[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 177 (Wednesday, September 12, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46253-46254]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19836]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2018-0078]


Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping Requirements

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is 
announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection 
of certain information by the Agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (the PRA), Federal Agencies are required to publish a notice in 
the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information 
and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This 
notice solicits comments on an information collection supporting the 
development of improved child-size crash test dummies.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 13, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments using any of the following methods. 
All comments must have the applicable DOT docket number noted 
conspicuously on them.
    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, West Building, Ground Floor, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, 
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: (202) 493-2251.
    Instructions: Each submission must include the Agency name and the 
Docket number for this Notice. Note that all comments received will be 
posted without changes to http://www.regulations.gov including any 
personal information provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Stammen, Ph.D., Applied 
Biomechanics Division, Vehicle Research and Test Center, NHTSA, 10820 
State Route 347--Bldg. 60, East Liberty, Ohio 43319; Telephone (937) 
666-4511; Facsimile: (937) 666-3590; email address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), 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. 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:
    Title: Pediatric Shoulder Response in Frontal Loading.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    OMB Clearance Number: None.
    Requested Expiration Date of Approval: Three years from date of 
approval.
    Summary of the Collection of Information: NHTSA proposes to collect 
information from the public to support the development of design 
criteria for the mobility of the shoulder of a new child-size crash 
test dummy. Minors age 8-12 will participate after informed consent of 
the parent/guardian is received. After researchers measure the 
participant's anthropometry (height, weight, shoulder landmarks, etc.), 
the participant will undergo a fun, low-intensity exercise activity 
under the direction of the researchers while the parent/guardian 
observes. The activity will involve motion of the participant's 
shoulder while resisting forces are collected. The data from all 
participants will then be compiled to develop design criteria for the 
crash test dummy shoulder.
    Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the 
Information: In the early 2000's, NHTSA evaluated the Hybrid III 10-
year-old child dummy. While this dummy was deemed adequate for the 
evaluation of large child restraints and eventually federalized in 
2012, one of the shortcomings NHTSA identified of the child dummy is a 
shoulder that has very little mobility with no interaction with the 
ribcage. In 2011, the NHTSA Vehicle Research & Test Center Applied 
Biomechanics Division initiated a research program to develop a new 
crash dummy representing a large child with improved biofidelity called 
the Large Omnidirectional Child (LODC) dummy. NHTSA used pediatric 
biomechanical information from literature to guide the design of the 
LODC prototype. However, there was very little biomechanical 
information on the response of the pediatric shoulder. As the shoulder 
is a very important structure of the body for managing interaction of 
the restraint and body in a motor vehicle crash, new biomechanical data 
is needed to guide the design of the LODC shoulder.
    Historically, child dummy component responses have simply been 
scaled from adult post-mortem surrogate tests. However, there is a 
large body of research that has demonstrated that children are not 
simply small adults when it comes to behavior in a high-speed crash 
scenario. Developmental anatomy must be considered in addition to mass 
and anthropometry in the creation of design targets for child dummies.

[[Page 46254]]

    Because testing of pediatric post-mortem surrogates raises ethical 
concerns, researchers are compelled to find creative ways to gather 
biomechanical information from living children. The historical approach 
for obtaining body region response information is to design a fun, low-
intensity activity or game where the participant movement is captured 
in some manner while resisting forces are collected. The forces 
generated with respect to the movements are used to develop a 
``response target'' that serves as design guidance for the relevant 
crash dummy component.
    Respondents: We estimate that 24 persons will complete the 
information collection. Respondents will be parents of children age 8-
12.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: In support of this research, it is 
estimated that 24 children age 8-12 will complete the activity while 
the parent observes.
    Estimated Time per Response: The child and parent will be required 
to spend roughly 1 hour in the laboratory to complete the required 
steps associated with the activity.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 24 hours, or 1 hour per participant.
    Frequency of Collection: The data collection described will be 
performed once to obtain the target number of valid test participants.

    Authority:  44 U.S.C. Section 3506(c)(2)(A).

Nathaniel Beuse,
Associate Administrator, Office of Vehicle Safety Research.
[FR Doc. 2018-19836 Filed 9-11-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-59-P