Request for Approval of a New Information Collection |
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Nathaniel Beuse
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
October 9, 2015
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 196 (Friday, October 9, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61269-61271]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25798]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-2013-0009]
Request for Approval of a New Information Collection
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information
Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below is being forwarded to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comments.
DATES: Written comments should be submitted on or before November 9,
2015.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street NW.,
Washington, DC 20503, Attention: NHTSA Desk Officer.
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; Facsimile: (937) 666-3590; email address:
elizabeth.mazzae@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Before a Federal agency can collect certain
information from the public, it must receive approval from the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB). In compliance with these requirements,
this notice announces that the following information collection request
has been forwarded to OMB. In the April 30, 2015, Federal Register,\1\
NHTSA published a 60-day notice requesting public comment on the
proposed collection of information. We received two comments.
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\1\ 80 FR 24314 (April 30, 2015).
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First, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (the ``Alliance'')
[[Page 61270]]
expressed concern with NHTSA's ``continued focus on simulator
research'' as a basis for our driver distraction guidance.
Specifically, the Alliance stated ``that the study method proposed will
not yield the meaningful and reliable metrics that will assist in
saving lives and preventing crashes. Instead, such metrics and
acceptance criteria should be developed using naturalistic driving
data.'' The Alliance qualified that this advice would not preclude the
use of simulators for conducting development tests, but such tests and
any auditory-vocal distraction metrics should be validated and
calibrated against real-world data before putting forth
recommendations. The Alliance also noted studies on auditory-vocal
distraction it believes NHTSA should consider in formulating
guidelines.
The objectives of the current work, to develop a low-cost,
standardized test protocol and task acceptance criteria for evaluating
the distraction potential of tasks performed with integrated systems,
cannot be accomplished through naturalistic research. To achieve the
greatest degree of repeatability and experimental control, the test
protocol will use driving simulator and visual occlusion testing.
As the Alliance suggests, NHTSA will be conducting an on-road
component to its research supporting the development of driver
distraction guidelines for auditory-vocal interfaces that will be
discussed in a Federal Register information collection request notice
at a later date. NHTSA will pull from many sources in formulating its
auditory-vocal guidelines. This will include analyzing data from NHTSA
research studies as well as other relevant studies in this area of
research.
Second, American Honda Motor Company, Inc. (Honda) commented that
the quality of the NHTSA's driver distraction measurement research
would be enhanced if Honda's ``Pedal Tracking and Detection Response
Task'' (PT-DRT) method was included in this NHTSA research. Honda
proposed that NHTSA collect objective data using the PT-DRT method as
part of the current research. Honda also indicated that they would like
NHTSA to adopt the PT-DRT method as an acceptable alternative to the
currently allowed task acceptance protocol in NHTSA's Driver
Distraction Guidelines.
NHTSA intends to conduct this research using a method that builds
on the protocol developed for NHTSA's Visual-Manual Driver Distraction
Guidelines and incorporates the extensively researched Detection
Response Task (DRT). NHTSA intends for our Guidelines test protocol to
be complementary and integrated, to the extent possible, to achieve an
assessment that is both robust and efficient to conduct.
NHTSA believes that the scientific basis for the DRT method being
standardized by ISO is strong. Furthermore, the results of research by
ISO member organizations have been robust. The DRT will provide an easy
to implement, reliable, and well-vetted method for comparing
distraction effects of secondary tasks with that of a reference task
(i.e., radio tuning).
NHTSA has received briefings and demonstrations of the PT-DRT
method by Honda and has been impressed with their scientific, reasoned
approach and willingness to share information with NHTSA. However, we
feel it is most efficient and cost-effective for us at this point to
move forward with investigating the incorporation of the well-vetted
DRT into our driving simulator based method and not to add a second,
new test method to the planned research. NHTSA wishes to clarify that
the research will determine the test methods that we will use in
evaluating auditory-vocal secondary tasks performed by drivers, vehicle
manufacturers may use whatever method they desire to assess their own
vehicles.
OMB Control Number: To be issued at time of approval.
Title: Driver Distraction Measurement Research.
Form Numbers: None.
Type of Review: New information collection.
Abstract: NHTSA seeks to collect information from the public as
part of a multi-study research effort that supports the development of
measurement techniques for auditory-vocal interactions involving in-
vehicle and portable devices used by motor vehicle drivers. Driving
experiments will be conducted using driving simulator and visual
occlusion apparatus research tools. Study participants will perform
specific secondary tasks while driving and their performance and
behavior (e.g., eye glance locations and durations) will be recorded.
Information will be collected during participant recruitment to
assess individuals' suitability for participation. Participants will
complete a brief set of questions to assess the incidence and severity
of any simulator-related discomfort. In the event a participant
indicates they experienced severe discomfort, that participant's
performance may be removed from the study and study staff will ensure
that the person is well enough safely drive home or will arrange for
another means of transportation.
Respondents: Web-based and print newspaper advertisements will be
used to obtain respondents who are licensed drivers aged 18-70 years.
Study participants must have no health conditions that may adversely
affect driving performance, have average or better vision and hearing,
and not require assistive devices to safely operate a vehicle. Criteria
for participation also include driving at least 3,000 miles annually
and experience using a cell phone while driving.
Estimated Number of Respondents: It is estimated that a total of
1,200 individuals will complete the first set of screening questions
and 1,000 of those 1,200 will also complete the second set of screening
questions. Of the 1,000, it is estimated that 500 individuals will meet
criteria for participation. From those 500, approximately 300
individuals will be chosen to produce a balance of age and genders.
Estimated Time per Response: Completion of the screening questions
is estimated to take approximately 5 minutes for the first set and 10
minutes for the second set. The simulator discomfort questionnaire is
estimated to take 2 minutes per participant.
Total Estimated Burden: 278 total hours.
Frequency of Collection: The data collections described will be
performed once to obtain the target number of 300 valid test
participants.
NHTSA estimates the burden of this collection of information as
follows:
Table 1--Estimated Burden Hours
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Question set N H C Cost Time
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Screening, Part 1............... 1200 0.0833 $79.00 $7,896.84 100
Screening, Part 2............... 1000 0.1677 79.00 13,248.30 168
Simulator Sickness.............. 300 0.0333 48.00 479.52 10
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[[Page 61271]]
Total....................... .............. .............. .............. 21,624.66 278
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Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.95.
Nathaniel Beuse,
Associate Administrator, Vehicle Safety Research.
[FR Doc. 2015-25798 Filed 10-8-15; 8:45 am]
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