Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Request for Comment; Survey on Driver Awareness of Motorcycles

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Request for Comment; Survey on Driver Awareness of Motorcycles

Publication: Federal Register
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Byline: Nanda Narayanan Srinivasan
Date: 28 June 2022
Subjects: American Government

, Motorcycles, Safety

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 123 (Tuesday, June 28, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38452-38455]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-13721]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2020-0073]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Request for
Comment; Survey on Driver Awareness of Motorcycles

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

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

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA),
this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR)
abstracted below will be submitted to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR describes the nature of
the information collection and its expected burden. This document
describes a new collection of information for which NHTSA intends to
seek OMB approval. The Survey on Driver Awareness of Motorcycles is a
one-time voluntary survey regarding motorists' knowledge, attitudes,
and awareness of safe-driving behaviors towards motorcycles. A Federal
Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting public comments
on the following information collection was published on April 7, 2022.
NHTSA received seven comments. The National Association of Mutual
Insurance Companies submitted a letter of support for the proposed
information collection, as did two individuals. The other four comments
were either neutral, implicitly supportive, or not directly relevant to
the proposed information collection, as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 29, 2022.

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. Comments may also be sent by mail to the
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503, Attention: Desk
Officer for Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, or by email at oira_submission@omb.eop.gov, or
fax: 202-395-5806.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or access
to background documents, contact Kathryn Wochinger, Ph.D., Office of
Behavioral Safety Research (NPD-310), (202) 366-4300,
kathryn.wochinger@dot.gov, National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, W46-487, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC
20590.

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 to
OMB.
A Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting
public comments on the following information collection was published
on April 7, 2022 (Federal Register/Vol. 87, No. 67/pp. 20501-20504).
NHTSA received six

[[Page 38453]]

comments from individuals and one letter from the National Association
of Mutual Insurance Companies expressing support for the proposed
information collection. John Banta and John Tramburg provided comments
supportive of the information collection. A third individual (John
Herlihy) commented that ``. . . the most dangerous part about [riding a
motorcycle] is other vehicle operators.'' A fourth anonymous post was
that ``. . . many riders are most concerned about the use of additional
ethenol [sic] in our gasoline as a method to increase the supply of
gasoline and control price points,'' but the issue of gasoline is not
addressed in the proposed information collection. A fifth comment
submitted by Andy Kelly was about training of automobile drivers and
motorcycle operators in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The sixth
comment from John Chico Bethea was that ``. . . the greatest danger to
a modern motorcyclist are [sic] the other motor vehicle (cars, trucks,
SUVs) drivers on their cell phones.'' We appreciate the letter of
support from the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies and
the comments from each individual and thank them for their input.
Title: Survey on Driver Awareness of Motorcycles.
OMB Control Number: New.
Form Numbers: NHTSA Forms 1577, 1578, 1579, 1580, 1581, 1582, 1583,
and 1588.
Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection.
Type of Review Requested: Regular.
Requested Expiration Date of Approval: 3 years from date of
approval.
Summary of the Collection of Information: NHTSA is seeking approval
to collect information from two samples of randomly selected adults who
are aged 18 years or older and have driven a motor vehicle at least
once in the past three months for a new one-time voluntary survey to
report their knowledge, attitudes, and awareness of safe-driving
behaviors towards motorcycles. One sample consists of adult drivers
residing in Florida, and the other sample consists of adult drivers
residing in Pennsylvania. Surveys would be conducted with respondents
using an address-based sampling design that encourages respondents to
complete the survey online. NHTSA will contact a total of 33,460 to
achieve a target of at least 2,486 complete voluntary responses
consisting of 1,243 completed instruments from the Florida sample and
1,243 completed instruments from the Pennsylvania sample. The large
geographic and demographic sizes of Florida and Pennsylvania allow for
complex driving environments in which motorcycles and passenger
vehicles operate in a range of traffic conditions. An Institutional
Review Board (IRB) determined that this proposed information collection
is exempt from IRB oversight. NHTSA will summarize the results of the
collection using aggregate statistics in a final report to be
distributed to NHTSA program and regional offices, State Highway Safety
Offices, and other traffic safety and motorcycle safety stakeholders.
This collection supports NHTSA's mission by obtaining information
needed for the development of traffic safety countermeasures,
particularly in the areas of communications and outreach, for the
purpose of reducing fatalities, injuries, and crashes associated with
multi-vehicle motorcycle crashes.
Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the
Information: NHTSA was established by the Highway Safety Act of 1970 to
reduce deaths, injuries, and economic losses resulting from motor
vehicle crashes on the Nation's highways. To further its mission, NHTSA
is authorized to conduct research as a foundation for the development
of traffic safety programs. Title 23, United States Code, Section 403,
gives the Secretary of Transportation (NHTSA by delegation)
authorization to use funds appropriated to conduct research and
development activities, including demonstration projects and the
collection and analysis of highway and motor vehicle safety data and
related information, with respect to all aspects of highway and traffic
safety systems and conditions relating to vehicle, highway, driver,
passenger, motorcyclist, bicyclist, and pedestrian characteristics;
accident causation and investigations; and human behavioral factors and
their effect on highway and traffic safety. Motorcycle safety is a
behavioral area for which NHTSA has developed programs to meet its
injury reduction goals. Motorcycle safety is an increasing safety
concern in highway transportation. For example, per vehicle miles
traveled in 2019, motorcyclist fatalities occurred nearly 29 times more
frequently than passenger car occupant fatalities in traffic crashes,
and an estimated 84,000 motorcyclists were injured in 2019, which is a
2-percent increase from 82,000 motorcyclists injured in 2018; the most
harmful event for 55 percent of the 5,114 motorcycles involved in fatal
crashes in 2019 was a collision with another motor vehicle; and in two-
vehicle crashes, 76 percent of the motorcycles involved in fatal
crashes were struck in the front. Thus, strategies for improving
motorcycle safety include addressing other motorists' perceptions and
awareness of motorcycles.
This collection supports NHTSA's efforts to increase motorcyclist
safety by examining factors related to the interactions between
motorcycles and other motorists and their vehicles. The information
from this collection will assist NHTSA in (a) assessing the extent and
limitations of motorist knowledge of safe behaviors toward motorcycles,
and (b) identifying the issues to emphasize in traffic safety campaigns
and driver education. The collected information will help identify the
beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions underlying driving behaviors
towards motorcycles and inform the development of countermeasures to
improve the safety of interactions between motor vehicles,
specifically, motorcycles, and other vehicle types (primarily passenger
cars and Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs)).
The survey data will be used to assist NHTSA in its ongoing
responsibilities for: (a) planning and designing research and program
activities to improve motorcycle safety; (b) providing support to
groups involved in developing and implementing motorcycle safety
outreach programs and driver safety campaigns; and (c) identifying
areas in driver awareness and knowledge that need attention. NHTSA will
use the information to produce a technical report that presents the
results of the study. The technical report will provide aggregate
(summary) statistics and tables as well as the results of statistical
analysis of the information, but it will not include any personally
identifiable information. The project data will serve as a resource for
NHTSA and stakeholders to identify gaps in knowledge among the driving
public. The technical report will be shared with State highway offices,
local governments, and those who develop traffic safety communications
that aim to improve motorcycle safety.
Affected Public: Participants will be U.S. adults (18 years and
older) who reside in Florida or Pennsylvania and who have driven a
motor vehicle (car, van, SUV, or pickup truck) at least once in the
past three months. Businesses are ineligible for the sample and would
not be surveyed.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,486.
Participation in this study is voluntary. The estimated respondents
consist of 1,243 in the Florida sample and 1,243 in the Pennsylvania
sample. The project will invite 33,460 people to

[[Page 38454]]

participate using address data from the most recent U.S. Postal Service
computerized Delivery Sequence File of residential addresses. No more
than one respondent will be selected per household.
Frequency of Collection: The study will be conducted one time
during the three-year period for which NHTSA is requesting approval and
there will be no recurrence.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: NHTSA estimates the total
burden of this information collection by estimating the burden to those
who NHTSA contacts who respond and are eligible for participation
(eligible respondents that take the survey) and those contacted that
choose not to take the survey (non-responders) or are not eligible to
participate. The estimated time to contact 33,460 potential
participants (participants and non-responders) for the survey is one
minute per person per contact attempt. Contact attempts will be made in
five waves with fewer potential participants contacted in each
subsequent wave. Potential participants will receive an initial
postcard informing them of the project and inviting participation. The
first contact is a postcard introducing the project and inviting
participation. The second contact is an invitation letter with
instructions for completing the survey online (as the methodology
follows a ``push-to-web'' design to provide incentive to complete the
survey online). The third contact is a reminder postcard. The fourth is
a letter with a paper questionnaire and the fifth is a final reminder
postcard. The sixth and final wave is a ``thank you'' letter that will
include the contingent incentive to respondents who have provided a
completed response. NHTSA estimates that 2,486 people will respond to
the survey request. The estimated time to contact (1 minute) and
complete the survey (14 minutes) is 15 minutes per person. The total
burden estimated for this information collection is 3,289 hours. Table
1 provides a description for each of the forms used in the survey
protocol as well as their mailing wave. Details of the burden hours for
each wave in the survey are included in Table 2. When rounded up to the
nearest whole hour for each data collection effort, the total estimated
annual burden is 3,289 hours for the project activities.

Table 1--NHTSA Form Number, Description, and Mailing Wave
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NHTSA form No. Description Mailing wave
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1577........................ Initial Postcard--serves 1
as a notice of selection,
explains survey rationale.
1578........................ Invitation Letter-- 2
provides instructions and
hyperlink to the online
survey and includes the
$1 non-contingent
incentive.
1579........................ Reminder Postcard #1--the 3
first reminder, includes
instructions and
hyperlink to the online
survey.
1580........................ Reminder Letter #1--the 4
second reminder with the
paper survey, prepaid
return envelope, PIN, and
hyperlink to the online
survey.
1581........................ Reminder Postcard #2--last 5
reminder, includes
hyperlink to the online
survey.
1582........................ Questionnaire--the online 2, 3, 4, 5
version, provided on a
secure website.
1583........................ Questionnaire--the paper 4
version, for responders
not using the online
questionnaire.
1588........................ Thank You Letter--includes 6
the contingent incentive.
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Table 2 shows the estimated burden for each contact (wave) by
participation type (non-respondent, eligible, and ineligible). In the
first wave, 33,460 potential respondents are expected to spend 1 minute
each reading the postcard, resulting in an estimated burden of 558
hours. This calculation is applied for each subsequent wave, as
detailed in Table 2.

Table 2--Estimated Total Burden for Data Collection
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Estimated
Number of burden per Frequency Number of Burden Total
Mailing wave (Form No.) contacts Participant type sample unit of burden sample hours burden
(in minutes) units hours
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Wave 1 NHTSA Form 1577................... 33,460 Contacted potential 1 1 33,460 558 558
participant.
Wave 2 NHTSA Form 1578................... 33,460 Non-respondent.............. 1 1 31,787 530 870
Ineligible respondent....... 1 1 335 6
Eligible respondent......... 15 1 1,338 334
Wave 3 NHTSA Form 1579................... 31,787 Non-respondent.............. 1 1 30,833 514 708
Ineligible respondent....... 1 1 191 3
Eligible respondent......... 15 1 763 191
Wave 4 NHTSA Form 1580................... 30,833 Non-respondent.............. 1 1 30,524 509 572
Ineligible respondent....... 1 1 62 1
Eligible respondent......... 15 1 247 62
Wave 5 NHTSA Form 1581................... 30,524 Non-respondent.............. 1 1 30,351 506 541
Ineligible respondent....... 1 1 35 1
Eligible respondent......... 15 1 138 34
Wave 6 NHTSA Form 1588................... 2,486 Completed responders........ 1 1 2,486 41 41
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Total................................ ........... ............................ .............. ........... ........... ........... 3,289
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Table 3 provides total burden hours associated with each NHTSA
form. For example, 2,486 anticipated responders who provide completed
questionnaires (NHTSA Forms 1582 and 1583) are expected to spend 14
minutes each, resulting in an estimated burden of 580 hours.

[[Page 38455]]

Table 3--Estimated Total Burden by NHTSA Form for the Data Collection
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Burden per Burden per
Information collection Number of response respondent Total burden
responses (minutes) (minutes) hours
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Questionnaire--NHTSA Forms 1582 and 1583........ 2,486 14 14 580
Initial Postcard--NHTSA Form 1577............... 33,460 1 1 558
Invitation Letter--NHTSA Form 1578.............. 33,460 1 1 558
Postcard Reminder--NHTSA Form 1579.............. 31,787 1 1 530
Reminder Letter--NHTSA Form 1580................ 30,833 1 1 514
Final Postcard Reminder--NHTSA Form 1581........ 30,524 1 1 508
Thank You Letter--NHTSA Form 1588............... 2,486 1 1 41
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Total....................................... .............. .............. .............. 3,289
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Estimated Total Annual Burden Cost: NHTSA estimates that there are
no costs to respondents beyond the time spent participating in the
study.
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, 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 1351.29.

Nanda Narayanan Srinivasan,
Associate Administrator, Research and Program Development.
[FR Doc. 2022-13721 Filed 6-27-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P