# Reports, Forms, and Record Keeping Requirements > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A99-7074 ## Record - **Collection:** Federal Register - **Document type:** Notice - **Published:** March 24, 1999 - **Citation:** 64 FR 14303 ## Text DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [U.S. DOT Docket No. NHTSA-99-5199] Reports, Forms, and Record Keeping Requirements AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT. ACTION: Request for public comment on proposed collection of information. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 May 24, 1999. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to U.S. Department of Transportation Dockets, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Plaza 401, Washington, DC 20590. Docket No. NHTSA-99-5199. 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, SW, Room 6240, Washington, DC 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: National Survey of Pedestrian and Bicyclist Attitudes, Knowledge, and Behavior 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 National Survey of Pedestrian and Bicyclist Attitudes, Knowledge, and Behavior by telephone among a national probability sample of 4,200 adults (age 16 and older). Participation by respondents would be voluntary. The proposed survey would collect information on pedestrian and bicycling behavior, obstacles to walking and bicycling, use of bicycle helmets, training in bicycling safety, pedestrian and bicyclist safety education for children, knowledge of safety issues and rules of the road, assessment of existing community facilities for walking and bicycling, and other related issues. 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-related 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 safety standards and traffic safety programs. While not as much in the public eye as other traffic safety problems, motor vehicle crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists exact a heavy toll. Pedestrians and bicyclists account for 15 percent of all traffic fatalities, and more than 130,000 injuries each year. Yet there are simple things that people can do to reduce these risks, provided that they are sufficiently aware and willing to take the appropriate steps. For example, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that the universal use of helmets by all bicyclists could have prevented as many as 2,500 deaths and 757,000 head injuries between 1984 and 1988. There is a lack of data concerning the public's exposure to risk as pedestrians and bicyclists, their awareness of correct pedestrian and bicyclist safety practices, their perceptions of the responsibilities of other roadway users, and their perceptions of risks. Without this information, safety professionals are left with inadequate tools for determining if there are critical deficits in education or training that should be addressed, or whether interventions are efficiently targeted to where they are most needed. This in turn would pose severe constraints on the ability to meet the U.S. Secretary of Transportation's goal of reducing by 10 percent the number of [[Page 14304]] injuries and fatalities occurring to bicyclists and pedestrians. Besides reducing pedestrian/bicyclist injuries and fatalities, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation has called for a doubling in the national percentage of transportation trips made by bicycling and walking. Both goals are part of the DOT Secretarial Initiative for Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety. This is a national effort to promote walking and bicycling as safe, efficient, and healthy ways to travel. It involves partnering with numerous groups to foster the development of a more balanced transportation system. Yet while the Initiative calls for an increase in pedestrian and bicyclist activities, there are no exposure data to measure its progress. Moreover, there is a lack of information on the obstacles to walking and bicycling that would have to be addressed to meet the Secretarial goal; as well as information on how persons decide whether or not to walk, or to bike. The proposed survey would collect data to meet the informational needs described above. The survey instrument would include items to measure exposure, knowledge, risk perception, community characteristics, and decision factors. The survey data would be used to assess the adequacy of present strategies to increase pedestrian and bicyclist safety, and to help guide policies aimed at encouraging these modes of transportation. 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 23.5 minutes in length would be administered to each of 4,200 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 23.5 minutes to complete the telephone interview. Thus, the number of estimated reporting burden hours a year on the general public (4,200 respondents multiplied by 1 interview multiplied by 23.5 minutes) would be 1645 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 for Traffic Safety Programs. [FR Doc. 99-7074 Filed 3-23-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-59-P --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A99-7074. Public record. Not legal advice.