Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for Comment; Drivers' Knowledge-Correct Use of New Technology Features in Passenger Vehicles

Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for Comment; Drivers' Knowledge/Correct Use of New Technology Features in Passenger Vehicles

Publication: Federal Register
Signing Official: Nanda Narayanan Srinivasan
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Date: 20 July 2022

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 20, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43374-43376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15408]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2022-0063]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for
Comment; Drivers' Knowledge/Correct Use of New Technology Features in
Passenger Vehicles

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments on a request for approval of a
new information collection.

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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 new 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 OMB approval on Drivers'
Knowledge/Correct Use of New Technology Features in Passenger Vehicles.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 19, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by the Docket No. NHTSA-
2022-0063 using 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 Kathy Sifrit, Ph.D., Contracting
Officer's Representative, Office of Behavioral Safety Research (NPD-
320), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, W46-470, Washington, DC 20590. Dr. Sifrit's phone number is
202-366-0868, and her email address is Kathy.Sifrit@dot.gov.

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: Drivers' Knowledge/Correct Use of New Technology Features in
Passenger Vehicles.
OMB Control Number: New.
Form Numbers: NHTSA Forms 1627, 1628, 1629, and 1630.
Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection request.
Type of Review Requested: Regular.
Requested Expiration Date of Approval: 3 years from date of
approval.

Summary of the Collection of Information

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the
U.S. Department of Transportation is seeking approval for a one-time
voluntary information collection from 180 of licensed drivers of
various ages for a research study of drivers' interactions with Level 2
(L2) systems that can provide longitudinal (adaptive cruise control)
and lateral (lane centering) control of the vehicle. NHTSA expects to
provide screening questionnaires to 1,000 potential participants to
determine their eligibility for the study. Recruiting participants for
the study has an estimated burden of 250 hours for the screening
questions. An estimated 200 potential participants will be eligible and
interested. This group will receive the consent form with an estimated
burden of 150 hours for reviewing and completing the form. An estimated
180 participants are expected to consent and enroll in the study.
Participants' naturalistic driving data will be collected using a data
acquisition system (DAS) installed in study-provided vehicles. The DAS
includes video cameras and sensors; data also will be collected from
the vehicle. Naturalistic driving data will be collected for two weeks
with the L2 systems in this study unavailable to the drivers to provide
a baseline measure of participants' driving habits, followed by four
weeks driving with the systems available to measure changes in driving
patterns as well as safety-related behaviors such as distracted driving
and seat belt use. While the naturalistic data collection does not
create a burden to participants, study tasks above and beyond the
driving they would normally complete include a 15-minute enrollment
procedure, a one-hour vehicle familiarization briefing, a two-hour
training about the L2 systems, two two-hour planned drives (one at the
beginning and one at the end of the study), five 30-minute planned
drives

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(during the study), a five-minute usability questionnaire, and a 30-
minute final debriefing. As such, the naturalistic study has an
expected burden of 1,860 hours. In addition, half the participants will
complete a 15-minute questionnaire that measures knowledge and opinions
before exposure to the L2 systems and the other half will complete
after exposure with an estimated burden of 45 hours. The total expected
burden for this collection is 2,305 hours. NHTSA will use the
information to produce a technical report containing summary statistics
and tables. No identifying information or individual responses will be
reported. The technical report will be made available to a variety of
audiences interested in improving highway safety through the agency
website and the National Transportation Library. This project involves
approval by an institutional review board, which the contractor will
obtain before contacting potential participants. This collection will
inform the development of behavioral safety countermeasures,
particularly in the areas of communications and training, intended to
improve drivers' ability to use L2 systems safely.

Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the
Information

NHTSA's mission is to save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce
traffic-related health care and other economic costs. To further this
mission, NHTSA conducts research as a foundation for the development of
motor vehicle standards and traffic safety programs. Older adults
comprise an increasing proportion of the driving population. Driving
supports older adults' access to the goods and services they need and
enhances their ability to take part in community and family activities
that support quality of life. Vehicles equipped with L2 systems can
reduce the cognitive load imposed by driving, which may make them
appealing to older drivers who may find driving cognitively taxing, and
to younger adults who may find the systems useful when navigating
through heavy traffic or during long trips. However, drivers must
understand what they can and cannot expect from L2 systems to use them
safely and effectively. An increasing proportion of passenger vehicles
are equipped with L2 systems which, under appropriate conditions, keep
the vehicle centered in the lane and manage the vehicle's acceleration/
braking to stay an appropriate distance from the vehicle ahead while
maintaining driving speed. Research regarding driver understanding of
L2 systems has been mixed. NHTSA is concerned that drivers may over-
rely on L2 systems, and engage risky behaviors such as driving while
distracted, drowsy, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. NHTSA
desires to learn more about how older and young adult drivers use these
systems to better target behavioral countermeasures such as
communications and training to ensure that drivers use the systems
safely.
Affected Public: Study volunteers in the Blacksburg, VA, area. The
study plans to recruit participants with little to no experience
driving a vehicle with L2 systems. Of the 180 selected drivers, 60 will
be age 70 and older, 60 will be between the ages of 35 and 55, and 60
will be between ages 18 and 25. Equal numbers of males and females will
be recruited within each age group.
Estimated Number of Respondents: The study anticipates screening
1,000 potential participants to obtain 180 drivers who meet study
inclusion criteria. NHTSA expects to provide screening questionnaires
to 1,000 potential participants to determine their eligibility for the
study. Based upon previous research experience in the study area, an
estimated 200 potential participants (20% of those who respond to
screener questions) will be eligible and interested. An estimated 180
participants (90% of those who receive the consent form) are expected
to consent and enroll in the study.
Frequency: This study is a one-time information collection.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,305.
The annual estimated burden is 2,305 hours. This estimate includes
250 hours for 1,000 potential participants to complete the initial
screening and 150 hours for 200 potential participants to review and
complete the consent form. The burden estimate also includes 1,860
hours for the 180 consented and enrolled participants to complete all
study tasks above and beyond the driving they would normally complete
during the naturalistic driving observation periods. The study tasks
include a 15-minute process for study enrollment, a 1-hour vehicle
familiarization briefing, a 2-hour training about the L2 systems, two
2-hour planned drives (one at the beginning and one at the end of the
study), five 30-minute planned drivers (during the study), a five-
minute usability questionnaire, and a 30-minute final debriefing. In
addition, half the participants will complete a 15-minute questionnaire
that measures knowledge and opinions before exposure to L2 systems and
the other half will complete the questionnaire after exposure with an
estimated burden of 45 hours. The total burden is the sum of the burden
across screening, consenting, and completing the study for a total
estimate of 2,305 hours. The details are presented in Table 1 below.

Table 1--Estimated Burden Hours by Form
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Total
Estimated estimated
Form Description Participants minutes per burden hours
participant per form
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Form 1627.......................... Screening Questionnaire.... 1000 15 250
Form 1628.......................... Informed Consent Briefing.. 200 45 150
Form 1629.......................... Knowledge & Opinion 180 15 45
Questionnaire.
Form 1630.......................... Naturalistic Study......... 180 620 1,860
Enrollment................. .............. 15 ..............
Vehicle Familiarization.... .............. 60 ..............
Baseline Planned Drive..... .............. 120 ..............
L2 System Familiarization.. .............. 120 ..............
Five Weekly Planned Drives. .............. 150 ..............
Post-Study Planned Drive... .............. 120 ..............
Usability Questionnaire.... .............. 5 ..............
Debriefing................. .............. 30
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Total.......................... ........................... .............. .............. 2,305
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Estimated Total Annual Burden Cost: NHTSA estimates the only cost
burdens to respondents beyond the time spent on data collection
activities are costs related to drives above and beyond their normal
driving required by the study, which impose additional fuel costs.
These cost burdens are expected to be offset by the monetary
compensation that will be provided to all research participants.
Participants will receive $100 after completion of the first session,
$150 after completion of the baseline naturalistic driving, and $200
upon completion of the study. This compensation offsets both the
participants time as well as the additional fuel costs, and the amount
is in line with past similar efforts given the activities it requires
of 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 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 1351.29.

Issued in Washington, DC.
Nanda Narayanan Srinivasan,
Associate Administrator, Research and Program Development.
[FR Doc. 2022-15408 Filed 7-19-22; 8:45 am]
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