[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 20, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43374-43376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15408]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2022-0063]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for 
Comment; Drivers' Knowledge/Correct Use of New Technology Features in 
Passenger Vehicles

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments on a request for approval of a 
new information collection.

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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 new information 
collection. 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 reinstatement of 
previously approved collections. This document describes a collection 
of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval on Drivers' 
Knowledge/Correct Use of New Technology Features in Passenger Vehicles.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 19, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by the Docket No. NHTSA-
2022-0063 using any of the following methods:
     Electronic submissions: Go to the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions 
for submitting comments.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket Management, U.S. Department 
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Room W12-
140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except on Federal holidays. To be sure someone is there to help 
you, please call (202) 366-9322 before coming.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and 
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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or access 
to background documents, contact Kathy Sifrit, Ph.D., Contracting 
Officer's Representative, Office of Behavioral Safety Research (NPD-
320), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE, W46-470, Washington, DC 20590. Dr. Sifrit's phone number is 
202-366-0868, and her email address is [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(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 regulation (at 5 CFR 1320.8(d)), an agency must 
ask for public comment on the following: (a) 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; (b) 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; (c) how to enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; 
and (d) how to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g. permitting electronic 
submission of responses. In compliance with these requirements, NHTSA 
asks for public comments on the following proposed collection of 
information for which the agency is seeking approval from OMB.
    Title: Drivers' Knowledge/Correct Use of New Technology Features in 
Passenger Vehicles.
    OMB Control Number: New.
    Form Numbers: NHTSA Forms 1627, 1628, 1629, and 1630.
    Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection request.
    Type of Review Requested: Regular.
    Requested Expiration Date of Approval: 3 years from date of 
approval.

Summary of the Collection of Information

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the 
U.S. Department of Transportation is seeking approval for a one-time 
voluntary information collection from 180 of licensed drivers of 
various ages for a research study of drivers' interactions with Level 2 
(L2) systems that can provide longitudinal (adaptive cruise control) 
and lateral (lane centering) control of the vehicle. NHTSA expects to 
provide screening questionnaires to 1,000 potential participants to 
determine their eligibility for the study. Recruiting participants for 
the study has an estimated burden of 250 hours for the screening 
questions. An estimated 200 potential participants will be eligible and 
interested. This group will receive the consent form with an estimated 
burden of 150 hours for reviewing and completing the form. An estimated 
180 participants are expected to consent and enroll in the study. 
Participants' naturalistic driving data will be collected using a data 
acquisition system (DAS) installed in study-provided vehicles. The DAS 
includes video cameras and sensors; data also will be collected from 
the vehicle. Naturalistic driving data will be collected for two weeks 
with the L2 systems in this study unavailable to the drivers to provide 
a baseline measure of participants' driving habits, followed by four 
weeks driving with the systems available to measure changes in driving 
patterns as well as safety-related behaviors such as distracted driving 
and seat belt use. While the naturalistic data collection does not 
create a burden to participants, study tasks above and beyond the 
driving they would normally complete include a 15-minute enrollment 
procedure, a one-hour vehicle familiarization briefing, a two-hour 
training about the L2 systems, two two-hour planned drives (one at the 
beginning and one at the end of the study), five 30-minute planned 
drives

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(during the study), a five-minute usability questionnaire, and a 30-
minute final debriefing. As such, the naturalistic study has an 
expected burden of 1,860 hours. In addition, half the participants will 
complete a 15-minute questionnaire that measures knowledge and opinions 
before exposure to the L2 systems and the other half will complete 
after exposure with an estimated burden of 45 hours. The total expected 
burden for this collection is 2,305 hours. NHTSA will use the 
information to produce a technical report containing summary statistics 
and tables. No identifying information or individual responses will be 
reported. The technical report will be made available to a variety of 
audiences interested in improving highway safety through the agency 
website and the National Transportation Library. This project involves 
approval by an institutional review board, which the contractor will 
obtain before contacting potential participants. This collection will 
inform the development of behavioral safety countermeasures, 
particularly in the areas of communications and training, intended to 
improve drivers' ability to use L2 systems safely.

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

    NHTSA's mission is to save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce 
traffic-related health care and other economic costs. To further this 
mission, NHTSA conducts research as a foundation for the development of 
motor vehicle standards and traffic safety programs. Older adults 
comprise an increasing proportion of the driving population. Driving 
supports older adults' access to the goods and services they need and 
enhances their ability to take part in community and family activities 
that support quality of life. Vehicles equipped with L2 systems can 
reduce the cognitive load imposed by driving, which may make them 
appealing to older drivers who may find driving cognitively taxing, and 
to younger adults who may find the systems useful when navigating 
through heavy traffic or during long trips. However, drivers must 
understand what they can and cannot expect from L2 systems to use them 
safely and effectively. An increasing proportion of passenger vehicles 
are equipped with L2 systems which, under appropriate conditions, keep 
the vehicle centered in the lane and manage the vehicle's acceleration/
braking to stay an appropriate distance from the vehicle ahead while 
maintaining driving speed. Research regarding driver understanding of 
L2 systems has been mixed. NHTSA is concerned that drivers may over-
rely on L2 systems, and engage risky behaviors such as driving while 
distracted, drowsy, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. NHTSA 
desires to learn more about how older and young adult drivers use these 
systems to better target behavioral countermeasures such as 
communications and training to ensure that drivers use the systems 
safely.
    Affected Public: Study volunteers in the Blacksburg, VA, area. The 
study plans to recruit participants with little to no experience 
driving a vehicle with L2 systems. Of the 180 selected drivers, 60 will 
be age 70 and older, 60 will be between the ages of 35 and 55, and 60 
will be between ages 18 and 25. Equal numbers of males and females will 
be recruited within each age group.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: The study anticipates screening 
1,000 potential participants to obtain 180 drivers who meet study 
inclusion criteria. NHTSA expects to provide screening questionnaires 
to 1,000 potential participants to determine their eligibility for the 
study. Based upon previous research experience in the study area, an 
estimated 200 potential participants (20% of those who respond to 
screener questions) will be eligible and interested. An estimated 180 
participants (90% of those who receive the consent form) are expected 
to consent and enroll in the study.
    Frequency: This study is a one-time information collection.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,305.
    The annual estimated burden is 2,305 hours. This estimate includes 
250 hours for 1,000 potential participants to complete the initial 
screening and 150 hours for 200 potential participants to review and 
complete the consent form. The burden estimate also includes 1,860 
hours for the 180 consented and enrolled participants to complete all 
study tasks above and beyond the driving they would normally complete 
during the naturalistic driving observation periods. The study tasks 
include a 15-minute process for study enrollment, a 1-hour vehicle 
familiarization briefing, a 2-hour training about the L2 systems, two 
2-hour planned drives (one at the beginning and one at the end of the 
study), five 30-minute planned drivers (during the study), a five-
minute usability questionnaire, and a 30-minute final debriefing. In 
addition, half the participants will complete a 15-minute questionnaire 
that measures knowledge and opinions before exposure to L2 systems and 
the other half will complete the questionnaire after exposure with an 
estimated burden of 45 hours. The total burden is the sum of the burden 
across screening, consenting, and completing the study for a total 
estimate of 2,305 hours. The details are presented in Table 1 below.

                                     Table 1--Estimated Burden Hours by Form
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                                                                                                       Total
                                                                                     Estimated       estimated
                Form                         Description           Participants     minutes per    burden hours
                                                                                    participant      per form
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Form 1627..........................  Screening Questionnaire....            1000              15             250
Form 1628..........................  Informed Consent Briefing..             200              45             150
Form 1629..........................  Knowledge & Opinion                     180              15              45
                                      Questionnaire.
Form 1630..........................  Naturalistic Study.........             180             620           1,860
                                     Enrollment.................  ..............              15  ..............
                                     Vehicle Familiarization....  ..............              60  ..............
                                     Baseline Planned Drive.....  ..............             120  ..............
                                     L2 System Familiarization..  ..............             120  ..............
                                     Five Weekly Planned Drives.  ..............             150  ..............
                                     Post-Study Planned Drive...  ..............             120  ..............
                                     Usability Questionnaire....  ..............               5  ..............
                                     Debriefing.................  ..............              30
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------

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    Total..........................  ...........................  ..............  ..............           2,305
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    Estimated Total Annual Burden Cost: NHTSA estimates the only cost 
burdens to respondents beyond the time spent on data collection 
activities are costs related to drives above and beyond their normal 
driving required by the study, which impose additional fuel costs. 
These cost burdens are expected to be offset by the monetary 
compensation that will be provided to all research participants. 
Participants will receive $100 after completion of the first session, 
$150 after completion of the baseline naturalistic driving, and $200 
upon completion of the study. This compensation offsets both the 
participants time as well as the additional fuel costs, and the amount 
is in line with past similar efforts given the activities it requires 
of participants.
    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.
    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. 2022-15408 Filed 7-19-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P