[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 205 (Tuesday, October 25, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64536-64538]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-23086]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2022-0045]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for 
Comment; Influence of Drivers' Internal Reasoning on Speeding

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments on a proposed 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 proposed collection of 
information. Before a Federal agency can collect certain information 
from the public, it

[[Page 64537]]

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. This document describes a collection of information for 
which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval on the Influence of Drivers' 
Internal Reasoning on Speeding.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 27, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by the Docket No. NHTSA-
2022-0045 through 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 Stacy Jeleniewski, Ph.D., Office of 
Behavioral Safety Research (NPD-310), (202) 366-2752 (office), (202) 
981-3173 (cell), [email protected], National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration, W46-491, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, 
DC 20590.

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: Influence of Drivers' Internal Reasoning on Speeding.
    OMB Control Number: New.
    Form Numbers: NHTSA Form 1659.
    Type of Request: Approval of a New 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 conduct a survey of 1,500 licensed drivers in Washington State age 
18 and older regarding speeding. The study will coordinate with the 
Washington Traffic Safety Commission and Washington Department of 
Licensing to survey drivers in the State who received one or more 
speeding convictions in the last three years and drivers not convicted 
of speeding in that same time-frame. Participation in the study will be 
voluntary. The study will use a self-administered web-based survey with 
a paper survey option available. The survey will include general and 
speeding-specific questions about moral reasoning (judgments about 
rightfulness and wrongfulness), legal reasoning (judgments about 
lawfulness and unlawfulness), and attitudes and perceptions of laws, 
enforcement, and sanctions. Past speeding behavior and intent to speed 
in the future will also be assessed.
    In conducting the proposed research, the survey will use computer-
assisted web interviewing (i.e., a programmed, self-administered, web 
survey) to facilitate ease of use and maximize data accuracy. Although 
web will be the primary data collection mode, a paper questionnaire 
will be sent to households that do not respond to the web invitations. 
The proposed survey will be anonymous, and the survey will not collect 
any personal identifying information. This collection only requires 
respondents to report their answers; there are no record-keeping costs 
to the respondents. Individuals receiving a survey invitation will 
receive compensation in return for their activities.
    The results of this research will assist NHTSA in better 
understanding how to develop successful programs to improve driver 
safety. The technical report will be distributed to a variety of 
audiences interested in improving highway safety. This collection will 
inform the development of countermeasures, particularly in the areas of 
communications and outreach intended to reduce speeding.
    Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the 
Information: NHTSA was established to reduce the number of 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 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. Speeding behavior is an 
area for which NHTSA has developed comprehensive

[[Page 64538]]

programs to meet its injury reduction goals. The major components of 
speeding safety programs are education, enforcement, and outreach, with 
legislative efforts added to the mix.
    Speeding continues to be a major safety problem. In 2019, speeding 
was a contributing factor in 26% of fatal, 12% of injury, and 9% of 
property-damage-only crashes. Motor vehicle crashes in 2019 where at 
least one driver was speeding accounted for 9,478 fatalities. That same 
year, 326,000 people were injured in speeding-related traffic 
crashes.\1\ To address the safety problem, NHTSA has provided State 
Highway Safety Offices and safety advocates with information on 
attitudes and behaviors of drivers who speed, including changes across 
time, and classified speeder types.2 3 NHTSA is continuing 
these efforts and attempting to assist the development of more tailored 
countermeasures by conducting this new study to evaluate additional 
psychological factors that may predict speeding behavior.
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    \1\ National Center for Statistics and Analysis. (2021, 
October). Speeding: 2019 data (Traffic Safety Facts. Report No. DOT 
HS 813 194). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
    \2\ Richard, C.M., Campbell, J.L., Lichty, M.G., Brown, J.L., 
Chrysler, S., Lee, J.D., Boyle, L., & Reagle, G. (2012, August). 
Motivations for speeding, Volume I: Summary report. (Report No. DOT 
HS 811 658). Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration.
    \3\ Schroeder, P., Kostyniuk, L., & Mack, M. (2013, December). 
2011 National Survey of Speeding Attitudes and Behaviors. (Report 
No. DOT HS 811 865). Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration.
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    In order to design countermeasures that address directly the 
factors that influence speeding behavior and intention to engage in 
this behavior, it is necessary to understand as much as possible about 
the internal reasoning of drivers who speed. Insight into factors such 
as judgments about whether speeding is morally right or wrong and 
perceptions of the legitimacy of the speed laws, enforcement, and 
sanctions can help to develop tailored and effective interventions. 
This study will examine these factors by conducting a survey of 
speeders and non-speeders. NHTSA will use the findings to assist 
States, localities, and communities in developing and refining 
countermeasures that will aid in their efforts to reduce speeding 
behavior and speeding-related crashes and injuries.
    NHTSA will disseminate the information from this study in a 
technical report. 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 speeding behavior and 
speeding-related crashes.
    Affected Public: Participants are eligible for the survey if they 
are (1) licensed drivers in the State of Washington at the time the 
sample is drawn; (2) age 18 and older; (3) randomly selected from the 
total drivers in Washington State in three groups based on the number 
of speeding convictions on their driver record (0; 1; and 2+).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: Participation in this study will 
be voluntary. The study anticipates contacting up to 4,545 adult 
licensed drivers from Washington State to obtain no more than 1,500 
completed surveys.
    Frequency of Collection: The study will be conducted one time 
during the three-year period for which NHTSA is requesting approval.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: NHTSA estimates the 
approximate time to complete the survey is 20 minutes per participant. 
Details of the burden hours for each wave in the survey are included in 
Table 1 below. When rounded up to the nearest whole hour for each data 
collection effort, the total estimated annual burden from the project 
activities for 1,500 participants is 501 hours.

                                                       Table 1--Estimated Total Burden for Survey
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                                                                                             Estimated
                                               Number of                                    burden per     Frequency of      Number of     Total burden
                   Wave                        contacts           Participant type          sample unit       burden       sample units       hours *
                                                                                           (in minutes)
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Wave 1 (Initial Invitation)...............           4,545  Recruited participant--                   20               1             495             165
                                                             Eligible respondent.
Wave 2 (Reminder Postcard #1).............           4,050  Recruited participant--                   20               1             297              99
                                                             Eligible respondent.
Wave 3 (1st Survey Mailing--NHTSA Form               3,753  Recruited participant--                   20               1             376             126
 1659).                                                      Eligible respondent.
Wave 4 (Reminder Postcard #2).............           3,377  Recruited participant--                   20               1             188              63
                                                             Eligible respondent.
Wave 5 (2nd Survey Mailing--NHTSA Form               3,189  Recruited participant--                   20               1             144              48
 1659).                                                      Eligible respondent.
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    Total.................................  ..............  ............................  ..............  ..............  ..............             501
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* Rounded up to the nearest hour.

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

Nanda Narayanan Srinivasan,
Associate Administrator, Research and Program Development.
[FR Doc. 2022-23086 Filed 10-24-22; 8:45 am]
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