. DOT Docket No. NHTSA-2014-0044]


Reports, Forms, and Record Keeping 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 June 30, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number 
NHTSA-2014-0044 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.

[[Page 24495]]

    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:

Older Drivers and Navigation Systems

    Type of Request--New information collection requirement.
    OMB Clearance Number--None.
    Form Number--NHTSA 1260.
    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 age, driver license status, driving 
habits, vehicle type and age, and experience using Electronic 
Navigation Systems (ENSs). Participation in the study will be 
voluntary. Drivers will volunteer for the study by responding to an 
emailed or individually-delivered descriptive solicitation or as a 
result of reading a call for volunteers in a publication or on a 
poster. The drivers will be asked a brief series of questions to 
determine eligibility to participate in a study of older adults' 
driving performance while they drive to familiar destinations, 
unfamiliar destinations using paper directions, and unfamiliar 
destinations using an ENS. A project assistant will then describe the 
proposed study to those respondents who qualify for the study and 
answer all questions that the drivers may have. Each driver who meets 
the criteria for subject selection will then be asked if he or she 
wishes to participate. If yes, a project assistant will then determine 
the availability of the respondent to participate in the data 
collection activities and, if available, schedule the volunteer for the 
first data collection session.
    The first data collection session will assess the participant for 
cognitive impairment. If no significant cognitive impairment is 
detected using standard testing instruments, the volunteer will be 
accepted as a participant, and an on-the-road data collection session 
will be scheduled. During the on-the-road session, the participant will 
drive his/her own car on predetermined routes with an ENS and with 
paper directions. A Driver Rehabilitation Specialist (DRS) will score 
driving quality and adherence to the prescribed route, and a portable 
instrument package will record driving parameters such as speed and 
acceleration.
    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.
    Some older drivers have difficulty navigating to unfamiliar places. 
As a result, they either restrict their driving thereby decreasing 
their quality of life or attempt to drive and potentially encounter 
difficulties including becoming lost or using cognitive resources for 
wayfinding rather than for maneuvering safely through traffic. A number 
of electronic devices have been advanced as means to prolong older 
adults' driving careers. These include ENSs, which could aid older 
drivers through freeing cognitive resources otherwise needed for 
wayfinding. It is possible, however, that these systems may increase 
driver workload because they select a route that is different than the 
driver expects or by causing a distraction. The purpose of the study is 
to document differences in older adults' driving performance while they 
drive to familiar destinations, unfamiliar destinations using paper 
directions, and unfamiliar destinations using an ENS. The project will 
also explore the effects of familiarity using an ENS on driving 
performance. It will then assess the benefits of providing training in 
using an ENS to older adults. The proposed questions will allow 
research staff to ensure that prospective participants meet study 
inclusion criteria and facilitate their study participation.
    Description of the Likely Respondents (Including Estimated Number, 
and Proposed Frequency of Response to the Collection of Information)--
Respondents will include up to 320 drivers 60 years old or older 
licensed in the State of North Carolina. Since not all volunteers will 
qualify, the agency proposes to conduct 320 conversations (telephone or 
face-to-face depending on how the volunteer was recruited) with 
potential participants to yield 160 participants.
    Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Record Keeping Burden 
Resulting from the Collection of Information--The 320 conversations 
will average 10 minutes in length including introduction, qualifying 
questions, potential participant questions, logistical questions, 
scheduling if the volunteer qualifies, and conclusion. The total 
estimated annual burden will be 53.33 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 in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2014.
Jeff Michael,
Associate Administrator, Research and Program Development.
[FR Doc. 2014-09840 Filed 4-29-14; 8:45 am]
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