[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 251 (Thursday, December 31, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86980-86983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-28904]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2020-0008]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; National 
Survey of Speeding Attitudes and Behaviors

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

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

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 
this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) 
abstracted below will be submitted to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review. The ICR describes the nature of the 
information collection and its expected burden. The ICR is for a 
reinstatement with modification of a previously approved collection of 
information for a one-time voluntary survey regarding knowledge, 
attitudes, and behaviors associated with speeding. A Federal Register 
notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting public comments on the 
following information collection was published on August 3, 2020. NHTSA 
received two comments, which we address below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before February 1, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection, including suggestions for reducing burden, 
should be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget at 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. To find this particular information 
collection, select ``Currently under Review--Open for Public Comment'' 
or use the search function. Comments may also be sent by mail to the 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503, Attention: Desk 
Officer for Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration, or by email at [email protected], or 
fax: 202-395-5806.

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 
(PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), before a Federal agency can collect 
certain information from the public, it must receive approval from the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). In compliance with these 
requirements, this notice announces that the following information 
collection request has been forwarded to OMB.
    A Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting 
public comments on the following information collection was published 
on August 3, 2020 (Federal Register/Vol. 85, No. 149/pp. 46782-46786). 
NHTSA received two comments. Sarah Smoak provided comments supportive 
of the proposed information collection. An anonymous commenter provided 
remarks about the COVID-19 pandemic with no mention of the proposed 
survey or traffic safety.
    Comments on the proposed information collection are appreciated. 
Thank you to Ms. Smoak for providing thoughtful commentary as to the 
importance of conducting the National Survey of Speeding Attitudes and 
Behaviors. This included using the data to be able to formulate plans, 
procedures, and countermeasures to have positive impacts on the public 
by reducing speed-related deaths. Ms. Smoak also appreciates that the 
periodic surveys help track behavioral changes related to speeding.
    Title: National Survey of Speeding Attitudes and Behaviors.
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0613.
    Form Numbers: 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.
    Respondents: Random sample of U.S. adults (18 years old and older) 
who drive a motor vehicle.
    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, drivers' 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 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

[[Page 86981]]

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 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.
    Respondents: 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 who respond but are ineligible (ineligible respondents), 
and those who 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.

[[Page 86982]]



                                                    Table 1--Estimated Total Burden for Pilot Survey
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                                                                                             Estimated
                                                                                            burden per
                   Wave                        Contacts           Participant type          sample unit    Sample units   Burden (hours)   Total burden
                                                                                             (minutes)
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Wave 1 (Initial Invitation--NHTSA Form                 444  Contacted potential                        1             391               7              26
 1544).                                                      participant--Non-respondent.
                                                            Screened out participant--                 3               2               1
                                                             Ineligible respondent.
                                                            Recruited participant--                   21              51              18
                                                             Eligible respondent.
Wave 2 (Reminder Postcard #1--NHTSA Form               391  Contacted potential                        1             356               6              19
 1546).                                                      participant--Non-respondent.
                                                            Screened out participant--                 3               0               0
                                                             Ineligible respondent.
                                                            Recruited participant--                   21              35              13
                                                             Eligible respondent.
Wave 3 (1st Survey Mailing--NHTSA Forms                356  Contacted potential                        1             313               6              22
 1538, 1545).                                                participant--Non-respondent.
                                                            Screened out participant--                 3               2               1
                                                             Ineligible respondent.
                                                            Recruited participant--                   21              41              15
                                                             Eligible respondent.
Wave 4 (Reminder Postcard #2--NHTSA Form               314  Contacted potential                        1             298               5              11
 1546).                                                      participant--Non-respondent.
                                                            Screened out participant--                 3               0               0
                                                             Ineligible respondent.
                                                            Recruited participant--                   21              16               6
                                                             Eligible respondent.
Wave 5 (2nd Survey Mailing--NHTSA Forms                298  Contacted potential                        1             289               5               9
 1538, 1545).                                                participant--Non-respondent.
                                                            Screened out participant--                 3               0               0
                                                             Ineligible respondent.
                                                            Recruited participant--                   21               9               4
                                                             Eligible respondent.
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    Total.................................  ..............  ............................  ..............  ..............  ..............              87
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                                                     Table 2--Estimated Total Burden for Full Survey
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                                                                                             Estimated
                                                                                            burden per
                   Wave                        Contacts           Participant type          sample unit    Sample units   Burden (hours)   Total burden
                                                                                             (minutes)
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Wave 1 (Initial Invitation--NHTSA Form              20,600  Contacted potential                        1          18,130             303           1,147
 1544).                                                      participant--Non-respondent.
                                                            Screened out participant--                 3              72               4
                                                             Ineligible respondent.
                                                            Recruited participant--                   21           2,398             840
                                                             Eligible respondent.
Wave 2 (Reminder Postcard #1--NHTSA Form            18,130  Contacted potential                        1          16,498             275             833
 1546).                                                      participant--Non-respondent.
                                                            Screened out participant--                 3              47               3
                                                             Ineligible respondent.
                                                            Recruited participant--                   21           1,585             555
                                                             Eligible respondent.
Wave 3 (1st Survey Mailing--NHTSA Forms             16,498  Contacted potential                        1          14,518             242             919
 1538, 1545).                                                participant--Non-respondent.
                                                            Screened out participant--                 3              57               3
                                                             Ineligible respondent.
                                                            Recruited participant--                   21           1,923             674
                                                             Eligible respondent.
Wave 4 (Reminder Postcard #2--NHTSA Form            14,519  Contacted potential                        1          13,793             230             479
 1546).                                                      participant--Non-respondent.
                                                            Screened out participant--                 3              21               2
                                                             Ineligible respondent.
                                                            Recruited participant--                   21             705             247
                                                             Eligible respondent.
Wave 5 (2nd Survey Mailing--NHTSA Forms             13,793  Contacted potential                        1          13,379             223             365
 1538, 1545).                                                participant--Non-respondent.
                                                            Screened out participant--                 3              12               1
                                                             Ineligible respondent.
                                                            Recruited participant--                   21             402             141
                                                             Eligible respondent.
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    Total.................................  ..............  ............................  ..............  ..............  ..............           3,743
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    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,

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and there are no costs to respondents beyond the time spent completing 
the questionnaires.
    Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspects of 
this information collection, including (a) whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Department of Transportation, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection, 
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents, 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.

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

    Issued in Washington, DC.
Nanda Narayanan Srinivasan,
Associate Administrator, Research and Program Development.
[FR Doc. 2020-28904 Filed 12-30-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P