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Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for Comment; Survey on Driver Awareness of Motorcycles Publication: Federal Register Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Byline: Nanda Narayanan Srinivasan Date: 7 April 2022 Subjects: American Government  , Motorcycles, Safety
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 67 (Thursday, April 7, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20501-20504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-07358]
[[Page 20501]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-2020-0073]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and 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 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 reinstatements of
previously approved collections. This document describes a collection
of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval on Driver
Awareness of Motorcycles.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 6, 2022.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by the Docket No. NHTSA-
2020-0073 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 Kathryn Wochinger, Ph.D., Office of
Behavioral Safety Research (NPD-310), (202) 366-4300, National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, W46-487, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
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 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: (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 comment on the following proposed collection of
information for which the agency is seeking approval from OMB.
Title: 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. Notably, neither
State has a universal motorcycle helmet use law, but each has a sizable
population of registered motorcycles and varied helmet use rates. For
example, in 2019, 52 percent of motorcyclists killed in Florida and 51
percent of motorcyclists killed in Pennsylvania were not helmeted.\1\
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\1\ National Center for Statistics and Analysis. (2021, April).
Motorcycles: 2019 data (Traffic Safety Facts, Report No. DOT HS 813
112). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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The estimated burden of this collection is 3,289 hours with 2,709
hours associated with survey invitations and reminders and 580 hours
associated with survey completions. 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,
[[Page 20502]]
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.\1\ 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 (PII). 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 consisting of 1,243 in the
Florida sample and 1,243 in the Pennsylvania sample. The project will
invite 33,460 people to participate using address data from the most
recent U.S. Postal Service (USPS) computerized Delivery Sequence File
(DSF) 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 as a 1
notice of selection, explains
survey rationale.
1578................... Invitation Letter--provides 2
instructions and hyperlink to
the online survey and includes
the $1 non-contingent
incentive.
1579................... Reminder Postcard #1--the first 3
reminder, includes
instructions and hyperlink to
the online survey.
[[Page 20503]]
1580................... Reminder Letter #1--the second 4
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 the 6
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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* Rounded up to the nearest hour.
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.
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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* Rounded up to the nearest hour.
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.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. chapter
35, as amended; 49 CFR 1.49; and DOT Order 1351.29.
[[Page 20504]]
Issued in Washington, DC.
Nanda Narayanan Srinivasan,
Associate Administrator, Research and Program Development.
[FR Doc. 2022-07358 Filed 4-6-22; 8:45 am]
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