[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 209 (Thursday, October 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66610-66612]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27480]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2015-0061]


Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping Requirements: Agency 
Information Collection Activity

ACTION: Request for public comment on a 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 one collection of information for which NHTSA 
intends to seek OMB approval.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by December 28, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket No. NHTSA-2015-
0061 through one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket Management Facility, US 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building 
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590 between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. 
Telephone: 202-366-9826.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
    Instructions: All submission must include the agency name and 
docket number for this proposed collection of information. Note that 
all comments received will be posted without change to http://www.regulation.gov, including any personal information provided. Please 
see the Privacy heading below.
    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 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: For access to background documents, 
contact Ritchie Huang, Office of Crash Avoidance and Electronic 
Controls, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 
DC 20590; email: [email protected]; telephone: 202-366-5586.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
before an agency submits a proposed

[[Page 66611]]

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;
    (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:
    OMB Control Number: Not assigned.
    Title: Heavy Vehicle Collision Warning Interfaces
    Form Numbers: None.
    Type of Review: New Information Collection
    Background: Crash warning systems (CWSs) for commercial motor 
vehicles have been available for more than 20 years. CWSs can include 
features such as forward collision and lane departure warnings and use 
a variety of sensor technologies (e.g., radar) to determine the crash 
risk of a collision. CWSs are designed to warn the driver to take 
action to avoid or mitigate a potential crash.
    CWSs are available as both options from OEMs and as aftermarket/
retrofit devices. While there are certain similarities between 
offerings within a particular CWS product class (e.g., forward 
collision warning (FCW)), there are also differences in how suppliers 
present collision warnings, including the design of visual displays and 
auditory alerts. Typically, suppliers will use a combination of visual 
and audio modalities to convey a potential crash situation to the 
driver. However, their implementations vary across factors such as the 
visual interface, auditory alert, and the salience of alerts. While CWS 
implementations change and evolve, it is likely that certain warning 
interfaces are more effective than others during crash-imminent 
situations. This research seeks to examine the impact of CWSs as they 
pertain to commercial motor vehicle safety. The primary goal of this 
effort is to evaluate CWSs and assess the effectiveness of these 
driver-vehicle interfaces for heavy trucks and motorcoaches.
    Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the 
Information: The collection of information consists of: (1) An 
eligibility questionnaire, (2) a demographic questionnaire, (3) mid 
study questionnaires, and (4) post study questionnaire.
    The information to be collected will be used to:
     Eligibility questionnaire(s) will be used to obtain self-
reported eligibility information participants must meet to qualify for 
participation in this study (e.g., must hold valid Class A driver's 
license to drive a tractor-trailer).
     Demographic questionnaire will be used to obtain 
demographic information to confirm that the study group includes 
participants from various groups (e.g., age, gender). Other demographic 
information will be collected to describe the study sample (e.g., heavy 
vehicle operation type and classification).
     Mid-study questionnaires will be used to get information 
about drivers' beliefs and attitude towards different driver 
distractions and their willingness to perform these types of 
distractions in their own vehicle. These questionnaires also serve the 
purpose of setting up the true surprise event which is targeted to 
elicit a natural response from the driver during a crash warning. Each 
driver will complete three mid study questionnaires, one after 
experiencing each task.
     Post study questionnaire(s) will be used to get 
information about drivers' beliefs and attitude towards the visual and 
auditory alerts used in the technology tested, and to identify 
potential problems associated with each system. These questionnaires 
will also be used to assess perceived distraction potential of the 
systems as well as its usefulness. Each driver will complete a post 
study questionnaire once, after experiencing the surprise event.
    Respondents: Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee 
drivers with a valid Class A commercial driver license.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 50 to 60.
    Estimated Number of Responses: Eligibility screening will consist 
of one response containing 26 questions per respondent. Full 
participation in the study will include a demographics questionnaire 
containing seven questions per participant, three mid-study 
questionnaires each containing three questions per participant, and the 
post questionnaire containing 12 questions per participant.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 37 minutes per respondent (44 hours 
total).
    Estimated Frequency: Onetime for the eligibility, post study, and 
demographic questionnaire; three times for the mid study questionnaire.

                                                             Table 1--Estimated Burden Hours
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                                                                                                                                               Total
                                                             Number of                                       Estimated         Total         annualize
                       Instrument                           respondents    Frequency of      Number of      individual       estimated        cost to
                                                                \1\          responses       questions        burden       burden hours     respondents
                                                                                                             (minutes)                          \2\
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Eligibility questionnaire...............................             100               1              26              10              17         $414.80
Demographic questionnaire...............................              60               1               7               2               2           48.80
Mid-study questionnaires................................              60               3               9              10              10          244.00
Post study questionnaire................................              60               1              12              15              15          366.00
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...............................................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............        44 hours        1,073.60
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\1\ The number of respondents in this table includes drop-out rates.
\2\ Estimated based on the mean hourly rate for Virginia (all occupations) is $24.40 as reported in the May 2014 Occupational Employment and Wage
  Estimates, Bureau of Labor Statistics. http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_va.htm.


[[Page 66612]]

    Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of 
this information collection, including (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the Department's 
performance; (b) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (c) ways for the 
Department to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the 
information collection; and (d) ways that the burden could be minimized 
without reducing the quality of the collected information. The agency 
will summarize and/or include your comments in the request for OMB's 
clearance of this information collection.

    Authority:  The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44. U.S.C. 
Chapter 35, as amended; 5 CFR part 1320; and 49 CFR 1.95.

Nathaniel Beuse,
Associate Administrator for Vehicle Safety Research.
[FR Doc. 2015-27480 Filed 10-28-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-59-P