[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 116 (Thursday, June 16, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36369-36372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-13015]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2021-0051]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; National 
Survey of Pedestrian and Bicyclist Attitudes, Knowledge, 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 April 4, 2022. NHTSA 
received two comments, which we address below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 18, 2022.

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), (202) 366-2755, 
[email protected], National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, W46-498, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 
20590. Please identify the relevant collection of information by 
referring to its OMB Control Number 2127-0684.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), a 
Federal agency must receive approval from the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) before it collects certain information from the public and 
a person is not required to respond to a collection of information by a 
Federal agency unless the collection displays a valid OMB control 
number. In compliance with these requirements, this notice announces 
that the following information collection request will be submitted to 
OMB.
    A Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting 
public comments on the following information collection was published 
on April 4, 2022 (Federal Register/Vol. 87, No. 64/pp. 19576-19579). 
NHTSA received one comment and one letter in support. Steven Morris 
provided remarks about ebikes, but no mention of the proposed survey or 
general traffic safety. The letter in support of the survey was 
submitted by the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies 
(NAMIC).
    Mr. Morris takes issue with the prohibition on using ebikes on an 
Ohio National Forest Service bicycle trail system. He also supplied a 
photo of his ebike contending that they do no more damage than regular 
bikes to the trails. His remarks did not mention the proposed survey. 
In NAMIC's letter addressed to NHTSA Administrator Steven Cliff, 
``NAMIC supports NHTSA's proposed collection of information as 
necessary and appropriate and believes that the information surveyed 
will have significant practical utility.'' They further believe that 
the survey effort will provide valuable information to help their 
members work with NHTSA, State legislators and regulars, and law 
enforcement agencies to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety. NAMIC 
recognizes the importance of the collection citing recent statistics 
from NHTSA and the Governors Highway Safety Administration of the 
rising number of vulnerable road user deaths.
    Comments on the proposed information collection are appreciated. 
Thank you to NAMIC for providing thoughtful commentary as to the 
importance of conducting the National Survey of Pedestrian and 
Bicyclist Attitudes, Knowledge, and Behaviors.
    Title: National Survey of Pedestrian and Bicyclist Attitudes, 
Knowledge, and Behaviors.
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0684.
    Form Numbers: NHTSA Forms 1148, 1613, 1614, 1615, 1616, 1617, 1618.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement with modification of a previously 
approved information collection (OMB Control No. 2127-0684).
    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 Pedestrian and Bicyclist Attitudes, 
Knowledge, and Behaviors by web and mail among a national probability 
sample of 7,500 adults (and 150 adults for a pilot survey), age 18 and 
older to obtain up-to-date information about bicyclist and pedestrian 
attitudes and behaviors. Participation by respondents would be 
voluntary. Survey topics include the extent to which Americans engage 
in walking and bicycling activity, their attitudes toward and 
experience with various facilities, road conditions, and technologies, 
and their opinions on pedestrian and bicycling safety topics.

[[Page 36370]]

    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-based interviewing would be the primary data 
collection mode, a paper questionnaire would be sent to households that 
do not respond to the web invitations. 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 by the Highway Safety Act of 1970 
and its mission is to reduce the number of 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 as a foundation 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. Pedestrian safety and bicyclist 
safety are two of multiple behavioral areas for which NHTSA has 
developed comprehensive programs to meet its injury reduction goals. 
The major components of pedestrian and bicyclist safety programs are 
education, enforcement, and outreach.
    NHTSA encourages walking and bicycling as alternate modes of 
transportation to motor vehicle travel; however, pedestrians and 
bicyclists are among the most vulnerable road users. Motor vehicle 
crashes in 2019 accounted for 6,205 pedestrian fatalities and 846 
bicyclist and other cyclist fatalities.\1\ That same year, 76,000 
pedestrians and 49,000 bicyclists were injured in traffic crashes. 
Moreover, increasing safe walking and bicycling behavior is promoted as 
a positive contributor to the quality of life. But an increase in 
walking and bicycling often means an increase in exposure to potential 
risk of collision with motor vehicles, underscoring the need to have in 
place aggressive pedestrian and bicyclist safety programs to reduce 
injuries and fatalities. This in turn requires periodic data collection 
to assess whether the programs continue to be responsive to the 
public's information needs, behavioral intentions, attitudes, physical 
environment, and other factors that contribute to safety while walking 
or bicycling.
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    \1\ National Center for Statistics and Analysis. (2021, March). 
Quick facts 2019 (Report No. DOT HS 813 124). National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration. https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813124.
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    The National Survey of Pedestrian and Bicyclist Attitudes, 
Knowledge, and Behaviors was conducted on two previous occasions--first 
in 2002 and again in 2012. Those surveys provided program planners and 
community leaders with detailed information on walking and bicycling 
behavior, level of support for facilities assisting those activities 
and awareness of safety issues. Since it has been ten years since NHTSA 
last conducted the survey, the information needs updating, especially 
given recent programs and initiatives to increase walking and 
bicycling, as well as the emergence of new technologies including e-
bikes, e-scooters, and fitness trackers. This project will provide that 
update by conducting the 2022 National Survey of Bicyclist and 
Pedestrian Attitudes and Behaviors. In the 2022 survey, NHTSA intends 
to examine the extent to which Americans engage in walking and 
bicycling activity, their attitudes towards and experience with various 
facilities, road conditions, and technologies, and their opinions on 
pedestrian and bicycling safety topics. Furthermore, NHTSA plans to 
assess whether self-reported behaviors, attitudes, and perceptions 
regarding walking and bicycling have changed over time since the 
administration of the prior national surveys. NHTSA will use the 
findings to assist States, localities, and communities in developing 
and refining walking and bicycling safety programs that will aid in 
their efforts to reduce pedestrian and bicyclist 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. The technical report will be 
shared with State highway offices, local governments, and those who 
develop traffic safety communications that aim to reduce pedestrian and 
bicyclist crashes.
    Affected Public: Participants will be U.S. adults (18 years old and 
older). Businesses are ineligible for the sample and would not be 
interviewed.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 7,650.
    Participation in this study will be voluntary. For the main survey 
collection, 7,500 participants will be 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 22,943 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 150 participants sampled from all 
50 States and the District of Columbia using address data from the most 
recent USPS computerized DSF of residential addresses. An estimated 459 
households will be contacted and have the study described to them. No 
more than one respondent will be selected per household.
    Frequency of Collection: The study will be conducted one time 
during the three-year period for which NHTSA is requesting approval, 
with a small pilot study occurring several months before the study's 
full launch. This study is part of a tracking and trending study to 
measure changes over time. The last study was administered in 2012.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: NHTSA estimates the total 
burden of this information collection by estimating the burden to those 
who NHTSA contacts but do not respond (non-responders) and those who 
respond and are eligible for participation (eligible respondents or 
actual participants). As virtually all households have at least one 
adult 18 or older, all households are eligible to participate and, as 
such, no burden is calculated for ineligible respondents. The estimated 
time to contact 22,943 potential participants (actual participants and 
non-responders) for the

[[Page 36371]]

survey and 459 potential participants (actual participants 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 in each subsequent wave. NHTSA estimates that 
7,500 people will respond to the survey request and 150 will respond to 
the pilot. The estimated time to contact (1 minute) and complete the 
survey (20 minutes) for 7,500 participants and 150 pilot participants 
is 21 minutes per person. Table 1 provides a description for each of 
the forms used in the survey protocol as well as their mailing wave. 
Details of the burden hours for each wave in the pilot and full survey 
are included in Tables 2 and 3 below. When rounded up to the nearest 
whole hour for each data collection effort, the total estimated annual 
burden is 4,182 hours for the project activities. Table 4 provides 
total burden hours associated with each form.

        Table 1--NHTSA Form Number, Description, and Mailing Wave
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                                                                Mailing
        NHTSA form No.                   Description              wave
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1148.........................  Questionnaire--National Survey       3, 5
                                of Pedestrian and Bicyclist
                                Attitudes, Knowledge, and
                                Behaviors (English).
1613.........................  Questionnaire--National Survey       3, 5
                                of Pedestrian and Bicyclist
                                Attitudes, Knowledge, and
                                Behaviors (Spanish).
1614.........................  Initial Invitation Letter.....          1
1615.........................  Reminder Postcard #1..........          2
1616.........................  Cover Letter included with 1st          3
                                mailing of the paper survey.
1617.........................  Reminder Postcard #2..........          4
1618.........................  Cover Letter included with 2nd          5
                                mailing of the paper survey.
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                                                    Table 2--Estimated Total Burden for Pilot Survey
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                                                                                      Estimated
                                           Number of                                 burden per   Frequency of    Number of   Burden hours  Total burden
        Mailing wave (form No.)            contacts          Participant type        sample unit     burden     sample units        *          hours *
                                                                                    (in minutes)
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Wave 1 (NHTSA Form 1614)...............           459  Contacted potential                     1             1           409             7            25
                                                        participant--Non-
                                                        respondent.
                                                       Recruited participant--                21             1            50            18
                                                        Eligible respondent.
Wave 2 (NHTSA Form 1615)...............           409  Contacted potential                     1             1           379             7            18
                                                        participant--Non-
                                                        respondent.
                                                       Recruited participant--                21             1            30            11
                                                        Eligible respondent.
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Wave 3 (NHTSA Forms 1148, 1613, 1616)..           379  Contacted potential                     1             1           341             6            20
                                                        participant--Non-
                                                        respondent.
                                                       Recruited participant--                21             1            38            14
                                                        Eligible respondent.
Wave 4 (NHTSA Form 1617)...............           341  Contacted potential                     1             1           322             6            13
                                                        participant--Non-
                                                        respondent.
                                                       Recruited participant--                21             1            19             7
                                                        Eligible respondent.
Wave 5 (NHTSA Forms 1148, 1613, 1618)..           322  Contacted potential                     1             1           309             6            11
                                                        participant--Non-
                                                        respondent.
                                                       Recruited participant--                21             1            13             5
                                                        Eligible respondent.
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    Total..............................  ............  ...........................  ............  ............  ............  ............            87
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* Rounded up to the nearest hour.


                                             Table 3--Estimated Total Burden for Main Data Collection Survey
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                                                                                      Estimated
                                           Number of                                 burden per   Frequency of    Number of   Burden hours  Total burden
        Mailing wave (form No.)            contacts          Participant type        sample unit     burden     sample units        *          hours *
                                                                                    (in minutes)
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Wave 1 (NHTSA Form 1614)...............        22,943  Contacted potential                     1             1        20,443           341         1,216
                                                        participant--Non-
                                                        respondent.
                                                       Recruited participant--                21             1         2,500           875
                                                        Eligible respondent.
Wave 2 (NHTSA Form 1615)...............        20,443  Contacted potential                     1             1        18,943           316           841
                                                        participant--Non-
                                                        respondent.
                                                       Recruited participant--                21             1         1,500           525
                                                        Eligible respondent.
Wave 3 (NHTSA Forms 1148, 1613, 1616)..        18,943  Contacted potential                     1             1        17,049           285           948
                                                        participant--Non-
                                                        respondent.
                                                       Recruited participant--                21             1         1,894           663
                                                        Eligible respondent.
Wave 4 (NHTSA Form 1617)...............        17,049  Contacted potential                     1             1        16,102           269           601
                                                        participant--Non-
                                                        respondent.
                                                       Recruited participant--                21             1           947           332
                                                        Eligible respondent.

[[Page 36372]]

 
Wave 5 (NHTSA Forms 1148, 1613, 1618)..        16,102  Contacted potential                     1             1        15,443           258           489
                                                        participant--Non-
                                                        respondent.
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                                                       Recruited participant--                21             1           659           231
                                                        Eligible respondent.
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    Total..............................  ............  ...........................  ............  ............  ............  ............         4,095
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* Rounded up to the nearest hour.


          Table 4--Estimated Total Burden by NHTSA Form for the Pilot and Main Data Collection Surveys
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                                                                    Burden per      Burden per
             Information collection                  Number of       response       respondent     Total burden
                                                     responses       (minutes)       (minutes)         hours
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NHTSA Forms 1148 and 1613.......................           7,650              20              20           2,550
NHTSA Form 1614.................................        * 23,850               1               1           * 398
NHTSA Form 1615.................................          20,852               1               1             348
NHTSA Form 1616.................................          19,322               1               1             322
NHTSA Form 1617.................................          17,390               1               1             290
NHTSA Form 1618.................................          16,424               1               1             274
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................  ..............  ..............  ..............           4,182
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* Rounded up based on individual waves.

    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.
    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, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Department's estimate 
of the burden of the proposed information collection; (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 automated 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.

Nanda Narayanan Srinivasan,
Associate Administrator, Research and Program Development.
[FR Doc. 2022-13015 Filed 6-15-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P