[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 226 (Wednesday, November 23, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 84690-84692]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28151]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2016-0120]


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

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S Department 
of Transportation.

ACTION: Request for public comment on a proposed collection of 
information.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 January 23, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket No. NHTSA-2016-
0120 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 submissions 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.regulations.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 Eric Traube, Office of Vehicle Safety Research, National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, 20590; 
Telephone: 202-366-5673.

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

[[Page 84691]]

of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology, e.g. permitting electronic submission of responses.
    The agency will summarize and/or include your comments in the 
request for OMB's clearance of this information collection.
    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: Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety--Field 
Operational Test.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Type of Review: New Information Collection.
    Abstract: NHTSA and the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety 
(ACTS) began research efforts in February 2008 to try to find potential 
in-vehicle approaches to address the problem of alcohol-impaired 
driving. Members of ACTS comprise motor vehicle manufacturers 
representing approximately 99 percent of light vehicle sales in the 
U.S. This cooperative research partnership, known as the Driver Alcohol 
Detection System for Safety (DADSS) Program, is exploring the 
feasibility, potential benefits of, and public policy challenges 
associated with a more widespread use of non-invasive, in-vehicle 
technology to prevent alcohol-impaired driving. In a 2008 cooperative 
agreement, NHTSA and ACTS outlined a research program to assess the 
state of detection technologies that are capable of measuring blood 
alcohol concentration (BAC) or Breath Alcohol Concentration (BrAC) and 
to support the creation and testing of prototypes and subsequent 
hardware that could be installed in vehicles. As part of the research 
program, NHTSA and ACTS will build research vehicles that include both 
a breath- and touch-based sensor in order to evaluate the potential 
implementation and integration of both breath- and touch-based sensor 
technologies.
    This collection, which will begin on September 1, 2017, pertains to 
a field operational test (FOT) of both the breath- and touch-based 
research vehicles developed under this program. A key to the 
establishment of effective, unobtrusive in-vehicle alcohol detection 
systems is an understanding of real-world use of the technology. This 
FOT will allow NHTSA and ACTS to evaluate the functionality of these 
research vehicles under varying operating conditions by having study 
participants drive DADSS research vehicles through preset routes. The 
research vehicles are the first vehicles of this kind, and will be used 
to gather data regarding sensor validity and reliability. This study 
will provide a greater understanding of drivers using the technology 
under varying environmental conditions. Data collected from the DADSS 
FOT will be used to further refine the DADSS Performance Specifications 
and evaluate system performance.
    Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the 
Information: The collection of information consists of: (1) An 
eligibility interview (2) a multi-day FOT of DADSS sensors, and (3) a 
post-test day questionnaire.
    The information to be collected will be used for the following 
purposes:
     Eligibility interview will be used to obtain self-reported 
eligibility information, including health, driving/criminal record, and 
drinking behavior, that participants must meet to qualify for 
participation in this study (e.g., must hold valid driver's license). 
Participants will also be asked to provide their height and weight.
     The DADSS FOT will be used to establish effective non-
invasive, in-vehicle alcohol detection systems through an understanding 
of the real-world use of the technology. Breath-and touch-based sensor 
data along with video data (for in-vehicle validation of sensor data) 
collected from the DADSS FOT will be used to further refine the DADSS 
Performance Specifications and evaluate subsystem/sensor performance. 
This study will provide a greater understanding of drivers using the 
technology under varying environmental conditions.
     Post-test day questionnaire(s) will be used to get 
information about any technical difficulties or issues drivers may have 
had with the DADSS-FOT vehicles at the end of each test day.
     Participants must:

[cir] Be at least 21 years of age
[cir] Hold a valid U.S. or Canadian driver's license
[cir] Have no more than one (1) driving infraction and/or conviction on 
their driving record for the previous three years
[cir] Be free of any criminal conviction in their past including 
criminal driving offenses
[cir] Be willing to work at least five (5) days per week for 12 
consecutive weeks during a three-month data collection cycle
[cir] Meet health criteria:
    i. Cannot have a substance abuse condition including alcoholism
    ii. Cannot have a history of neck or back conditions which still 
limit their ability to participate in certain activities.
    iii. Cannot have a history of brain damage from stroke, tumor, head 
injury, recent concussion, or disease or infection of the brain
    iv. Cannot have a current heart condition which limits their 
ability to participate in certain activities
    v. Cannot have current uncontrolled respiratory disorders or 
disorders requiring oxygen
    i. Cannot have had epileptic seizures or lapses of consciousness 
within the last 12 months
    ii. Cannot have chronic migraines or tension headaches (no more 
than one per month during the past 12 months).
    iii. Cannot have current problems with motion sickness, inner ear 
problems, dizziness, vertigo, or balance problems
    iv. Cannot have uncontrolled diabetes (have they been recently 
diagnosed or have they been hospitalized for this condition, or any 
changes in their insulin prescription during the past 3 months)
    v. Must not have had any major surgery within the past 6 months 
(including eye procedures).
    vi. Cannot currently be taking any medications or supplements that 
may interfere with driving ability (i.e., cause drowsiness or impair 
motor abilities).
    vii. Must not be pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
[cir] Have normal (or corrected-to-normal) hearing and vision.
[cir] Self-report that they are able to read, write, speak and 
understand English.
[cir] Be excluded if anyone in their household works in or is retired 
from any of the following businesses, occupations, or industries, which 
may constitute a conflict of interest with the DADSS-FOT:
    i. The police force or another law enforcement agency, working as a 
police officer, corrections officer, or probation officer
    ii. A newspaper, magazine, radio or television station, or related 
Web site or online news site
    iii. An advertising, marketing, or public relations agency
    iv. A market or public opinion research company
    v. The automobile or automotive industry
    vi. Liquor sales or hospitality, such as bartending

[[Page 84692]]

    vii. Law, such as a lawyer or attorney, or working at a law firm, 
or in the legal profession
    viii. The federal, state, or county Departments of Transportation
[cir] Be excluded if anyone in their immediate family has been a victim 
of drunk driving, or if they personally know someone that has been a 
victim.

    Estimated Number of Respondents: 600.
    Estimated Time per Response: Completion of the eligibility 
interview is expected to take 15 minutes. Following the eligibility/
demographic interview, 480 of the 600 initial participants are expected 
to attend a one- (1) hour orientation session and participate in the 
FOT. On a given test day, the DADSS FOT will require four (4) hours per 
day, including a post-test day interview.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: Fifteen (15) minutes for each 
ineligible participant and 241 hours per participant (115,830 hours 
total).
    Estimated Frequency: One (1) time for the eligibility interview and 
60 times (days) for the DADSS-FOT and post-test day interviews.

                                                             Table 1--Estimated Burden Hours
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                         Total cost of
                                      Number of        Frequency of                                 Estimated        Total estimated   burden hours over
            Instrument               individuals         responses        Number of questions   individual burden      burden hours      24-month study
                                                                                                                                             period
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eligibility/Demographic Interview             600  1...................  32..................  15 min.............             150 hr        * $1,087.50
Orientation......................             480  1...................  N/A.................  1 hr...............                480        ** 9,360.00
FOT including post-test questions             480  650 tests per         8 (post-test-day      4 hr/day for 60                115,200    ** 2,246,400.00
                                                    participant.          questions).           days.
                                                                                                                   -------------------------------------
    TOTAL........................  ..............  ....................  ....................  ...................         115,830 hr       2,258,685.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Interviewees will not be compensated for the eligibility/demographic interview, but we calculate the estimated burden hour cost to the public using
  the prevailing Federal minimum wage rate of $7.25/hour.
** Participants in the FOT will be compensated $19.50 per hour for their time in the orientation and the FOT study and this rate was used to calculate
  their burden hours.


    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. 2016-28151 Filed 11-22-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-59-P