Reports, Forms, and Record Keeping Requirements; Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review

Topics:  NHTSA

Jeff Michael (Federal Register)
May 13, 2011

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 93 (Friday, May 13, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28128-28129]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-11784]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[U.S. DOT Docket No. NHTSA-2010-0105]


Reports, Forms, and Record Keeping Requirements; Agency 
Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review

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

ACTION: Notice

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information 
Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below is being forwarded to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR 
describes the nature of the information collection and the expected 
burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period was 
published on September 13, 2010 (75 FR 55627-55628).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 13, 2011.

ADDRESS: Send comments, within 30 days, to the Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725-17th 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, attention NHTSA Desk Officer.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randolph Atkins, Ph.D., Office of 
Behavioral Safety Research, National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, NTI-131, Room W46-500, 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590. Dr. Atkins' phone number is 202-366-5597 and his 
e-mail address is randolph.atkins@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: System Analysis of Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) 
Implementation.
    Type of Request: New information collection requirement.
    Abstract: A great many enforcement strategies are in use to combat 
speeding today. One important approach increasingly being used is 
Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE). A number of studies have shown the 
use of speed cameras for ASE to be effective in reducing traffic 
speeds. However, despite the effectiveness of speed cameras programs 
for ASE, it is often difficult to establish public acceptance for these 
programs and put them into place. The objectives of this study are to 
(1) Determine how the existing speed camera programs in the United 
States were developed and implemented; (2) Examine other variables that 
have affected these speed camera programs; and (3) Determine how all of 
these variables have affected the success of these programs. This 
information will be used to revise existing guidelines for ASE 
programs, help existing ASE programs improve their programs and provide 
new information on this countermeasure to assist other communities in 
establishing well-designed speed management programs, including ASE.
    This study will conduct a census survey of existing ASE programs in 
the United States, as well as some recently discontinued ASE programs, 
and gather information from each site to address the objectives 
described above. Key personnel in the existing programs will be 
surveyed via mailed questionnaire with possible follow-ups by e-mail, 
phone or in person. This survey is expected to provide data relevant to 
ASE development and delivery that may affect the level of public 
acceptance for speed camera programs, as well as their success. The 
variables to be addressed include specific target sites for the ASE 
(school zones, work zones, etc.), program funding and revenue flow (who 
pays for it and how, who profits from revenue, how it is promoted as a 
revenue generator or a safety measure), nature of citations issued 
(cite vehicle or cite driver), penalties for violations (level of 
fines, points on license, etc.), presence of other automated 
enforcement (red light cameras), level of traditional speed law 
enforcement, existence and results of program evaluations, media 
reports and level of media exposure, level of public acceptance, and 
the degree to which programs were set up and implemented according to 
NHTSA guidelines. This information is focused on achieving the greatest 
benefit in decreasing crashes and resulting injuries and fatalities, 
and providing informational support to States, localities, and law 
enforcement agencies that will aid them in their efforts to reduce 
traffic crashes. Given the widespread occurrence of speeding and the 
high toll in injuries and lives lost in speed-related crashes, as well 
as the high economic costs of speed-related crashes, this is a safety 
issue that demands attention.
    Affected Public: This survey will target law enforcement agencies 
in the United States with ASE programs as well as agencies that 
recently discontinued ASE programs. A few key personnel from each of 
the agencies will be contacted to complete the survey on their ASE 
programs. This survey will include a mailed questionnaire and possible 
e-mail, telephone or in-person follow-up discussions, as needed, for 
the information collection. Participation will be voluntary. This is a 
census collection of information on existing ASE programs and some 
recently discontinued ASE programs. After continued research into the 
number of current and discontinued ASE programs, the original estimate 
of 80 jurisdictions has been updated to include a total census of 106 
agencies to be contacted for participation in this survey.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: The total estimated annual burden is 
approximately 848 hours for the survey and follow-up contacts for the 
106 jurisdictions. We estimate approximately 8 hours per jurisdiction 
responding to our request for information (106 agencies x 8 hours each 
= 848 hours total). These 8 hours will be expended on internal agency 
discussion of the survey, gathering information requested in the survey 
(data and past reports), completing the questionnaire, and speaking 
with the researchers should follow-up contacts be required. Personnel 
to be contacted in each jurisdiction include the Chief of Police, a 
traffic unit/ASE unit

[[Page 28129]]

commander, and a data person at each agency. The respondents would not 
incur any reporting cost from the information collection beyond the 
time to respond to the information request and they would not incur any 
record keeping burden or record keeping cost from the information 
collection.
    Comments are invited on the following:
    (i) 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;
    (ii) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed information collection;
    (iii) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (iv) 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.
    A comment to OMB is most effective if OMB receives it within 30 
days of publication.

    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A).

Jeff Michael,
Associate Administrator, Research and Program Development.
[FR Doc. 2011-11784 Filed 5-12-11; 8:45 am]
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