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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements; Agency Information

Collection Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 has been forwarded to the

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR

describes the nature of the information collections and its expected

burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period

soliciting comments on March 16, 1998 [63 FR 12858].

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 5, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Robinson, NHTSA Information

Collection Clearance Officer at (202) 366-9456.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Title: 1998 Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Survey.

OMB Control Number: 2127--New.

Type of Request: New collection.

Form(s): DTHH22-98-R-05080.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Abstract: NHTSA proposes to conduct a 1998 Motor Vehicle Occupant

Safety Survey by telephone among a national probability sample of 8,000

adults (age 16 and older). Participation by respondents would be

voluntary. NHTSA's information needs require seat belt and child safety

seat sections too large to merge into a single survey instrument

without producing an inordinate burden on respondents. Rather than

reduce these sections, the proposed survey instrument would be divided

into two series of modules. Each module would be administered to one-

half the total number of subjects to be interviewed. Module Series #1

of the questionnaire would focus on seat belts and include smaller

sections on air bags, motorcyclist safety, and general driving

(including speed). Module Series #2 would focus on child safety seats,

accompanied by smaller sections on bicyclist safety and Emergency

Medical Services. Both series would contain sections on crash injury

experience, and on drinking and driving because of the extensive impact

of alcohol on the highway safety problem. Some basic seat belt

questions contained in Module Series #1 would be duplicated on Module

Series #2. In conducting the proposed survey, the interviewers would

use computer-assisted telephone interviewing to reduce interview length

and minimize recording errors. A Spanish-language translation and

bilingual interviewers would be used to minimize language barriers to

participation. The proposed survey would be anonymous and confidential.

Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the

Information--The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

was established to reduce the mounting number of deaths, injuries and

economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes on the Nation's

highways. As part of this statutory mandate, NHTSA is authorized to

conduct research as a foundation for the development of motor vehicle

standards and traffic safety programs.

ADDRESSES: 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 DOT Desk Officer. Comments

are invited on: 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; the accuracy of the Department's estimate of the burden of the

proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility

and clarity of the information to be collected; and 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 best assured of having its full effect if OMB

receives it within 30 days of publication.

Issued in Washington, DC, on June 26, 1998.

Phillip A. Leach,

Clearance Officer, United States Department of Transportation.

[FR Doc. 98-17727 Filed 7-2-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-62-P