[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 74 (Monday, April 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23013-23017]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-08151]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2021-0016]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for 
Comment; Countermeasures That Work

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 to conduct a 
survey that will inform the development of the 12th edition of 
Countermeasures That Work and structured interviews to populate and 
update the 2nd edition of Countermeasures At Work.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 17, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number 
NHTSA-2021-0016 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. Please see the Privacy Act 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 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.

[[Page 23014]]


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 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: Countermeasures That Work.
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0727.
    Form Numbers: NHTSA Form 1343, NHTSA Form 1344.
    Type of Information Collection Request: Reinstatement with 
modification of a previously approved information collection.
    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 (1) collect user feedback on the 
Countermeasures That Work \1\ and Countermeasures At Work (1st edition 
to be published later in early 2022) guides, and (2) collect program 
information from program administrators to develop countermeasure case 
studies for Countermeasures At Work.
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    \1\ Venkatraman, V., Richard, C.M., Magee, K., & Johnson, K. 
(2021, July). Countermeasures that work: A highway safety 
countermeasure guide for State Highway Safety Offices, 10th edition 
(Report No. DOT HS 813 097). National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration. www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/2021-09/15100_Countermeasures10th_080621_v5_tag.pdf.
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End-User Feedback Survey

    NHTSA proposes to conduct a web-based feedback survey of up to 120 
users of Countermeasures That Work and/or Countermeasures At Work 
representing State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs) and/or local 
jurisdictions, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), State 
Coordinators from across the United States, and other important 
stakeholders with the intent to reach regular users of the documents to 
help improve the documents. Survey topics will include how the guides 
are used, weaknesses/drawbacks to the current guides, perceived 
usefulness of the ratings, and other suggestions for improvement.
    While previous feedback surveys were conducted via phone, the 
proposed survey would be administered using an online platform to 
reduce participant burden, improve data capture, and reduce coding 
needs. Participation by respondents would be voluntary. There are no 
record-keeping costs to the respondents. Responses will not be publicly 
reported, but NHTSA will internally use the aggregated information to 
revise and improve the Countermeasures That Work and Countermeasures At 
Work guides. Specifically, feedback will be used to determine which 
aspects of the guides should be improved and if there are features or 
topics that the guides do not currently have that they would like to 
have included.

Structured Interviews

    NHTSA also proposes to conduct up to 60 structured in-person or 
phone interviews with representatives from jurisdictions that currently 
administer effective countermeasures. The respondents for the 
interviews will be selected based on their job position, knowledge of 
domain, management of effective countermeasure implementations as noted 
in the literature, and recommendation from NHTSA or GHSA subject matter 
experts with the intent to reach program administrators of effective 
countermeasures with the goal of populating and enriching 
countermeasure descriptions. The findings of interviews conducted for 
Countermeasures At Work will be reported separately for each individual 
locality so that the reader can get an idea about the size and type of 
the featured locality and issues specific to that locality. The 
Countermeasures At Work guide will include general contact information 
about the locality (i.e., State DOT or SHSO office) or the contact 
information of key individuals (if permission is granted by the 
interview participant), so that readers of the document can follow-up, 
if desired, with the locality to obtain more information about the 
countermeasure.
    The Countermeasures That Work and Countermeasures At Work reports 
will be shared with SHSOs, local governments, and those who develop 
traffic safety programs that aim to change behaviors with the goal of 
reducing crashes and the resulting injuries and fatalities.

Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the 
Information

    NHTSA was established by the Highway Safety Act of 1970 and its 
mission is to reduce deaths, injuries, and economic losses resulting 
from motor vehicle crashes on the Nation's highways. To further this 
mission, NHTSA is authorized to conduct research for the development of 
traffic safety programs. Title 23, United States Code, Section 403 
authorizes the Secretary of Transportation (NHTSA by delegation) 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 (a) 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 (b) human behavioral factors and 
their effect on highway and traffic safety.
    In 2019, 36,096 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes 
on U.S. roadways.\2\ While the number of people killed has increased 
slightly since the U.S. hit its lowest number of fatalities

[[Page 23015]]

in 2014, over the past 40 years there has been a general downward 
trend. Effective behavioral safety countermeasures such as those 
described in Countermeasures That Work and detailed in the upcoming 
Countermeasures At Work have contributed to these reductions. This 
project addresses the issue of providing information to traffic safety 
professionals about countermeasures that have been demonstrated to be 
effective in addressing certain traffic safety problems.
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    \2\ National Center for Statistics and Analysis. (2020, 
December). Overview of motor vehicle crashes in 2019 (Traffic Safety 
Facts Research Note. Report No. DOT HS 813 060). National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration. https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813060.
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    The public health approach to traffic safety which establishes 
injuries and fatalities as preventable has resulted in a mix of 
countermeasures, and the choices among them are driven by research on 
their effectiveness. Generally, this approach includes some combination 
of countermeasures aimed at improving safety in terms of improved 
vehicles, education, improved roads, enhanced road user perception, and 
behavior and better enforcement of traffic safety laws.
    In 2005, the Governors Highway Safety Association and the National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration developed a guide, 
Countermeasures That Work, for the State Highway Safety Offices that 
provides a basic reference to assist in selecting effective, evidence-
based countermeasures to address traffic safety problem areas. Given 
that SHSO's and other State practitioners responsible for implementing 
these countermeasures use Countermeasures That Work as an aid to make 
decisions, it is important to solicit their opinions about the document 
and its content. Specifically, it is important to know which aspects of 
the guide should be improved and if there are features or topics that 
the guide does not currently have that they would like to have 
included. The Countermeasures At Work guide expands on the most 
effective countermeasures contained in the Countermeasures That Work 
guide by providing real world examples and details on localities where 
specific countermeasures were put into place. The descriptions of the 
effective countermeasures include details about locality size, 
implementation issues, cost, stakeholders involved, challenges, 
evaluation, and outcomes to help officials determine which 
countermeasures may be effective in their own jurisdictions.
    Per Section 1300.11 of the Uniform Procedures for State Highway 
Safety Grant Programs, each fiscal year, as part of the highway safety 
planning process for a State's Highway Safety Plan, a list of 
information and data sources consulted must be included in the plan. 
Countermeasures That Work is commonly referenced as a consulted source.
    The data from this proposed information collection will provide 
NHTSA with information that will guide updates to the Countermeasures 
That Work and Countermeasures At Work documents. Data collected from 
the survey and structured interviews will be used primarily to (1) 
update the content, format, and structure of information provided in 
Countermeasures That Work and Countermeasures At Work, and (2) identify 
the localities/implementation of countermeasures that should be 
presented as case studies in Countermeasures At Work.
    Frequency of Collection: This study is part a biennial update of 
effective countermeasures. Each of the surveys will be collected one 
time during the three-year period for which NHTSA is requesting 
approval. The last survey of stakeholders was in 2020.
    Affected Public: Participants will be U.S. adults (18 years old and 
older) who are members of State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs) and/or 
local jurisdictions, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), 
State Coordinators from across the United States, or other important 
stakeholders. Businesses are ineligible for the survey and would not be 
interviewed.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 180.
    Participation in the end user feedback survey will be voluntary 
with up to 120 participants surveyed from SHSOs and/or local 
jurisdictions, GHSA, State Coordinators from across the United States, 
and other important stakeholders. In addition, up to 60 participants 
will be interviewed about effective countermeasure programs based on 
their job position, knowledge of domain, management of effective 
countermeasure implementations as noted in the literature, and 
recommendation from NHTSA regional specialists or GHSA Office subject 
matter experts.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 129.

End User Feedback Survey

    NHTSA estimates the total burden of this information collection by 
estimating the burden to those who NHTSA contacts who do not respond 
and those who are contacted and participate. The estimated time to 
contact 120 potential participants for the end user feedback survey is 
one minute per person to read the invitation email. For recruited 
participants, it is estimated that the survey will take thirty minutes 
to complete. For recruited participants, participation is estimated to 
take thirty-one minutes which includes time to read the email 
invitation (survey introduction) and complete the survey. While up to 
three email invites (or waves) are included in this estimate, potential 
respondents would be comprised of a sample hand-selected by the 
research team thus potentially reducing the number of subsequent 
contacts as well as the number of non-responders.

Structured Interviews

    NHTSA estimates the total burden of this information collection by 
estimating the burden to those who NHTSA contacts who do not respond 
and those who are contacted and participate. The estimated time to 
contact 60 potential traffic safety representative participants for the 
structured countermeasure program interviews is two minutes per person 
to read the invitation email. For recruited participants, participation 
is estimated to take ninety-two minutes per person. The ninety-two 
minutes estimate includes time to read the email invitation (interview 
introduction), schedule an interview time, and complete the interview. 
Again, while up to four email invites are included in this estimate, 
potential respondents would be comprised of a sample hand-selected by 
the research team thus potentially reducing the number of subsequent 
contacts as well as the number of non-responders.

Total Burden Hours for the End User Feedback Survey and the Structured 
Interviews

    The total estimated burden for contacting 120 traffic safety 
representatives for the end user feedback survey, if 75% of solicited 
participants respond, is approximately 50 hours, rounded up (((assuming 
90 completed surveys out of 120 contacted potential participants: 45 
hours for completed surveys (90 survey participants x 30 minutes to 
complete the survey) + ~4.5 hours for reading invitations ((Wave 1-120 
contacts x 1 minute) + (Wave 2-90 contacts x 1 minute) + (Wave 3-60 
contacts x 1 minute))). The total estimated burden for contacting 60 
traffic safety representatives for the program case study structured 
interviews, if 75% of solicited participants respond, is approximately 
79 hours, rounded up each wave (((assuming 48 completed interviews out 
of 60 contacted potential participants: 72 hours (48 completed 
interviews x 90 minutes for each interview) + ~5.6 hours ((Wave 1-60

[[Page 23016]]

contacts x 2 minutes) + (Wave 2-48 contacts x 2 minutes) + (Wave 3-36 
contacts x 2 minutes) + (Wave 4-24 contacts x 2 minutes))). Overall, 
the total estimated burden for the feedback surveys and program case 
study interviews is 129 hours. This information is presented in the 
tables below.

                                              Table 1--Estimated Total Burden for End User Feedback Survey
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                                                                     Estimated time
                                   Number of                           burden per     Frequency     Number of      Burden       Burden    Average annual
              Wave                  contacts     Participant type   participant (in   of burden   participants    hours *     hours per    total burden
                                                                        minutes)                                                wave *
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Wave 1 (Initial Email                     120  Contacted potential                1            1           120            2           17
 Invitation--NHTSA Form 1343R).                 participant (read
                                                email).
                                               Recruited                         30            1            30           15
                                                participant
                                                (completed survey).
Wave 2 (Reminder Email #1--NHTSA           90  Contacted potential                1            1            90            2           17
 Form 1343R).                                   participant (read
                                                email).
                                               Recruited                         30            1            30           15
                                                participant
                                                (completed survey).
Wave 3 (Reminder Email #2--NHTSA           60  Contacted potential                1            1            60            1           16
 Form 1343R).                                   participant (read
                                                email).
                                               Recruited                         30            1            30           15
                                                participant
                                                (completed survey).
                                 -------------                     -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................  ...........  ...................  ...............  ...........  ............  ...........           50           16.67
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* Rounded up to the nearest hour.


                                                Table 2--Estimated Total Burden for Structured Interviews
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                                                                     Estimated time
                                   Number of                           burden per     Frequency     Number of      Burden       Burden    Average annual
              Wave                  contacts     Participant type   participant (in   of burden   participants    hours *     hours per    total burden
                                                                        minutes)                                                wave *
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Wave 1 (Initial Email                      60  Contacted potential                2            1            60            2           20
 Invitation--NHTSA Form 1344R).                 participant (read
                                                email).
                                               Recruited                         90            1            12           18
                                                participant
                                                (completed
                                                interview).
Wave 2 (Reminder Email #1--NHTSA           48  Contacted potential                2            1            48            2           20
 Form 1344R).                                   participant (read
                                                email).
                                               Recruited                         90            1            12           18
                                                participant
                                                (completed
                                                interview).
Wave 3 (Reminder Email #2--NHTSA           36  Contacted potential                2            1            36            2           20
 Form 1344R).                                   participant (read
                                                email).
                                               Recruited                         90            1            12           18
                                                participant
                                                (completed
                                                interview).
Wave 4 (Reminder Email #3--NHTSA           24  Contacted potential                2            1            24            1           19
 Form 1344R).                                   participant (read
                                                email).
                                               Recruited                         90            1            12           18
                                                participant
                                                (completed
                                                interview).
                                 -------------                     -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................  ...........  ...................  ...............  ...........  ............  ...........           79           26.33
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* Rounded up to the nearest hour.


                                     Table 3--Overall Estimated Total Burden
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                                                                  Number of
      Information collection component           Frequency     respondents per    Burden hours    Average annual
                                                                  assessment     per collection   total (hours)
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End User Feedback Survey....................                1              120               50            16.67
Structured Interviews.......................                1               60               79            26.33
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    Total...................................  ...............              180              129               43
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    Estimated Total Annual Burden Cost: Participation in this study is 
voluntary, and there are no costs to respondents beyond the time spent 
completing the end user feedback survey or structured interviews.
    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

[[Page 23017]]

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. 2022-08151 Filed 4-15-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P