[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 151 (Tuesday, August 8, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37162-37163]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16650]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2017-0070]


Agency Request for Approval of a New Information Collection: 
Recruitment and Debriefing of Human Subjects for a Study on Commercial 
Vehicle Crash Avoidance Systems (CAS)

ACTION: Request for public comments 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 reinstatement of previously approved collections. This 
document describes a new information collection for which NHTSA intends 
to seek OMB approval.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by October 10, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket No. NHTSA-2017-
0070 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, U.S. 
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: Alrik L. Svenson, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Research, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 
DC 20590, Telephone: 202-366-0436. For access to background documents, 
please contact Mr. Svenson.

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 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:
    Title: Field Study of Newer Generation Heavy Vehicle Automatic 
Emergency Braking (AEB) Systems
    OMB Control Number: Not assigned.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Type of Review: New Information Collection.
    Background: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 
(NHTSA) is assessing the benefits of crash avoidance technologies for 
heavy trucks that include Automatic Emergency

[[Page 37163]]

Braking (AEB) to prevent fatalities, injuries, and property damage in 
crashes involving heavy vehicles. Previous studies have investigated 
crash problem size, economic cost, and preliminary safety benefits 
concerning these systems. The underlying methods of these studies have 
included test track evaluations, objective test procedures, technology 
field demonstrations, and ``naturalistic'' studies. As both of the 
major AEB system suppliers are scheduled to release new products in the 
second half of 2016, NHTSA is interested in the real world performance 
of these new systems, which are designed to address the shortcomings of 
the previous generation of AEB systems. These systems have been 
designed to offer improved threat detection and new features such as 
stationary object braking. Additionally, a new product called Detroit 
Assurance\TM\ was released in 2015 for Freightliner trucks by Detroit 
Diesel Corporation. This system shares many features with the OnGuard 
and Wingman[supreg] products including advanced emergency braking 
(AEB), forward collision warnings (FCW), and adaptive cruise control 
(ACC).
    Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the 
Information: The collection of information consists of: (1) A 
demographic questionnaire, (2) initial CAS technology questionnaires, 
and (3) post study CAS technology questionnaire.
    The information to be collected will be used as follows:
     Demographic questionnaire will be used to obtain 
demographic information so that analysis may account for participants 
from various groups (e.g., age gender, driving experience, and 
experience with CAS technology).
     Initial CAS technology questionnaires will be used to get 
information about drivers' beliefs and attitude towards the CAS 
technology installed on the commercial vehicle they use for their job. 
These questionnaires will assess perceived usability of the systems in 
terms of acceptance and satisfaction, as well as willingness to have 
this technology in their vehicle. Each driver will complete this survey 
at the start of his or her data collection.
     Post study CAS technology questionnaires will be used to 
get information about drivers' beliefs and attitude towards the CAS 
technology installed on the commercial vehicle they use for their job. 
These questionnaires will also be used to assess perceived distraction 
potential of the systems in terms. Each driver will complete a post 
study questionnaire once, after the completion of his or her data 
collection. The post study survey will gauge how drivers' attitudes and 
preferences may have changed over the course of participation.
     Each participating driver will have a data acquisition 
system installed in their vehicle for three months while they perform 
their normal work duties. This system will collect video of the driver 
and forward roadway, telemetry and vehicle network data related to 
driving, and activations of the vehicle's CAS.
    Respondents: Commercial vehicle drivers who are assigned a single, 
specific commercial vehicle that is equipped with the eligible 
technologies. Trucking fleets (approximately 7-10) will be contacted 
first to see if they have trucks equipped with the technologies and 
would be willing to have their drivers participate in the study.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 175, after compensating for 
potential drop-outs
    Estimated Number of Responses: Full participation in the study will 
include 3 responses for a total of 92 questions per participant, plus a 
consent form that will be reviewed prior to participation.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 110 minutes per respondent, 
including consent (204 hours total).
    Estimated Frequency: Twice at the start of participation 
(demographic and initial CAS technology surveys), once at the 
completion of participation approximately 3 months later.

                                                             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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Informed Consent Form...................................             175               1             N/A              10              29         $584.64
Demographic questionnaire...............................             175               1              19              10              29          584.64
Initial CAS Technology Survey...........................             175               1              36              25              73        1,471.68
Final CAS Technology Survey.............................             175               1              37              25              73        1,471.68
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...............................................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............             204        4,112.44
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\1\ The number of respondents in this table includes drop-out rates.
\2\ Estimated based on the mean hourly rate nationwide for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers of $20.16 as reported in the May 2014 Occupational
  Employment and Wage Estimates, Bureau of Labor Statistics. http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#35-0000.

    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.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
Nathaniel Beuse,
Associate Administrator for Vehicle Safety Research.
[FR Doc. 2017-16650 Filed 8-7-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-59-P