[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 31, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16227-16228]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7130]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[U.S. DOT Docket No. NHTSA-2010-0037]
Reports, Forms, and Record Keeping Requirements
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.
ACTION: Request for public comment on proposed collection of
information.
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SUMMARY: Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from
the public, it must receive approval from the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB). Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), before seeking OMB approval,
Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of
information, including extensions and reinstatements of previously
approved collections.
This document describes an Information Collection Request (ICR) for
which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 1, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to the U.S. Department of
Transportation Dockets, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Washington, DC
20590. Docket No. NHTSA-2010-0037.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randolph Atkins, Ph.D., Contracting
Officer's Technical Representative, Office of Behavioral Safety
Research (NTI-131), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., W46-500, Washington, DC 20590. Dr. Atkins'
phone number is 202-366-5597 and his e-mail address is
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
before an agency submits a proposed collection of information to OMB
for approval, it must 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 regulations (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; and
(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 public comment on
the following proposed collection of information:
Title: Motivations for Speeding.
Type of Request: New information collection request--focus group
follow-up with participants from an earlier on-road instrumented
vehicle study.
OMB Clearance Number: N/A.
Form Number: This collection of information uses no standard forms.
Requested Expiration Date of Approval: September 3, 2011.
Summary of the Collection of Information: In Phase 1 of this study,
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted
on-road instrumented vehicle data collection in Seattle, WA and College
Station, TX with a total of 167 participants to examine driving speed
patterns with the goals of understanding motivations for speeding.
Based on speeding patterns in the data from the instrumented vehicle
phase of this study, NHTSA plans to follow-up with these same subjects
in focus groups in Phase 2 of the research to develop a better
understanding of speeding and speeders, to develop a more accurate
taxonomy of high/low speed driver subgroups and to gain a better
understanding of the motives--as well as attitudes and habits--of these
subgroups, and explore attitudes and behavioral influences pertinent to
various countermeasures (e.g., points reduction courses, speed
awareness courses, engineering countermeasures, and automated
enforcement) and the acceptance and potential effectiveness of the
countermeasures. The focus groups will include: general discussions of
speed choices and speeding behaviors and the factors that influence
them, discussions of beliefs and attitudes toward speeding, reactions
to and discussions about specific driving scenarios, and individual/
group responses to various speeding countermeasures. The focus groups
are expected to provide data relevant to descriptions of key
motivations, attitudes, normative commitment to law, driving habits
relevant to speeding and speeding countermeasures; descriptions of
countermeasures with the greatest likely benefits; implementation
issues and concerns associated with the countermeasures; and key
advantages and disadvantages associated with various countermeasures.
Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the
Information--The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
was established by the Highway Safety Act of l970 (23 U.S.C. 101) to
carry out a Congressional mandate to reduce the mounting number of
deaths, injuries, and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle
crashes on the Nation's highways. Speeding is one of the primary
factors leading to vehicle crashes. In 2008, 31% of all fatal crashes
were speeding-related. The estimated economic cost to society for
speeding-related crashes is $40.4 billion per year. Driving at higher
speeds reduces the ability of drivers to avoid obstacles or react to
sudden changes in the roadway environment and increases crash severity.
The pervasiveness of speeding behavior is reflected in a recent
national survey that showed that approximately 75% of all drivers
reported speeding in the past month. Since most drivers often do not
see speeding as risky or dangerous behavior, it is imperative that
NHTSA gain a better understanding of the motivations for speeding
behaviors in order to develop and refine effective interventions and
countermeasures. These focus groups, directly linked to the driving
speed patterns of drivers in Phase 1 of the study, will provide
important new information on the reasons drivers choose to drive at
certain speeds and what
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countermeasures would be most effective in reducing their speeding
behaviors. In support of its mission, NHTSA will use the findings from
these focus group sessions to improve current programs, interventions
and countermeasures for speeding on our Nation's highways in order to
achieve the greatest benefit in decreasing crashes and resulting
injuries and fatalities, and provide informational support to States,
localities, and law enforcement agencies that will aid them in their
efforts to reduce traffic crashes.
Description of the Likely Respondents (Including Estimated Number,
and Proposed Frequency of Response to the Collection of Information)--A
subset of the participants who participated in the Phase 1 on-road
study will be asked to participate in focus groups. Individual focus
group sessions will be based on specific demographic or behavioral
characteristics of the Phase 1 participants, with the constraint that
the group composition should not be counterproductive to facilitating
frank and open discussions of the key topics (i.e., combining young
males and females in the same group is not an effective approach). The
selection strategy will involve three focus groups at each location,
(1) younger male chronic speeders, (2) younger female chronic speeders,
and (3) older male and female situational and chronic speeders. These
focus groups are expected to take place in the July/August 2010
timeframe. Session participation would be voluntary and compensated
with a $75 honorarium.
Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Record Keeping Burden
Resulting from the Collection of Information--NHTSA will conduct six
focus group sessions, three in Seattle, WA and three in College Station
TX. Each focus group will consist of 8-12 participants and last
approximately 80 minutes. Participants will be recruited by e-mail or
telephone based on their driving behaviors in Phase 1 of the study and
their demographic characteristics. Therefore, the total estimated
annual burden is between 64 and 96 hours, depending on the number of
participants (range 8--12) in each group. The respondents would not
incur any reporting cost from the information collection. The
respondents also would not incur any record keeping burden or record
keeping cost from the information collection.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A).
Issued on: March 25, 2010.
Jeff Michael,
Associate Administrator, Research and Program Development.
[FR Doc. 2010-7130 Filed 3-30-10; 8:45 am]
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