
[Federal Register: March 31, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 61)]
[Notices]               
[Page 16227-16228]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31mr10-157]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[U.S. DOT Docket No. NHTSA-2010-0037]

 
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 procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), 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 an Information Collection Request (ICR) for 
which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 1, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation Dockets, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Washington, DC 
20590. Docket No. NHTSA-2010-0037.

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

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:
    Title: Motivations for Speeding.
    Type of Request: New information collection request--focus group 
follow-up with participants from an earlier on-road instrumented 
vehicle study.
    OMB Clearance Number: N/A.
    Form Number: This collection of information uses no standard forms.
    Requested Expiration Date of Approval: September 3, 2011.
    Summary of the Collection of Information: In Phase 1 of this study, 
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted 
on-road instrumented vehicle data collection in Seattle, WA and College 
Station, TX with a total of 167 participants to examine driving speed 
patterns with the goals of understanding motivations for speeding. 
Based on speeding patterns in the data from the instrumented vehicle 
phase of this study, NHTSA plans to follow-up with these same subjects 
in focus groups in Phase 2 of the research to develop a better 
understanding of speeding and speeders, to develop a more accurate 
taxonomy of high/low speed driver subgroups and to gain a better 
understanding of the motives--as well as attitudes and habits--of these 
subgroups, and explore attitudes and behavioral influences pertinent to 
various countermeasures (e.g., points reduction courses, speed 
awareness courses, engineering countermeasures, and automated 
enforcement) and the acceptance and potential effectiveness of the 
countermeasures. The focus groups will include: general discussions of 
speed choices and speeding behaviors and the factors that influence 
them, discussions of beliefs and attitudes toward speeding, reactions 
to and discussions about specific driving scenarios, and individual/
group responses to various speeding countermeasures. The focus groups 
are expected to provide data relevant to descriptions of key 
motivations, attitudes, normative commitment to law, driving habits 
relevant to speeding and speeding countermeasures; descriptions of 
countermeasures with the greatest likely benefits; implementation 
issues and concerns associated with the countermeasures; and key 
advantages and disadvantages associated with various countermeasures.
    Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the 
Information--The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 
was established by the Highway Safety Act of l970 (23 U.S.C. 101) to 
carry out a Congressional mandate to reduce the mounting number of 
deaths, injuries, and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle 
crashes on the Nation's highways. Speeding is one of the primary 
factors leading to vehicle crashes. In 2008, 31% of all fatal crashes 
were speeding-related. The estimated economic cost to society for 
speeding-related crashes is $40.4 billion per year. Driving at higher 
speeds reduces the ability of drivers to avoid obstacles or react to 
sudden changes in the roadway environment and increases crash severity. 
The pervasiveness of speeding behavior is reflected in a recent 
national survey that showed that approximately 75% of all drivers 
reported speeding in the past month. Since most drivers often do not 
see speeding as risky or dangerous behavior, it is imperative that 
NHTSA gain a better understanding of the motivations for speeding 
behaviors in order to develop and refine effective interventions and 
countermeasures. These focus groups, directly linked to the driving 
speed patterns of drivers in Phase 1 of the study, will provide 
important new information on the reasons drivers choose to drive at 
certain speeds and what

[[Page 16228]]

countermeasures would be most effective in reducing their speeding 
behaviors. In support of its mission, NHTSA will use the findings from 
these focus group sessions to improve current programs, interventions 
and countermeasures for speeding on our Nation's highways in order to 
achieve the greatest benefit in decreasing crashes and resulting 
injuries and fatalities, and provide informational support to States, 
localities, and law enforcement agencies that will aid them in their 
efforts to reduce traffic crashes.
    Description of the Likely Respondents (Including Estimated Number, 
and Proposed Frequency of Response to the Collection of Information)--A 
subset of the participants who participated in the Phase 1 on-road 
study will be asked to participate in focus groups. Individual focus 
group sessions will be based on specific demographic or behavioral 
characteristics of the Phase 1 participants, with the constraint that 
the group composition should not be counterproductive to facilitating 
frank and open discussions of the key topics (i.e., combining young 
males and females in the same group is not an effective approach). The 
selection strategy will involve three focus groups at each location, 
(1) younger male chronic speeders, (2) younger female chronic speeders, 
and (3) older male and female situational and chronic speeders. These 
focus groups are expected to take place in the July/August 2010 
timeframe. Session participation would be voluntary and compensated 
with a $75 honorarium.
    Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Record Keeping Burden 
Resulting from the Collection of Information--NHTSA will conduct six 
focus group sessions, three in Seattle, WA and three in College Station 
TX. Each focus group will consist of 8-12 participants and last 
approximately 80 minutes. Participants will be recruited by e-mail or 
telephone based on their driving behaviors in Phase 1 of the study and 
their demographic characteristics. Therefore, the total estimated 
annual burden is between 64 and 96 hours, depending on the number of 
participants (range 8--12) in each group. 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.

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

    Issued on: March 25, 2010.
Jeff Michael,
Associate Administrator, Research and Program Development.
[FR Doc. 2010-7130 Filed 3-30-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P

