[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 143 (Tuesday, July 29, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35752-35755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-14225]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-2025-0021]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; 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: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA),
this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR)
summarized below will be submitted to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for review and approval. 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 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. A Federal Register
Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the
following information collection was published on May 16, 2025. No
comments were received. A summary of comments and responses to them is
provided below.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 28, 2025.
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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or access
to background documents, 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; email address: [email protected].
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
OMB.
Title: Drivers' Use of Camera-Based Rear Visibility Systems Versus
Traditional Mirrors.
OMB Control Number: 2127-0756.
Form Numbers: NHTSA forms 1553--Interest Response Form; 1554--
Candidate Screening Questions, 2044--Participant Informed Consent Form,
2058--Experimental Data Collection, 1556--Post-Drive Questionnaire:
Drive with Camera-Monitor System, 1557--Post-drive Questionnaire: Drive
with Mirrors, 1558--Post-drive Questionnaire: Final Opinions.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information
collection.
Type of Review Requested: Regular.
Length of Approval Requested: Three years from date of approval.
Summary of the Collection of Information: The National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is seeking approval for 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
one-time, multi-year 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
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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 an 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 involves 6
voluntary information collections and 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 years. 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. The
collection of information will consist of (1) Interest Response Form to
be administered up to 792 potential research participants, (2)
Candidate Screening Questions to be administered up to 578 potential
research participants, (3) Study Data Collection, (4) Post-Drive
Questionnaire: Drive with Camera-Monitor System, (5) Post-Drive
Questionnaire: Drive with Mirrors, and (6) Post-Drive Questionnaire:
Final Opinions. 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 information collections, the time for
completion of some individual information collections, 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
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.
60-Day Notice:
A Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting
public comments on the following information collection was published
on May 16, 2025 (90 FR 21109). Two comments were received.
Daimler Truck North America (``DTNA'') submitted a comment that did
not address the topic of PRA clearance. Rather, the comment encouraged
NHTSA to take action to support the deployment of camera-based rear
visibility systems for commercial motor vehicles.
The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC)
commented regarding the invited topic of ``whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of
the functions of NHTSA, including whether the information will have
practical utility,'' as was stated in the 60-day Federal Register
notice. The points raised by NAMIC are summarized as follows along with
a response for each:
1. NAMIC commented that the 60-day notice content would have been
more helpful if it provided greater detail regarding ``the safety
purposes behind tracking drivers' eye glance behavior and aspects of
driving performance with rearview mirrors and camera-based systems.''
Response: Research being conducted under this clearance seeks to
address questions ``on which the agency requests additional information
to adequately evaluate the safety of permitting CMS as an alternative
compliance option to rearview mirrors'' as outlined in the 2019 ANPRM.
Information about drivers' eye glance behavior (e.g., duration that the
drivers' eyes are looking away from the forward roadway during a lane
change) and driving performance (e.g., distance to rearward vehicles
during a lane change) is used to assess safety-related differences
associated with use of required mirrors versus a camera-based
visibility system.
2. NAMIC also commented that ``more specifics on how and why the
size and composition representative sample was determined to be of
value would be instructive to considering practical value of the
exercise.'' NAMIC also commented that ``A one-time study of the eye
movement of 156 Midwest drivers may in fact provide practical value to
a safety assessment, but it may also seem more anecdotal than
demonstrative.'' Response: The stated number of respondents represents
the number that would participate annually across multiple
complementary studies within the research. NHTSA is not planning a
single, 156-participant study. The total number of respondents is that
predicted to be needed, based on existing knowledge of related driver
behavior characteristics and metrics, to attain sufficient statistical
power for each of the studies within the research.
3. Lastly, NAMIC also commented that NHTSA did not address the cost
side of a cost benefit analysis relating to the research, did not
define which of the 1,994 respondents will receive pay or expenses, or
how much, and that the notice states ``Estimated Total Annual Burden
Cost: $0.'' Response: The Paperwork Reduction Act requires in part that
the agency publish a notice in the Federal Register which estimates the
burden that results from the collection of information.\2\ This cost-
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related information estimates the burden the information collection
would impose on the public. NHTSA estimates 156 respondents annually
will participate in the Experimental Data Collection, and participants
that complete the study will receive $65 per hour. The estimated burden
cost is $0 because there is no cost to respondents for this information
collection. Participants are compensated for their travel to and from
the study site at the current internal revenue mileage rate, therefore
there is no travel cost for participants.
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\2\ 44 U.S.C. 3507.
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NHTSA appreciates the review, consideration, and support of the
research. No changes to the information collection were necessary as a
result of these comments.
Affected Public:
Research participants will be paid volunteers from the Columbus, OH
area who are licensed car and/or commercial truck drivers aged 25-65
years, drive at least 11,000 miles annually, are in good health, and do
not require assistive devices to safely operate a vehicle and 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: Once.
Estimated Number of Responses:1,994 responses.
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 information collection 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
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
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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
Participant Informed Consent Form............ 156 1 156 30 78
Experimental Data Collection................. 156 1 156 215 559
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 hours
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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 is no cost to respondents for this information collection.
Participants are compensated for their travel to and from the study
site at the current internal revenue mileage rate, therefore there is
no travel cost for 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 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) 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 appropriate automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological 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 1351.29A.
Cem Hatipoglu,
Associate Administrator, Vehicle Safety Research.
[FR Doc. 2025-14225 Filed 7-28-25; 8:45 am]
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