[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 138 (Thursday, July 20, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33554-33555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15219]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[U.S. DOT Docket No. NHTSA-2017-0051]


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 September 18, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket Number 
NHTSA-2017-0051 using any of the following methods:
    Electronic submissions: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the online 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.
    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: Kathy J. Sifrit, Contracting Officer's 
Representative, Office of Behavioral Safety Research (NPD-320), 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE, W46-466, 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:
    Title: Older Driver Rearview Video Systems.
    Type of Request: New information collection.
    OMB Clearance Number: None.
    Form Number: NHTSA Forms 1398 and 1399.
    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 older licensed drivers about their driving performance, driving 
habits, and levels of familiarity with rearview video systems (RVSs), 
and to measure their ability to avoid obstacles while backing using an 
RVS as compared to using only mirrors and shoulder checks. Following

[[Page 33555]]

initial data collection, the research team will develop a training 
protocol based on common errors participants made during the first 
study segment. During the training segment of the study, a new sample 
of participants will complete backing tasks similar to those in the 
first segment. Then participants will be randomly assigned to either a 
training group or a placebo group. Following training all participants 
will again complete a series of backing tasks. Analyses will test 
whether the training improved drivers' ability to use the RVS 
appropriately. This research would give the traffic safety community 
greater insight into the extent to which older drivers are able to use 
RVSs effectively and whether training in proper use of the devices 
improves their ability to use the systems to back safely.
    Study participation will be voluntary and will be solicited among 
residents of residential communities, senior centers, and/or service- 
or faith-based organizations in the southeastern Pennsylvania area 
through community newsletters and other community media. Interested 
older adults will attend a public meeting to learn about the research 
opportunity including inclusion and exclusion criteria. Following the 
meeting, interested older adults will provide their name and telephone 
number on a signup sheet. A project assistant will then call 
individuals on the signup sheet and conduct a brief telephone pre-
screening to ensure that all participants meet inclusion and exclusion 
criteria; the project assistant will also answer questions about study 
participation. For interested candidate participants who meet inclusion 
criteria, the project assistant will make appointments to conduct 
either a controlled, off-road backing performance evaluation or a 
training protocol evaluation, at a mutually convenient time. At the 
beginning of the appointment, the project assistant will obtain a 
signature from each participant on an informed consent. A driving 
rehabilitation specialist (DRS) will then conduct the off-road backing 
performance evaluation or training protocol evaluation. Participants 
will then receive compensation of $100 for study participation.
    Throughout the project, the privacy of all participants would be 
protected. Access to the participants' data would be controlled using 
password-protection for both the computer and the files. Personally-
identifiable information, such as participants' postal addresses, would 
be kept separate from the data collected and would be stored in a wall 
safe in password-protected folders on an external hard drive that is 
only accessible to study staff who need to access such information. In 
addition, all participant data would be reported in aggregate, and 
identifying information would not be used in any reports resulting from 
this data collection effort. Rigorous de-identification procedures 
would be used to prevent participants from being identified through 
reconstructive means.
    Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the 
Information--NHTSA was established by the Highway Safety Act of l970 
(23 U.S.C. 101) to carry out a Congressional mandate to reduce deaths, 
injuries, and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes on 
the Nation's highways. As part of this mandate, NHTSA is authorized to 
conduct research as a foundation for the development of traffic safety 
programs.
    A 2014 final rule issued by NHTSA (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard No. 111, ``Rear visibility'') requires rear visibility 
technology in all new vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating 
(GVWR) under 10,000 pounds by May 2018, but the anticipated safety 
gains depend in part on the extent to which drivers understand and use 
the technology as intended. This study has two purposes. The first 
purpose is to assess the driving performance of adults 50 and older 
using mirrors and an RVS while operating a motor vehicle in reverse. 
The second purpose is to develop, implement, and assess the 
effectiveness of an RVS training protocol. Findings will provide 
information about whether people ages 50 and older differ in backing 
performance when using RVS versus only mirrors, whether elements of RVS 
use are particularly difficult for this cohort, and whether RVS 
training improves older drivers' ability to avoid obstacles while 
backing. NHTSA will use the information to inform recommendations to 
the driving public regarding safe backing practices.
    Description of the Likely Respondents (Including Estimated Number, 
and Proposed Frequency of Response to the Collection of Information)--
Respondents will include independently living licensed drivers, age 50 
and older, in the southeastern Pennsylvania area. It is estimated that 
300 one-time telephone conversations will be conducted with those who 
sign up after the public meeting, to yield 200 participants. Of the 200 
participants, 120 will complete a one-time controlled, off-road backing 
performance evaluation that will inform the development of the 
training. The remaining 80 will complete the one-time training protocol 
evaluation.
    Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Record Keeping Burden 
Resulting from the Collection of Information--The total estimated 
burden for this information collection is 365 hours. The 300 telephone 
pre-screening will average 15 minutes in length including introduction, 
qualifying questions, potential participant questions, logistical 
questions, and conclusion for an estimated total burden of 75 hours. 
For the 120 participants who complete the controlled, off-road backing 
performance evaluation, the estimated average burden is 75 minutes (15 
minutes for the informed consent form plus 60 minutes for the backing 
evaluation) for a total estimate of 150 hours. For the 80 participants 
who complete the training protocol evaluation, the estimated average 
burden is 105 minutes because of the additional 30 minutes for training 
(or placebo) for a total estimate of 140 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. Section 3506(c)(2)(A).

    Issued in Washington, DC on July 17, 2017.
Jeff Michael,
Associate Administrator, Research and Program Development.
[FR Doc. 2017-15219 Filed 7-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-59-P