|
|---|
|
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Investigation-Based Crash Data Studies Publication: Federal Register Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Byline: Chou Lin Chen Date: 19 April 2022 Subjects: American Government  , Safety
|
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 75 (Tuesday, April 19, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23314-23318]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-08275]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-2021-0086]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Investigation-
Based Crash Data Studies
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice and request for comments on an extension with
modification of a currently approved information collection.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 currently approved collection of information for which
NHTSA intends to seek approval from OMB for extension with modification
on NHTSA's Investigation-Based Crash Data Studies: Crash Investigation
Sampling System (CISS), Special Crash Investigation (SCI) and Special
Study Data Collection. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment
period soliciting comments on the following information collection was
published on January 26, 2022. No comments were received.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 19, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed
information collection, including
[[Page 23315]]
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 Dinesh Sharma, Crash Investigation
Division (NSA-110), (202) 366-2333, National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, W53-493, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. Please identify the relevant
collection of information by referring to its OMB Control Number.
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 January 26, 2022.
Title: Investigation-Based Crash Data Studies.
OMB Control Number: 2127-0706.
Form Number: Form 1278 and 1280.
Type of Request: Request for extension with modification 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: NHTSA is authorized,
under 49 U.S.C. 30182 and 23 U.S.C. 403 to collect data on motor
vehicle traffic crashes to aid in the identification of issues and the
development, implementation, and evaluation of motor vehicle and
highway safety countermeasures. For decades, NHTSA has been
investigating crashes and collecting crash data through its
Investigation-Based Crash Data Studies, namely the Crash Investigation
Sampling System (CISS), Special Crash Investigation (SCI), and specific
issue-based Special Study data collection studies. Although each of
these systems satisfy different purposes and collect data in different
manners, they all utilize the same core variables (e.g. forms),
procedures and protocols for data collection.
On November 15, 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
(Pub. L. 117-58), also referred to as the Bipartisan infrastructure Law
(BIL), was signed into law. The Crash Data section (section 24108) of
the BIL authorizes the Secretary of Transportation (NHTSA by
delegation) to use funds to enhance the collection of data under CISSS
by, among other things, including additional data collection sites.
NHTSA is seeking approval to modify the existing information
collection to: (a) Increase the number of crashes investigated by the
crash technicians for 2021 and future years, (b) add Special Study
cases into this package, and (c) add Special Crash Investigation cases
into this package. NHTSA has also adjusted estimates to include the
burden incurred by tow yards, hospitals, and law enforcement agencies
in responding to the collections. The combined impact is an increase of
6,458 burden hours to NHTSA's overall total.
The CISS is a nationally representative sample of passenger vehicle
crashes which focus on detailed investigation of passenger vehicle
crashes. It provides nationally representative data on fatal and
nonfatal motor vehicle crashes for use in developing and evaluating
federal motor vehicle safety standards and other safety
countermeasures. The CISS began implementation in 2015 and by 2018 was
collecting crash data from thirty-two (32) fully operational sites. As
a result of the BIL, the CISS data collection sites will be expanded
from 32 to 56 sites. The CISS collects data at both the crash level
through scene analysis and vehicle level through vehicle damage
assessment together with injury source evidence and standardized
coding.
The SCI Program is used to provide NHTSA with the most in-depth and
detailed level of crash investigation data collected by the Agency.
Generally, SCI investigations are conducted for crashes of special
interest, such as those involving new or emerging safety technologies
(e.g., those involving vehicles equipped with crash avoidance
technologies or Automated Driving Systems (ADS)), school buses,
motorcoaches, alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles, adaptive control
equipped vehicles, fires, child restraints, and those relevant to
safety defect investigations. The crash investigations are conducted to
document crash circumstances, identify injury sources, evaluate safety
countermeasure effectiveness and support Agency rulemaking actions.
Investigations are also conducted to provide early detection of alleged
or potential vehicle safety defects. Reports are generated from
investigations and all are made available to the public. The crashes
chosen for SCI investigation may be chosen throughout the year as they
arise or be part of a planned effort to look into a particular type of
crash (such as crashes involving air bag deployment-related fatalities
and injuries).
In addition to the above-referenced CISS and SCI data collections,
NHTSA also conducts investigation-based special studies using the CISS
and SCI infrastructure to answer questions on a specific topical aspect
of vehicle and highway safety. In the special study cases, data is
typically gathered remotely where documents and investigation details
are requested from investigating agencies and the data is compiled,
coded, and reported on collectively in a summary report detailing the
issue. These special studies will utilize the same infrastructure CISS
and SCI, as well as the same core variables (e.g., forms) and
procedures and protocols. The cases may be selected from an agency's
data set (i.e., CISS, SCI, or Fatality Analysis Reporting System
(FARS)) or through other means (i.e., internet searches, news articles,
and public notification). The cases may or may not be selected to
provide a nationally-representative sample of crashes. In the past,
using the National Automotive Sampling System-Crashworthiness Data
System (NASS-CDS) infrastructure, NHTSA conducted several
investigation-based special studies, including studies on child
occupant protection, air bag effectiveness, and pedestrian safety among
others. NASS-CDS, operated from 1979 through 2015, and was the
predecessor to CISS. Three currently planned special studies will
collect information on crashes that involve medium-duty trucks (trucks
between 10,001 and 26,000 lbs.), pedestrians or pedalcyclists, and
first responders or construction or maintenance workers struck while
performing official duties on the road.
NHTSA will also use the information collected through the CISS
infrastructure to support NHTSA's Non-Traffic Surveillance (NTS). CISS
Technicians review over a hundred and fifty thousand crash reports each
year, and some of these reports are not applicable to the CISS program,
but they may be applicable to the NTS data collection. NTS is a virtual
data collection system designed to provide
[[Page 23316]]
counts and details regarding fatalities and injuries that occur in non-
traffic crashes and in non-crash incidents. Non-traffic motor vehicle
crashes are a class of crashes that occur off the public trafficways.
These crashes, subsequently referred to as ``non-traffic crashes,'' are
mostly single-vehicle crashes on private roads, two vehicle crashes in
parking facilities, or collisions with pedestrians in driveways. In
addition, there are non-traffic incidents such as a vehicle falling on
a person underneath or an unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning
inside the vehicle. Non-traffic crash data is obtained through NHTSA's
CISS, SCI, Crash Reporting Sampling System (CRSS), and FARS.
For the standard investigation-based crash data studies acquisition
process, once a crash has been selected for investigation, crash
technicians locate, visit, measure, and photograph the crash scene;
locate, visit, inspect, and photograph involved vehicle(s); conduct a
telephone or personal interview with the involved individuals or a
surrogate (another person who can provide occupant or crash
information, such as parents for a minor or parent or spouse for a
deceased individual); and obtain and record crash injury information
received from various medical data sources. These data are used to
describe and analyze circumstances, mechanisms, and consequences of a
cross section of towed, light passenger motor vehicle crashes in the
United States. The collection of interview data aids in this effort.
For the special studies, the data is typically gathered following
similar procedures, but is targeted to a specific issue (e.g., child
occupant protection, crash causation factors) as opposed to an entire
investigation. Special Studies investigations also typically only
involve obtaining information from law enforcement, who provide access
to and a copy of the crash report where the data is not electronic.
They do not involve interviewing people involved in crashes, obtaining
medical records or inspecting the vehicles. Each special study has
specific requirements (i.e., types of crashes and/or data collected);
however, the gathering of crash reports for these studies is similar to
the gathering of crash reports in the CISS and SCI programs.
Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the
Information: NHTSA investigates real-world crashes and collects
detailed crash data through CISS, SCI, and Special Studies data
collection programs to identify the primary factors related to the
source of crashes and their injury outcomes. These detailed factors are
utilized to develop and evaluate effective safety countermeasures
including the establishment and enforcement of motor vehicle
regulations that reduce the severity of injury and property damage
caused by motor vehicle crashes. The data collected also give motor
vehicle researchers an opportunity to specify areas in which
improvements may be possible, design countermeasure programs, and
evaluate the effects of existing and proposed safety measures.
60-Day Notice: NHTSA published a 60-day notice in the Federal
Register on January 26, 2022 (87 FR 4099). NHTSA received no comments.
However, NHTSA is revising burden estimates as a result of additional
funding for CISS data collection. In the 60-day notice, NHTSA estimated
that there would be 32 data collection sites in each of the next three
years. As a result of the additional funding provided by the BIL, NHTSA
now plans to phase in 24 additional data collection sites in CISS over
the next 3 years. This 30 day notice increases the burden hours for
interviewees, Police, Tow Yards and Medical Facilities for an
additional 24 data collection sites. The total data collection sites
will incrementally increase from 32 to 56 over the next three years.
The increase in burden hours and cost for these additional data
collection sites are reflected in the Burden to Respondent section of
this document.
Burden to Respondents: NHTSA has provided a description of the
affected public, estimated number of respondents, description of
frequency, and estimates of the total burden hours and costs for each
of the three Investigation-Based Crash Data Acquisition Systems (CISS,
SCI, and Special Studies) below. In aggregate, NHTSA estimates that the
total annual burden is 12,063 hours and $0.
Program: CISS.
Affected Public: People involved in select motor vehicle crashes,
law enforcement jurisdictions that provide access to and a copy of the
crash report where the data is not electronic; hospitals that provide a
copy of the injured occupant's medical treatment of injuries; and tow
or salvage lot facilities that provide access to the storage facility
to inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 24,186.
Frequency: On Occasion.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 11,787 hours (6,956 + 822 +
298 + 2,783 + 928).
The CISS crash data acquisition system includes 5 information
collections. The first information collection covers the collection of
information from individuals involved in crashes via interview. The
estimated number of interview respondents is obtained by multiplying
the approximate number of crashes investigated each year by the average
number of interviews per crash. Based on existing data, each CISS crash
involves an average of approximately 2.25 individuals. NHTSA estimates
that CISS conducts investigations on 9,275 crashes per year. Therefore,
NHTSA estimates that there will be 20,869 respondents per year (9,275
crashes x 2.25 respondents per crash).
The respondents are contacted only once; however, in rare
circumstances follow-up questions may be needed to clarify data. The
interview requires approximately 20 minutes of a respondent's time on
average. CISS conducts interviews for approximately 9,275 crashes per
year, which NHTSA estimates takes about 45 minutes per crash (2.25
respondents x 20 minutes). Therefore, the estimated total annual burden
hours for the collection of information from individuals involved in
crashes for CISS is 6,956 hours ((9,275 crashes x 45 minutes) / 60
minutes/hour).
In addition to interviews, crash technicians and investigators must
obtain official records to initiate and complete the cases. These
records include police crash reports and medical records. The second
information collection under CISS is for the collection of crash
records from sampled police jurisdictions. NHTSA estimates that there
are 316 sample police jurisdictions annually. To estimate the burden to
sampled police jurisdictions, NHTSA multiplied the average number of
visits per year by the average burden per visit and the number of
police jurisdictions. On average, each of the 316 sampled police
jurisdictions are queried weekly (or 52 times per year) and each query
is estimated to take 3 minutes. Accordingly, NHTSA estimates the total
annual burden for sampled police jurisdictions to be 2.6 hours per
respondent (3 minutes x 52 visits) and 822 hours for all respondents
(2.6 hours x 316 police jurisdictions = 821.6 hours).
The third information collection under CISS is for the collection
of crash records from non-sampled police jurisdictions. Based on
existing CISS data, there are 340 non-sampled jurisdictions annually.
To estimate the burden to non-sample police jurisdictions, NHTSA
multiplied the average number of visits per year by the average burden
per visit and the number of non-sampled police jurisdictions. On
[[Page 23317]]
average, each of the 595 non-sampled police jurisdictions are visited
twice annually and each query is estimated to take 15 minutes.
Accordingly, NHTSA estimates the total burden for non-sampled police
jurisdictions to be 30 minutes per respondent (15 minutes x 2 visits)
and 289 hours for all respondents ((30 minutes x 595 non-sampled police
jurisdictions) / 60 minutes/hour) = 298 hours).
The fourth information collection under CISS is for the collection
of medical records from hospitals. Based on existing data, CISS
collects an average of 16,695 records each year from an average of 481
hospitals. NHTSA estimates that a hospital spends 10 minutes for each
record requested. Accordingly, NHTSA estimates the total annual burden
to be 2,783 hours ((16,695 records x 10 minutes) / 60 minutes/hour) and
estimates that each hospital will, on average, spend 5.78 hours
providing the requested information each year (2,783 hours / 481
hospitals).
The fifth information collection under CISS is for the collection
from tow yards necessary to gain access to and locate a vehicle that
was involved in a crash. Typically, a tow facility operator just needs
to give the crash technician permission to enter the yard to inspect
the vehicle and involves approximately 5 minutes of staff time. CISS
data shows an average of 11,130 visits to tow facilities per year, and
NHTSA estimates 1,926 tow facilities will be visited annually.
Accordingly, NHTSA estimates the total annual burden to be 928 hours
((11,130 visits x 5 minutes) / 60 minutes/hour) and estimates that each
tow facility will, on average, spend 28.90 minutes providing the
requested information each year ((928 hours x 60 minutes) / 1,926
facilities).
Accordingly, NHTSA estimates that the total burden associated with
the CISS data acquisition system is 11,787 hours (6,956 + 822 + 298 +
2,783 + 928).
Estimated Total Annual Burden Cost: $0.
There are no capital, start-up, or annual operation and maintenance
costs involved in this collection of information. The respondents would
not incur any reporting costs from the information collection beyond
the opportunity or labor costs associated with the burden hours. The
respondents also would not incur any recordkeeping burden or
recordkeeping costs from the information collection.
Program: Special Crash Investigation (SCI)
Affected Public: People involved in select motor vehicle crashes,
law enforcement jurisdictions that provide access to and a copy of the
crash report where the data is not electronic; hospitals that provide a
copy of the injured occupant's medical treatment of injuries; and tow
or salvage lot facilities that provide access to the storage facility
to inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 500.
Frequency: On occasion (typically once per year).
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 109 hours (67 + 17 + 17 + 8).
The SCI crash data acquisition system includes 4 information
collections. The first information collection covers the collection of
information from individuals involved in crashes via interview. The
estimated number of interview respondents is obtained by multiplying
the approximate number of crashes investigated each year by the average
number of interviews per crash. Based on existing data, each SCI crash
involves an average of approximately 2 individuals. NHTSA estimates
that SCI conducts investigations on approximately 100 crashes per year.
Therefore, NHTSA estimates that there will be 200 respondents per year
(100 crashes x 2 respondents per crash).
The respondents are contacted only once; however, in rare
circumstances follow-up questions may be needed to clarify data. The
interview requires approximately 20 minutes of a respondent's time on
average. SCI conducts interviews for approximately 100 crashes per
year, which NHTSA estimates takes about 40 minutes per crash (2
respondents x 20 minutes). Therefore, the estimated total annual burden
hours for the collection of information from individuals involved in
crashes for SCI is approximately 67 hours ((100 crashes x 40 minutes) /
60 minutes/hour = 66.67).
In addition to interviews, crash technicians and investigators must
obtain official records to initiate and complete the cases. These
records include police crash reports and medical records. The second
information collection under SCI is for the collection of crash records
from police jurisdictions. The SCI investigators contact an estimated
100 police jurisdictions once per year and require approximately 10
minutes of staff time per police jurisdiction. To estimate the burden
to these police jurisdictions, NHTSA multiplied the average number of
visits per year by the average burden per visit and the number of
police jurisdictions. Accordingly, NHTSA estimates the total annual
burden for police jurisdictions to be 10 minutes per respondent (10
minutes x 1 query per year) and 17 hours for all respondents ((10
minutes x 100 police jurisdictions) / 60 minutes/hour = 16.67 hours).
The third information collection under SCI is for the collection of
medical records from hospitals. Based on existing data, SCI collects an
average of 100 records each year from 100 hospitals (1 request per
hospital per year). NHTSA estimates that a hospital spends 10 minutes
for each record requested. Accordingly, NHTSA estimates the total
annual burden to be 17 hours ((100 records x 10 minutes) / 60 minutes/
hour = 16.67 hours) and estimates that each hospital will, on average,
spend 10 minutes providing the requested information each year (10
minutes x 1 record request per year).
The fourth information collection under SCI is for the collection
from tow yards necessary to gain access to and locate a vehicle that
was involved in a crash. Typically, a tow facility operator just needs
to give the crash technician permission to enter the yard to inspect
the vehicle and involves approximately 5 minutes of staff time. SCI
conducts approximately 100 visits to tow facilities per year, and NHTSA
estimates that 100 tow facilities will be visited annually (1 request
per facility per year). Accordingly, NHTSA estimates the total annual
burden to be 8 hours ((100 visits x 5 minutes) / 60 minutes/hour = 8.33
hours) and estimates that each tow facility will, on average, spend 5
minutes providing the requested information each year.
Accordingly, NHTSA estimates that the total burden associated with
the SCI data acquisition system is 109 hours (67 + 17 + 17 + 8).
Estimated Total Annual Burden Cost: $0.
There are no capital, start-up, or annual operation and maintenance
costs involved in this collection of information. The respondents would
not incur any reporting costs from the information collection beyond
the opportunity or labor costs associated with the burden hours. The
respondents also would not incur any recordkeeping burden or
recordkeeping costs from the information collection.
Special Studies
Affected Public: Law enforcement jurisdictions that provide access
to and a copy of the crash report where the data is not electronic.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000.
Frequency: On occasion (typically once per year).
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 167 hours.
[[Page 23318]]
There is only one information collection for Special Studies in
this ICR. This ICR only covers special studies involving remote-level
investigations.\1\ Accordingly, these remote-level investigations do
not involve interviews of individuals involved in crashes, collection
of medical records from hospitals, or visits to tow facilities.
Instead, these special studies only involve the collection of
information from police jurisdictions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ If NHTSA intends to conduct a special study that is not
remote, it will seek separate clearance.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NHTSA estimates that the special studies will involve, on average,
1,000 police jurisdictions each year and require approximately 10
minutes of staff time per police jurisdiction. The total annual hour
burden on jurisdictions for special studies information is estimated to
be 167 hours (1 visit x 10 minutes x 1,000 jurisdictions / 60 minutes/
hour = 166.67).
Estimated Total Annual Burden Cost: $0.
There are no capital, start-up, or annual operation and maintenance
costs involved in this collection of information. The respondents would
not incur any reporting costs from the information collection beyond
the labor costs associated with the burden hours. The respondents also
would not incur any recordkeeping burden or recordkeeping costs from
the information collection.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours All Programs: 12,063 hours.
The total estimated annual burden hours to all respondents for this
ICR is 12,063 hours. The table below provides a summary of the
estimated annual burden hours.
Table 2--Summary of Burden Hour Estimates
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Burden per Total
Information collection title Number of Number of responses (per response Burden per respondent burden
respondents respondent) (minutes) (hours)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CISS: Interviews with Individuals 20,869 20,869 (1)......................... 20 20 minutes........................ 6,956
Involved in Crashes.
CISS: Collection of Police Records from 316 16,432 (52)........................ 3 156 minutes....................... 821.6
Sampled Jurisdictions. (2.6 hours)....................... 822
CISS: Collection of Police Records from 595 1,190 (2).......................... 15 30 minutes........................ 298
Non-Sampled Jurisdictions.
CISS: Collection of Medical Records.... 480 16,695 (34.76)..................... 10 5.78 hours........................ 2,783
CISS: Access to Tow Yards.............. 1,960 11,130 (5.68)...................... 5 28.39 minutes..................... 928
SCI: Interviews with Individuals 200 200 (1)............................ 20 20 minutes........................ 67
Involved in Crashes.
SCI: Collection of Police Records...... 100 100 (1)............................ 10 10 minutes........................ 17
SCI: Collection of Medical Records..... 100 100 (1)............................ 10 10 minutes........................ 17
SCI: Access to Tow Yards............... 100 100 (1)............................ 5 5 minutes......................... 8
Special Studies: Collection of Police 1,000 1,000 (1).......................... 10 10 minutes........................ 167
Records.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.............................. .............. ................................... ............ .................................. 12,063
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Total Annual Burden Cost All Programs: $0.
NHTSA estimates that there are no costs to respondents other than
costs associated with burden hours.
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 1351.29.
Chou Lin Chen,
Associate Administrator, National Center for Statistics and Analysis.
[FR Doc. 2022-08275 Filed 4-18-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P