[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 149 (Monday, August 3, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46782-46786]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16731]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2020-0008]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for 
Comment; National Survey of Speeding Attitudes and Behaviors

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

ACTION: Notice and request for public comment on a reinstatement with 
modification of a previously approved collection of information.

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SUMMARY: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 
invites public comments about our intention to request approval from 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a reinstatement with 
modification of a previously approved collection of information. Before 
a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it 
must receive approval from 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 an Information Collection 
Request (ICR) for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 2, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number 
NHTSA-2020-0008 using any of the following methods:
     Electronic submissions: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the on-line 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. To be sure someone is 
there to help you, please call (202) 366-9322 before coming.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
    Instructions: Each submission must include the Agency name and the 
Docket number for this Notice. Note that all comments received will be 
posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov including any 
personal information provided.
    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 https://www.transportation.gov/privacy.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov or the street 
address listed above. Follow the online instructions for accessing the 
dockets via internet.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or access 
to background documents, contact Kristie Johnson, Ph.D., Office of 
Behavioral Safety Research (NPD-310), National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, W46-498, Washington, DC 
20590. Dr. Johnson's phone number is 202-366-2755, 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 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 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 for public comment on 
the following proposed collection of information:
    Title: National Survey of Speeding Attitudes and Behaviors.
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0613.
    Form Number: NHTSA Form 1538, NHTSA Form 1539, NHTSA Form 1544, 
NHTSA Form 1545, NHTSA Form 1546.
    Type of Information Collection Request: Reinstatement with 
modification of a previously approved information collection (OMB 
Control No. 2127-0613).
    Type of Review Requested: Regular.
    Requested Expiration Date of Approval: 3 years from date of 
approval.
    Summary of the Collection of Information: NHTSA is seeking approval 
to conduct a National Survey of Speeding Attitudes and Behaviors by web 
and mail among a national probability sample of 7,013 adult drivers 
(and 152 adult drivers for a pilot survey), age 18 and older. 
Participation by respondents would be voluntary. Survey topics would 
include the extent to which drivers speed, driver attitudes and 
perceptions about speeding, reasons and motivations for speeding, and 
knowledge and attitudes towards countermeasure strategies to deter 
speeding.
    In conducting the proposed research, the survey would use computer-
assisted web interviewing (i.e., a programmed, self-administered web 
survey) to minimize recording errors, as well as optical mark 
recognition and image scanning for the paper and pencil survey to 
facilitate ease of use and data accuracy. A Spanish-language survey 
option would be used to minimize language barriers to participation. 
Surveys would be conducted with respondents using an address-based 
sampling design that encourages respondents to complete the survey 
online. Although web would be the primary data collection mode, a paper 
questionnaire would be sent to households that do not respond to the 
web invitations. The proposed survey would be anonymous and the survey 
would not collect any personal information. This collection only 
requires respondents to report their answers; there are no record-
keeping costs to the respondents.
    Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the 
Information: NHTSA was established to reduce deaths, injuries, and 
economic losses resulting from motor vehicle

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crashes on the Nation's highways. As part of this statutory mandate, 
NHTSA is authorized to conduct research for the development of traffic 
safety programs. Title 23, United States Code, Section 403 gives the 
Secretary of Transportation (NHTSA by delegation) authorization to use 
funds appropriated to conduct research and development activities, 
including demonstration projects and the collection and analysis of 
highway and motor vehicle safety data and related information, with 
respect to all aspects of highway and traffic safety systems and 
conditions relating to vehicle, highway, driver, passenger, 
motorcyclist, bicyclist, and pedestrian characteristics; accident 
causation and investigations; and human behavioral factors and their 
effect on highway and traffic safety.
    Traffic crashes are complex. Often, they involve multiple 
contributing factors, with speeding as one of the primary factors 
leading to a crash. Speeding-related crashes--defined as racing, 
exceeding the speed limit, or driving too fast for conditions \1\--
resulted in 26% of all fatal crash fatalities in 2018,\2\ a percentage 
that has largely remained the same over the last 20 years despite 
national, State, and local efforts to address the speeding problem. In 
2010, speeding-related crashes were estimated to result in $52 billion 
in economic costs and $203 billion in comprehensive costs.\3\ Speeding 
is especially dangerous because it reduces the driver's ability to 
maneuver around obstacles in a timely manner, increases the distance a 
vehicle requires to stop, and increases the severity of injuries.\4\ 
This stalled progress suggests that new countermeasures that differ 
from typical enforcement and engineering efforts may be needed to 
reduce speeding deaths. An interdisciplinary approach involving 
engineering, enforcement, and education is needed to change drivers' 
speeding behavior, thereby reducing speeding-related crashes, 
fatalities and injuries. To design interventions and countermeasure 
strategies that are likely to lead to behavior change, NHTSA requires 
up-to-date information on which drivers are speeding, their attitudes, 
perceptions, and motivations, as well as what countermeasures are most 
likely to reduce their speeding behavior. It is important to focus 
studies on factors underlying behaviors such as attitudes or 
perceptions of norms that are changeable.
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    \1\ National Center for Statistics and Analysis. (2007). 
Speeding: 2006 data (Traffic Safety Facts. DOT HS 810 814). 
Retrieved from the NHTSA website: https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/810814.
    \2\ National Center for Statistics and Analysis. (2019, 
December). Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS): 2018 Annual 
Report File (ARF) custom query. Retrieved from the NHTSA website: 
https://cdan.dot.gov/query.
    \3\ Blincoe, L.J., Miller, T.R. Zaloshnja, E., & Lawrence, B.A. 
(2015, May). The economic and societal impact of motor vehicle 
crashes, 2010. (Revised.) (Report No. DOT HS 812 013). Retrieved 
from the NHTSA website: https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812013.
    \4\ National Center for Statistics and Analysis. (2007). 
Speeding: 2006 data (Traffic Safety Facts. DOT HS 810 814).
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    NHTSA has conducted the National Survey of Speeding Attitudes and 
Behaviors on three previous occasions--first in 1997, again in 2002, 
and most recently in 2011. In the 2021 survey, NHTSA intends to examine 
the extent to which drivers speed, who the speeders are, when and why 
drivers speed, and what countermeasures are most acceptable and 
effective in reducing speeding. Furthermore, NHTSA plans to assess 
whether self-reported behaviors, attitudes, and perceptions regarding 
speeding and associated countermeasure strategies have changed over 
time since the administration of the prior three national surveys. The 
2021 survey will also include new questions on emerging speed-related 
technologies. The findings from this proposed information collection 
will assist NHTSA in designing, targeting, and implementing programs 
intended to reduce speed on the roadways and to provide data to States, 
localities, and law enforcement agencies that will aid in their efforts 
to reduce speed-related crashes and injuries.
    NHTSA will use the information to produce a technical report that 
presents the results of the study. The technical report will provide 
aggregate (summary) statistics and tables as well as the results of 
statistical analysis of the information, but it will not include any 
personally identifiable information (PII). The technical report will be 
shared with State highway offices, local governments, and those who 
develop traffic safety communications that aim to reduce speed-related 
crashes.
    Frequency of Collection: The study will be conducted one time 
during the three-year period for which NHTSA is requesting approval. 
This study is part of a tracking and trending study to measure changes 
over time. The last study was administered in 2011.
    Affected Public: Participants will be U.S. adults (18 years old and 
older) who drive a motor vehicle. Businesses are ineligible for the 
sample and would not be interviewed.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 7,165.
    Participation in this study will be voluntary with 7,013 
participants sampled from all 50 States and the District of Columbia 
using address data from the most recent U.S. Postal Service (USPS) 
computerized Delivery Sequence File (DSF) of residential addresses. An 
estimated 20,600 households will be contacted and have the study 
described to them. No more than one respondent will be selected per 
household.
    Prior to the main survey, a pilot survey will be administered to 
test the survey and the mailing protocol and procedures. Participation 
in this study will be voluntary with 152 participants sampled from all 
50 States and the District of Columbia using address data from the most 
recent U.S. Postal Service (USPS) computerized Delivery Sequence File 
(DSF) of residential addresses. An estimated 444 households will be 
contacted and have the study described to them. No more than one 
respondent will be selected per household.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: NHTSA estimates the total 
burden of this information collection by estimating the burden to those 
that NHTSA contacts who do not respond (non-responders), those that 
NHTSA contacts and respond but are ineligible (ineligible respondents), 
and those that respond and are eligible for participation (eligible 
respondents or actual participants). The estimated time to contact 
20,600 potential participants (actual participants, ineligible 
respondents, and non-responders) for the survey and 444 potential 
participants (actual participants, ineligible respondents, and non-
responders) for the pilot is one minute per person per contact attempt. 
Contact attempts will be made in five waves with fewer potential 
participants contacted each subsequent wave. NHTSA estimates that 7,221 
people will respond to the survey request and 156 will respond to the 
pilot. Of those, NHTSA estimates that nearly 3% will be ineligible 
because they are not drivers or are under 18 years old resulting in 208 
respondents to the survey and 4 respondents to the pilot who are 
ineligible. The estimated time to contact and screen 208 ineligible 
survey participants and 4 ineligible pilot participants is three 
minutes per person. The estimated time to contact and complete the 
survey for 7,013 participants and 152 pilot participants is 21 minutes 
per person. Details of the burden hours for each wave in the pilot and 
full survey are included in Tables 1 and 2 below.
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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN03AU20.002

    When rounded up to the nearest whole hour for each data collection 
effort, the total estimated annual burden is 3,830 hours for the 
project activities.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Cost: Participation in this study is 
voluntary, and there are no costs to respondents beyond the time spent 
completing the questionnaires.

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    Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspects of 
this information collection, including (i) whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Department, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (ii) the accuracy of the Department's estimate 
of the burden of the proposed information collection; (iii) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (iv) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.

(Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 
35, as amended; 49 CFR 1.49; and DOT Order 1351.29)

Nanda Narayanan Srinivasan,
Associate Administrator, Research and Program Development.
[FR Doc. 2020-16731 Filed 7-31-20; 8:45 am]
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