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Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for Comment; Title: FMVSS Considerations for Vehicles With Automated Driving Systems: Seating Preference Study Publication: Federal Register Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Byline: Cem Hatipoglu Date: 7 March 2022 Subjects: American Government  , Autonomous Vehicles, Safety
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 44 (Monday, March 7, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12772-12774]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04755]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-2022-0018]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for
Comment; Title: FMVSS Considerations for Vehicles With Automated
Driving Systems: Seating Preference Study
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 to conduct
an experiment to gather both objective and subjective data regarding
occupant/passenger seat preference in Automated Driving System-
Dedicated Vehicles (ADS-DVs).
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 6, 2022.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by the Docket No. NHTSA-
2022-0018 through 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 Arryn Robbins, Office of Behavioral
Safety Research (NPD-320), (202) 366-8996, National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, W46-466, 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 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: FMVSS Considerations for Vehicles with Automated Driving
Systems: Seating Preference Study.
OMB Control Number: New.
Form Number(s): NHTSA Forms 1624, 1625, and 1626.
Table 1--Forms To Be Used in the Study
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NHTSA Form 1624........................ Eligibility Questionnaire--
FMVSS Considerations for
Vehicles with Automated
Driving Systems: Seating
Preference Study.
NHTSA Form 1625........................ Demographic Questionnaire--
FMVSS Considerations for
Vehicles with Automated
Driving Systems: Seating
Preference Study.
NHTSA Form 1626........................ Post Experiment Questionnaire--
FMVSS Considerations for
Vehicles with Automated
Driving Systems: Seating
Preference Study.
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Type of Request: New collection.
Type of Review Requested: Regular.
Requested Expiration Date of Approval: 3 years from date of
approval.
Summary of the Collection of Information: 49 U.S.C. 30181, 30182,
and 30183 authorize the Secretary of Transportation (NHTSA by
delegation) to conduct research, development, and testing programs,
including activities related to new and emerging technologies that
impact, or that may impact, motor vehicle safety. NHTSA proposes to
collect information from the public regarding occupant/passenger seat
preference in Automated Driving System-Dedicated Vehicles (ADS-DVs).
Adults aged 18 and older will participate in an on-road study after
giving informed consent. Participants will ride in one passenger
vehicle and two ADS-DVs on a closed test track. Questionnaire data will
be collected at the beginning and end of participation for each
participant. Objective data will be collected via the data acquisition
systems installed in each study vehicle. The data from each participant
will be combined, stratified by demographic information and analyzed.
There are four information collections for the study. The (1)
Eligibility
[[Page 12773]]
Questionnaire will be used to identify eligible participants for this
study; results from this questionnaire will not be kept or analyzed.
Candidates who are selected for the study will participate in a single
test-track experiment and will complete two additional questionnaires
while participating in the experiment. The (2) Demographic
Questionnaire will be used for description of the participant sample
(e.g., number of males and females in the dataset, final age range for
all participants, and driving experience range for all participants).
This is necessary to compare the sample collected to the general
driving population. The (3) objective data collected via data
acquisition systems installed in each study vehicle during the test-
track experiment is necessary for collecting information about
participants' seat selection, any seat changes during the ride, seat
belt use, and how participants interact with the HMI. The (4) Post
Experiment Questionnaire will be used to analyze the perceptions and
opinions of ADS-DV technology within the participant sample, as well as
to gather any comments regarding their seat preference and seat belt
use. This data will be used to determine how and why participants
choose seating preferences in ADS-DVs.
Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the
Information
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's)
mission is to save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce economic losses
resulting from motor vehicle crashes. ADS technology is rapidly
developing, and current Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS)
and/or NHTSA guidance may need to be adapted to ensure this technology
is deployed safely. Many of NHTSA's FMVSS focus on particular seating
positions and thus, changes in seating preferences could impact those
FMVSS. This study will provide NHTSA information about the seating
preferences of occupants in vehicles that do not require a human driver
in the left front seat. Several safety outcomes stem from occupant
seating preference, which may change in the future as Automated Driving
Systems (ADS) change seating configurations and the way people use
vehicles. ADS-Dedicated Vehicles (ADS-DVs) are vehicles that lack
manually operated driving controls, and therefore do not require a
human driver or occupant to drive the vehicle or sit in the left front
seat (the ``driver's seat'' in conventional vehicles). In conventional
vehicles, there is the basic assumption that a human will always be in
the left front seat while the vehicle is operating because a human
driver would be necessary to operate those vehicles. ADS-DVs provide
the opportunity for occupants to sit in any seat they choose in the
vehicle. It is currently unknown where occupants may choose to sit when
riding in an ADS-DV. Moreover, new seating configurations for occupants
of ADS-DVs may necessitate changes to how and where information is
presented to occupants about their responsibilities as occupants (e.g.,
closing doors, fastening seatbelts). Furthermore, occupants will need a
human-machine interface (HMI) to provide input that they are ready for
the ride to begin, or to request that the ride stop. At present, no
standardized or otherwise commercially produced HMIs exist for this
purpose. Therefore, in order to conduct the research, a prototype HMI
will be developed. The two main goals for this study are to:
1. Describe the occupant distribution for ADS-DVs (i.e., seating
distribution).
2. Use the prototype HMI to evaluate whether occupants would choose
to initiate a ride in an ADS-DV without a seatbelt.
Affected Public: Adults ages 18 and older who meet eligibility
criteria such as holding a valid driver's license and having used a
ride-sharing application at least once in the past year.
Estimated Number of Respondents: An expected total of up to 100
participants will be recruited to participate in the study. It is
estimated that 200 respondents will be needed in order to identify 100
eligible participants.
Frequency: One-time collection.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 268.
The eligibility questionnaire will have a maximum of 28 questions
and NHTSA estimates it will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Therefore, NHTSA estimates the total time associated with completing
eligibility questionnaires to be 67 hours (200 responses x 20 minutes =
66.7 hours). Study Intake, (reading study information sheet and
obtaining participant consent, general study instruction) is expected
to take 10 minutes to complete. Both the demographic and post-
experiment questionnaires will have a maximum of 20 questions and NHTSA
estimates that it will take each eligible participant 10 minutes to
complete the demographic questionnaire and 10 minutes to complete the
post-experiment questionnaire. Therefore, NHTSA estimates the total
burden for Study Intake to be 17 hours (100 responses x 10 minutes =
16.67 hours), Demographic Questionnaire to be 17 hours (100 responses x
10 minutes = 16.67 hours), and The Post Experiment questionnaire to be
17 hours (100 responses x 10 minutes = 16.67 hours). Accordingly, NHTSA
estimates the total burden hours for this information collection to be
268 hours.
The table below shows the estimated burden hours for this
information collection, which accounts for the maximum number of
expected responses and drop-outs.
Estimated Burden Hours
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Estimated Total
Maximum individual estimated
Instrument number of burden burden
respondents (minutes) hours
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Eligibility Questionnaire........ 200 20 67
Study Intake..................... 100 10 17
Demographic questionnaire........ 100 10 17
Study Participation.............. 100 90 150
Post Experiment Questionnaire.... 100 10 17
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Total........................ 200 60 268
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Estimated Total Annual Burden Cost: The only cost burdens
respondents will incur are costs related to travel to and from the
study location. The costs are minimal and are expected to be offset by
[[Page 12774]]
the honorarium that will be provided to all research 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.
Cem Hatipoglu,
Associate Administrator, Vehicle Safety Research.
[FR Doc. 2022-04755 Filed 3-4-22; 8:45 am]
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