Reports, Forms, and Record Keeping Requirements

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[U.S. DOT Docket No. NHTSA-99-6484

Reports, Forms, and Record Keeping Requirements

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

ACTION: Request for public comment on proposed collection of

information.

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SUMMARY: Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from

the public, it must receive approval from the Office of Management and

Budget (OMB). Under new 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 one collection of information for which

NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 14, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to U.S. Department of

Transportation Dockets, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Plaza 401,

Washington, D.C. 20590. Docket No. NHTSA-99-6484.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Alan Block, Contracting Officer's

Technical Representative, Office of Research and Traffic Records (NTS-

31), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh

Street, S.W., Room 6240, Washington, D.C. 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,

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:

(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 collection of information, including the validity of the

methodology and assumptions used;

(iii) How to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the

information to be collected; and

(iv) 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 public comment on

the following proposed collection of information:

2000 Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Survey

Type of Request--New information collection requirement.

OMB Clearance Number--None.

Form Number--This collection of information uses no standard forms.

Requested Expiration Date of Approval--December 31, 2001.

Summary of the Collection of Information--NHTSA proposes to conduct

a year 2000 Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Survey by telephone among a

national probability sample of 12,000 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 restraint use, accompanied by smaller sections on air

bags 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

[[Page 69815]]

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.

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, more than 50,000 persons

were killed each year in motor vehicle crashes in the United States.

Diverse approaches were taken to address the problem. Vehicle safety

designs and features were improved; restraint devices were improved;

safety behaviors were mandated in state legislation (including seat

belt use, child safety seat use, and motorcycle helmet use); alcohol-

related legislation was enacted; this legislation was enforced; public

information and education activities were widely implemented; and

roadways were improved.

As a result of these interventions and improvements, crash

fatalities dropped significantly. By 1992, total fatalities had fallen

to 39,250, representing a 23% decline from 1966. In addition, the

resident population and the number of vehicle miles traveled increased

greatly over those years. When fatality rates are computed per 100,000

population, the rate for 1992 (15.39) was about 40 percent lower than

the 1966 rate (25.89). In sum, heightened highway safety activity

conducted over the past three decades corresponds with major strides in

reducing traffic fatalities.

Remaining barriers to safety will be more resistant to programmatic

influences now that the easy gains have already been accomplished.

Moreover, crash fatalities have edged higher since 1992, totaling

41,471 in 1998. Thus significant effort will be needed just to preserve

the gains that already have been made. Up-to-date information is

essential to plot the direction of future activity that will achieve

reductions in crash injuries and fatalities in the coming years.

In order to collect the critical information needed by NHTSA to

develop and implement effective countermeasures that meet the Agency's

mandate to improve highway traffic safety, NHTSA conducted its first

Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Survey in 1994. The survey included

questions related to seat belts, child safety seats, air bags,

bicyclist safety, motorcyclist safety, and Emergency Medical Services.

It also contained small segments on alcohol use and on speeding. The

survey was repeated in 1996 and 1998, with the survey instrument

updated to incorporate emergent issues and items of increased interest.

The proposed survey is the fourth Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety

Survey. The survey would collect data on topics included in the

preceding surveys and would monitor changes over time in the use of

occupant protection devices and in attitudes related to vehicle

occupant safety. It is important that NHTSA monitor these changes so

that the Agency can determine the effects of its efforts to promote the

use of safety devices and to identify areas where its efforts should be

targeted and where new strategies may be needed. As in 1996 and 1998,

NHTSA proposes to make a small number of revisions to the survey

instrument to address new information needs.

If approved, the proposed survey would assist NHTSA in addressing

the problem of motor vehicle occupant safety and in formulating

programs and recommendations to Congress. The results of the proposed

survey would be used to: (a) Identify areas to target current programs

and activities to achieve the greatest benefit; (b) develop new

programs and initiatives aimed at increasing the use of occupant safety

devices by the general public; and (c) provide informational support to

States and localities in their traffic safety efforts. The findings

would also be used directly by State and local highway safety and law

enforcement agencies in the development and implementation of effective

countermeasures to prevent injuries and fatalities to vehicle

occupants.

Description of the Likely Respondents (Including Estimated Number,

and Proposed Frequency of Response to the Collection of Information)--

Under this proposed effort, a telephone interview averaging

approximately 20 minutes in length would be administered to each of

12,000 randomly selected members of the general public age 16 and older

in telephone households. The respondent sample would be selected from

all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. Interviews would be

conducted with persons at residential phone numbers selected through

random digit dialing. Businesses are ineligible for the sample and

would not be interviewed. No more than one respondent would be selected

per household. Each member of the sample would complete one interview.

Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Record Keeping Burden

Resulting from the Collection of Information--NHTSA estimates that each

respondent in the sample would require an average of 20 minutes to

complete the telephone interview. Thus, the number of estimated

reporting burden hours a year on the general public (12,000 respondents

multiplied by 1 interview multiplied by 20 minutes) would be 4000 for

the proposed survey. The respondents would not incur any reporting cost

from the information collection. The respondents also would not incur

any record keeping burden or record keeping cost from the information

collection.

Rose A. McMurray,

Associate Administrator Traffic Safety Programs.

[FR Doc. 99-32275 Filed 12-13-99; 8:45 am]

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