[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 94 (Friday, May 16, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21109-21112]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-08811]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-2025-0021]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for
Comment; Drivers' Use of Camera-Based Rear Visibility Systems Versus
Traditional Mirrors
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice and request for comments on revision of a currently
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 an extension of a
currently approved 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 a revision to an OMB-approved collection titled ``Drivers' Use
of Camera-Based Rear Visibility Systems Versus Traditional Mirrors''
identified by OMB Control Number 2127-0756. The collection is currently
approved through July 31, 2025, and supports research addressing
safety-related aspects of drivers' use of camera-based rear visibility
systems designed to replace or supplement vehicle rearview mirrors.
This collection is necessary to inform next steps on an advance notice
of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) NHTSA published in response to two
petitions requesting revision of FMVSS No. 111 to permit such camera-
based systems as an alternative compliance option for certain current
requirements specifying rearview mirrors. This revision includes
changes in respondents and thus a change in burden hours and requests
an extension to continue data collection.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 15, 2025.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by the docket number in
the heading of this document or by any of the following methods:
[[Page 21110]]
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on
the electronic docket site by clicking on ``Help'' or ``FAQ''.
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: 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 www.regulations.gov, including any personal
information provided. Please see the Privacy 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.dot.gov/privacy.html.
Docket: For access to the docket to read comments received, go to
https://www.regulations.gov or the street address listed above. Follow
the online instructions for accessing the dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Mazzae, Applied Crash
Avoidance Research Division, Vehicle Research and Test Center, NHTSA,
10820 State Route 347--Bldg. 60, East Liberty, Ohio 43319; Telephone
(937) 666-4511; Facsimile: (937) 666-3590; email address:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), 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: (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; (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
comments on the following proposed collection of information:
Title: Drivers' Use of Camera-Based Rear Visibility Systems Versus
Traditional Mirrors.
OMB Control Number: 2127-0756.
Form Numbers: NHTSA forms 1553, 1554, 2044, 1556, 1557, 1558.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information
collection.
Type of Review Requested: Regular.
Requested Expiration Date of Approval: Three years from date of
approval.
Summary of the Collection of Information: This information
collection is a revision of a currently approved information
collection, OMB Control Number 2127-0756, ``Drivers' Use of Camera-
Based Rear Visibility Systems Versus Traditional Mirrors.'' NHTSA is
conducting research as part of a multiyear effort to gather information
to aid in determining whether camera-based rear visibility systems can
provide the same level of safety as the rearview mirrors currently
required under FMVSS No. 111, Rear Visibility. NHTSA published an ANPRM
(RIN 2127-AM02) responding to two petitions received from vehicle
manufacturers seeking permission to install camera-based rear
visibility systems (sometimes referred to as camera monitor systems,
CMS), instead of outside rearview mirrors, on both light vehicles and
heavy trucks. In the ANPRM, NHTSA outlined a list of issues and related
questions ``on which the agency requests additional information to
adequately evaluate the safety of permitting CMS as an alternative
compliance option to rearview mirrors.'' \1\ This research will help
answer important safety questions posed in the ANPRM and inform NHTSA's
response to the petitions by aiding in determining whether CMS can
provide at least the same level of safety as the currently required
mirrors.
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\1\ 84 FR 54533. Docket No. NHTSA-2018-0021. Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard No. 111, Rear Visibility; Advance notice of
proposed rulemaking (ANPRM).
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The research examines the use of camera-based visibility systems
versus rearview mirrors for both light vehicles and heavy trucks.
Research participants are volunteers who are members of the general
public, who are licensed car and/or commercial truck drivers aged 25 to
65, and who are healthy and able to drive without assistive devices.
Research participants experience a vehicle equipped with a production
or prototype camera-based visibility system and/or an FMVSS No. 111-
compliant rearview mirror system. The research uses stationary, track-
based, and on-road, semi-naturalistic driving experimentation as a
means of collecting data needed to support the rulemaking effort.
Experimental data collection includes variables pertaining to driver
eye glance behavior and driving performance. This collection provides
flexibility to collect additional information to address critical
research questions raised during the course of this research that are
deemed necessary to support rulemaking.
This is a revision of a currently approved information collection
(IC) to extend the approval period, adjust the number of respondents
annually, and revise the burden calculations based on data collection
completed as of March 14, 2025. The currently approved collection
permitted 200 respondents annually across multiple complementary
studies within the research taking place over the original approved
period. In this extension request, NHTSA is requesting 156 respondents
annually over the three-year approval period. This notice provides
changes from the current collection to this revision in the number of
respondents for some individual ICs, the time for completion of some
individual ICs, wages, and federal wage rates. Additionally, NHTSA has
included contractor costs that were unintentionally excluded from the
original collection.
Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the
Information: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's
(NHTSA) mission is to save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce economic
costs associated with motor vehicle crashes. As new vehicle
technologies are developed, it is prudent to ensure that they do not
create any unintended decrease in safety. The safety of passive camera-
based visibility technologies depends on both the performance of the
[[Page 21111]]
systems and on drivers' ability to use the systems effectively and
comfortably. Information regarding this safety question is needed to
aid NHTSA's rulemaking activities (RIN 2127-AM02) responding to two
petitions received from vehicle manufacturers seeking permission to
install camera-based systems, instead of outside rearview mirrors, as a
means of meeting certain FMVSS No. 111 rear visibility requirements on
both light vehicles and heavy trucks. This work seeks to examine and
compare drivers' eye glance behavior and aspects of driving performance
with rearview mirrors and camera-based systems intended to replace or
supplement rearview mirrors.
The full information collection request includes six information
collections:
1. Interest Response Form determines individuals' willingness to
participate in the study and their initial suitability for study
participation based primarily on demographics and driving
qualifications (e.g., annual mileage driven).
2. Candidate Screening Questions are primarily used to ensure that
participants meet driving record requirements of the contractor's
insurance company, are free of recent criminal convictions, meet
specific minimum health qualifications, and have reasonable
availability to participate in the study. Health screening questions
aim to identify candidate participants whose physical and health
conditions and driving experience may be deemed generally ``average''
and to determine if they can understand study documents.
a. Have no more than 2 points on current driving record.
b. Have no criminal convictions in the past 3 years, including
criminal driving offenses.
c. Have no uncorrected vision or hearing problems.
d. Are in good general health and able to drive continuously and
safely for a period of 3 hours without the need for assistive devices.
e. Self-report that they are able to read, write, speak, and
understand English.
f. Are willing to drive to NHTSA's Vehicle Research and Test Center
and spend up to approximately 4 hours participating in a research
study.
3. Experimental Data Collection includes a pre-briefing (consisting
of a greeting, Participant Informed Consent Form administration, and
presentation of experimental protocol instructions) and data collection
via stationary, track-based, and on-road, semi-naturalistic driving
experimentation. Participants' eye glance behavior and driving and/or
other performance data are recorded for later analysis that will
compare these data for rearview mirrors versus CMS.
4. Post-Drive Questionnaire: Drive with Camera Monitor System
gathers information about participants' experiences during the
experimental protocol when using a CMS.
5. Post-Drive Questionnaire: Drive with Traditional Mirrors gathers
information about participants' experiences during the experimental
protocol when using mirrors.
6. Post-Drive Questionnaire Final Opinions gathers information
about participants' opinions regarding preference for using CMS or
mirrors, as well as assessing specific, open-ended opinions regarding
CMS ease of use and perceived safety.
Affected Public: Research participants are paid volunteers from the
Columbus, OH, regional area who are licensed drivers aged 25-65 years
(inclusive), who drive at least an average number of miles (e.g.,
11,000) annually, are in good health and do not require assistive
devices to safely operate a vehicle, and can drive continuously for a
period of up to 3 hours.
Estimated Number of Respondents: Candidate participant recruitment
information is collected in an incremental fashion to permit the
determination of which individuals meet the criteria for research
participation. All interested candidates (estimate: 792) complete the
Interest Response Form. A subset of individuals (estimate: 578) are
then asked to complete Candidate Screening Questions. Those who
complete the questions and are eligible are contacted for
participation, with a goal of 156 participants annually.
Frequency of Collection: Once.
Number of Responses: 1,994.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 835 hours.
Burden has been adjusted from the currently approved collection
using the response/eligibility rates for the most recent experiment in
this research. The table below shows completion numbers and rates for
different stages of collection for that particular experiment. Notice
that the last row of the table shows the number of respondents who
completed the experiment and for which data were usable. Some
respondents' data were identified as not usable after the conclusion of
the experiment due to issues such as technical difficulties with the
data acquisition equipment. As the final, usable, and verified data
will be the basis on which research conclusions are drawn, this
collection extension and revision requests an increase in the number of
respondents in order to complete the research with enough usable data.
Table 1--Response/Eligibility Rate Data
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Response/eligibility
Information collection Completed rate (%)
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Interest Response Form............ 275 .......................
Candidate Screening Questionnaire. 200 73
Experimental Data Collection...... 53 27
Usable Data....................... 24 45
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The Interest Response Form is the initial information collection
for an experiment and is a response to the solicitation for candidate
research participants. Interested individuals respond to a study
recruitment advertisement by completing this Interest Response Form.
This is a one-time electronic collection for each experiment and is
estimated to take approximately 5 minutes to complete. Using the most
recent experiment associated with this IC and calculating response
rates, NHTSA requests approval for 792 respondents annually for this
collection.
The Interest Response Form submissions are reviewed manually by
research staff to select eligible participants. Individuals whose
responses meet participation requirements (recent eligibility rate was
calculated to be 73%) are selected to complete the Candidate Screening
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Questions. Candidate participants are emailed a link to the
electronically presented question set hosted on a secure website. NHTSA
estimates that 578 individuals will receive the Candidate Screening
Questions. This information is collected once for each experiment and
takes approximately 7 minutes to complete.
Upon review and determination that the candidate is eligible, that
candidate is contacted by email or phone to schedule their
participation. Individuals scheduled for study participation are asked
to appear at NHTSA's Vehicle Research and Test Center in East Liberty,
OH, for the Experimental Data Collection. The Experimental Data
Collection includes a pre-briefing and data collection during execution
of the study protocol. The pre-briefing consists of a greeting,
Participant Informed Consent Form administration, and presentation of
experimental protocol instructions. The Participant Informed Consent
Form is administered via both pre-recorded audio and a printed hard
copy. After presentation of the consent form, the participant is given
the opportunity to ask questions and then asked to sign an electronic
version of the consent form on a computer. Following consent, the
participant receives instructions on the experimental protocol. For
Experimental Data Collection, the participant is shown the vehicle,
seated in the driver seat, and equipment calibration is performed. Data
collection per the study protocol is then conducted through stationary,
track-based, or on-road, semi-naturalistic driving experimentation.
Data are recorded to document driver eye glance behavior and driving or
other protocol-related performance. This Experimental Data Collection
is conducted once per study and is estimated to take approximately 245
minutes. This estimate includes scheduling, instruction, and the drive.
From the data collected thus far, 245 minutes is an appropriate maximum
time. Using the recent response rate of 27 percent, NHTSA estimates 156
respondents annually will participate in the Experimental Data
Collection.
Respondents complete the Post-drive Questionnaire: Drive with
Camera Monitor System and/or the Post-drive Questionnaire: Drive with
Traditional Mirrors depending on which system or systems are used in
the respective experiment. While some respondents may only complete one
of these questionnaires based on the study design, NHTSA has included
both questionnaires for each participant in the burden calculation to
develop a maximum burden estimate. This electronic collection is
estimated to take 10 minutes per questionnaire. As the same number of
respondents that participate in the Experimental Data Collection will
complete these questionnaires, NHTSA estimates 156 respondents will
complete each of these annually.
Each respondent completes the Post-Drive Questionnaire: Final
Opinions. This electronic collection will be administered once to each
participant and is estimated to take 5 minutes to complete. All 156
respondents are expected to complete this questionnaire.
Table 2 shows the annual burden hours for the research.
Table 2--Annual Burden Hours and Opportunity Cost
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Annual
Annual Frequency of Annual Time per estimated
Information collection number of response responses response burden hours
respondents (min) (rounded)
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Interest Response Form....................... 792 1 792 5 66
Candidate Screening Questions................ 578 1 578 7 67
Experimental Data Collection................. 156 1 156 245 637
Post-drive Questionnaire: Drive with Camera 156 1 156 10 26
Monitor System..............................
Post-drive Questionnaire: Drive with 156 1 156 10 26
Traditional Mirrors.........................
Post-drive Questionnaire: Final Opinions..... 156 1 156 5 13
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Total.................................... ............ ............ .......... ......... 835
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The change reflected in this revision is a reduction in annual
burden from 890 hours per year to 835 hours per year.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Cost: $0.
There are no additional costs to respondents beyond the time spent
participating in the study, completing the questionnaires, and travel
costs for the visit to the study site. Respondents for the Interest
Response Form and the Candidate Screening Questions use their own
electronic device to complete the questionnaires. They are not
responsible for purchasing additional equipment nor software for this
completion. Any email messages or phone calls made for the purposes of
scheduling their participation are handled through personal devices as
well.
Public Comments Invited: You are invited to comment on any aspect
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; and 49 CFR 1.95.
Issued in Washington, DC.
Cem Hatipoglu,
Associate Administrator, Office of Vehicle Safety Research.
[FR Doc. 2025-08811 Filed 5-15-25; 8:45 am]
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