[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 14, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20064-20065]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-08477]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2012-0084]


Data Modernization Sampling Information

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

ACTION: Announcement of webinar.

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SUMMARY: NHTSA has redesigned the National Automotive Sampling System 
(NASS). Through this notice, NHTSA is announcing a public webinar to 
provide information about the two new surveys that will replace NASS: 
Crash Report Sampling System (CRSS) and Crash Investigation Sampling 
System (CISS). NHTSA will describe the samples designs and answer 
questions related to the samples. The webinar will be available via the 
web and requires internet access.

DATES: NHTSA will hold the webinar on April 29, 2015, from 1:30 p.m. to 
3:00 p.m., EDT. The presentation will be available through internet 
access only via the web. NHTSA will post specific information on how to 
participate via the Internet on the NHTSA Web site at www.nhtsa.gov one 
week before the event.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information concerning the webinar 
or access via the Internet, please contact Raj Subramanian, National 
Center for Statistics and Analysis, NHTSA (telephone: 202-366-3365 or 
email: [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The webinar will allow interested persons to 
learn more about NHTSA's newly designed nationally representative 
samples that will replace NASS.

Background

    NHTSA is undertaking a modernization effort to upgrade the National 
Automotive Sampling System (NASS) by improving the information 
technology infrastructure, updating and prioritizing the data 
collected, reselecting the sample sites and sample sizes, re-examining 
the electronic formats in which the crash data files are made available 
to the public, and improving data collection methods and quality 
control procedures, among other activities. This project is called the 
Data Modernization (DataMod) Project.
    NASS collects crash data on a nationally representative sample of 
police-reported motor vehicle traffic crashes and related injuries. 
NASS data are used by Federal, State, and local government agencies, as 
well as by industry and academia in the U.S. and around the world. The 
data enable stakeholders to make informed regulatory, program, and 
policy decisions regarding vehicle design and traffic safety. The NASS 
system currently has two components: The General Estimates System (GES) 
and the Crashworthiness Data System (CDS). While the GES captures 
information on all types of traffic crashes, the CDS focuses on more 
severe crashes involving passenger vehicles to better document the 
consequences to vehicles and occupants in crashes--i.e., 
crashworthiness.
    NASS was originally designed in the 1970's, and has not received 
significant revision since that time with regard to the type of data 
collected and the sites for data collection. Over the last three 
decades NHTSA understands that the scope of traffic safety studies has 
expanded and the data needs of the transportation community have 
increased and significantly changed. In addition, the distribution of 
the U.S. population has shifted over the past four decades, and there 
is a growing need for the collection of information that addresses 
issues of crash avoidance. Recognizing the importance of this data, 
NHTSA is pursuing the DataMod Project to enhance the quality of the 
data collected and the overall effectiveness of the NASS.
    As part of the Data Modernization project, NHTSA has redesigned the 
NASS. It will be replaced with two new surveys:
     CRSS will be a records-based data collection system 
similar to the current GES and will continue to provide the annual, 
nationally representative estimates of police-reported motor vehicle 
crashes overall. In addition, CRSS will provide estimates by type of 
vehicle, and for a broad range of vehicle and crash characteristics 
that are needed to fully describe current highway safety and to track 
motor vehicle crash trends.
     CISS is an investigation-based system similar to the 
current CDS and will collect accurate, detailed information about a 
nationally representative selection of passenger vehicle crashes that 
involve a passenger vehicle towed from the crash scene. Researchers 
will investigate crashes a few days after the crash gathering 
information from a variety of sources: crash site inspection, vehicle 
inspections, interviews, medical records and others. CISS will have 
enhanced pre-crash data and data on the presence and use of crash 
avoidance technologies.
    Information on the current NASS sample, coding instructions, and 
descriptive materials can be reviewed on NHTSA's Web site at: http://nhtsa.gov/NASS. Information on the Data modernization project and the 
report to Congress on NHTSA's Review of the National Automotive Sample 
System can be reviewed at: http://www.nhtsa.gov/NCSA.

Public Webinar

    NHTSA is hosting a public webinar to inform vehicle manufacturers 
and suppliers, the medical community, researchers, safety advocates and 
the general public about the new sample designs for CRSS and CISS. 
NHTSA will present a technical overview of the new sample designs 
covering the following topics:

Draft Topics

    1. Welcome and Opening Remarks
    2. Webinar Outline
    3. Data Modernization
    a. MAP-21
    b. Data Needs
    4. Sample Redesign: Why and How?

[[Page 20065]]

    a. Current Systems: GES and CDS three-stage designs
    b. Independence between CRSS and CISS samples
    5. The CISS Sample Design
    a. Scope
    b. Frame, Stratification, Formation and Selection of each of the 
three stages (PSU, PJ and PAR)
    c. Sample Allocation
    6. The CRSS Sample Design
    a. Scope
    b. Frame, Stratification, Formation and Selection of each of the 
three stages (PSU, PJ and PAR)
    c. Sample Allocation
    7. Improvements in CISS/CRSS
    a. Scalability and Flexibility
    b. Precision of Estimates
    c. MOS aligned with Data Needs
    8. Ongoing and Upcoming Activities in Survey Modernization
    a. Estimation Protocols
    b. Calibration
    c. Analytic Guidelines
    9. Questions

    The webinar will be open to the public. NHTSA will present the new 
sample designs starting at 1:30 p.m. The presentation will be about one 
hour. After the presentation NHTSA has scheduled 30 minutes to answer 
questions from the participants on the sample designs.
    Participants may access the Webinar via the Internet and telephone. 
The telephone access number and other information on how to participate 
via the Internet will be posted on the NHTSA Web site at www.nhsta.gov 
one week before the event. For questions, contact Raj Subramanian at 
[email protected] or 202-366-3385.
    Under authority delegated by 49 CFR 1.95.

Terry Shelton,
Associate Administrator, National Center for Statistics and Analysis.
[FR Doc. 2015-08477 Filed 4-13-15; 8:45 am]
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