[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 211 (Wednesday, November 2, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66217-66220]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-23842]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2022-0063]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Request for 
Comment; Drivers' Knowledge/Correct Use of New Technology Features in 
Passenger Vehicles

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments on a request for approval of a 
new information collection.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 
this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) 
abstracted below will be submitted to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR describes the nature of 
the information collection and its expected burden. This ICR is for a 
new collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB 
approval for a one-time voluntary experiment on drivers' understanding 
of and behaviors using vehicles equipped with adaptive cruise control 
and lane centering technologies. A Federal Register notice with a 60-
day comment period soliciting comments on the following information 
collection was published on July 20, 2022 (86 FR 43374-76). NHTSA 
received comments from two organizations, which we address below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 2, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection, including suggestions for reducing burden, 
should be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget at 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. To find this particular information 
collection, select ``Currently under Review--Open for Public Comment'' 
or use the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or access 
to background documents, contact Kathy Sifrit, Ph.D., Office of 
Behavioral Safety Research (NPD-320), (202) 366-9982, National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration, W46-472, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), a 
Federal agency must receive approval from the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) before it collects certain information from the public and 
a person is not required to respond to a collection of information by a 
Federal agency unless the collection displays a valid OMB control 
number. In compliance with these requirements, this notice announces 
that the following information collection request will be submitted 
OMB.
    Title: Drivers' Knowledge/Correct Use of New Technology Features in 
Passenger Vehicles.
    OMB Control Number: New.
    Form Numbers: NHTSA Forms 1627, 1628, 1629, and 1630.
    Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection.
    Type of Review Requested: Regular.
    Length of Approval Requested: Three years from date of approval.
    Summary of the Collection of Information: The National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the U.S. Department of 
Transportation is seeking approval for a one-time voluntary information 
collection from 180 of licensed drivers of various ages for a research 
study of drivers' interactions with Level 2 (L2) systems that can 
provide longitudinal (adaptive cruise control) and lateral (lane 
centering) control of the vehicle. NHTSA expects to provide screening 
questionnaires to 1,000 potential participants to determine their 
eligibility for the study. Recruiting participants for the study has an 
estimated burden of 250 hours for the screening questions. An estimated 
200 potential participants will be eligible and interested. This group 
will receive the consent form with an estimated burden of 150 hours for 
reviewing and completing the form. An estimated 180 participants are 
expected to consent and enroll in the study. Participants' naturalistic 
driving data will be collected using a data acquisition system (DAS) 
installed in study-provided vehicles. The DAS includes video cameras 
and sensors; data also will be collected from the vehicle. Naturalistic 
driving data will be collected for two weeks with the L2 systems in 
this study unavailable to the drivers to provide a baseline measure of 
participants' driving habits, followed by four weeks driving with the 
systems available to measure changes in driving patterns as well as 
safety-related behaviors such as distracted driving and seat belt use. 
While the naturalistic data collection does not create a burden to 
participants, study tasks above and beyond the driving they would 
normally complete include a 15-minute enrollment procedure, a one-hour 
vehicle familiarization briefing, a two-hour training about the L2 
systems, two two-hour planned drives (one at the beginning and one at 
the end of the study), five 30-minute planned drives (during the 
study), a five-minute usability questionnaire, and a 30-minute final 
debriefing. As such, the naturalistic study has an expected burden of 
1,860 hours. In addition, half the participants will complete a 15-
minute questionnaire that measures knowledge and opinions before 
exposure to the L2 systems and the other half will complete after 
exposure with an estimated burden of 45 hours. The total expected 
burden for this collection is 2,305 hours. NHTSA will use the 
information to produce a technical report containing summary statistics 
and tables. No identifying information or individual responses will be 
reported. The technical report will be made available to a variety of 
audiences interested in improving highway safety through the agency 
website and the National Transportation Library. This project involves 
approval by an institutional review board, which the contractor will 
obtain before contacting potential participants. This collection will 
inform the development of behavioral safety countermeasures, 
particularly in the areas of communications and training, intended to 
improve drivers' ability to use L2 systems safely.
    Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the 
Information: NHTSA's mission is to save lives, prevent injuries, and 
reduce traffic-related health care and other economic costs. To further 
this mission, NHTSA conducts research as a foundation for the 
development of motor vehicle standards and traffic safety programs. 
Older adults comprise an increasing proportion of the driving 
population. Driving supports older adults' access to the goods and 
services they need and enhances their ability to take part in community 
and family activities that support quality of life. Vehicles equipped 
with L2 systems can reduce the cognitive load imposed by driving, which 
may make them appealing to older drivers who may find driving 
cognitively taxing, and to younger adults who may find the systems 
useful when navigating through heavy traffic or during long trips. 
However, drivers must understand what they can and cannot expect from 
L2 systems to use them safely and effectively. An increasing proportion 
of

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passenger vehicles are equipped with L2 systems which, under 
appropriate conditions, keep the vehicle centered in the lane and 
manage the vehicle's acceleration/braking to stay an appropriate 
distance from the vehicle ahead while maintaining driving speed. 
Research regarding driver understanding of L2 systems has been mixed. 
NHTSA is concerned that drivers may over-rely on L2 systems, and engage 
risky behaviors such as driving while distracted, drowsy, or under the 
influence of alcohol or drugs. NHTSA desires to learn more about how 
older and young adult drivers use these systems to better target 
behavioral countermeasures such as communications and training to 
ensure that drivers use the systems safely.
    60-Day Notice: A Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment 
period soliciting public comments on the following information 
collection was published on July 20, 2022. Two organizations submitted 
comments: The Alliance for Automotive Innovation (the Alliance) and the 
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). The Alliance was generally 
supportive of the agency's efforts to evaluate how Level 2 (L2) systems 
that can provide longitudinal and lateral control of the vehicle are 
being used by consumers in the field and noted the importance of 
research in ensuring a data-driven approach to policy. They recommended 
some changes in project design to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected. TxDOT also expressed 
support for the project and noted that the findings will help State 
departments of transportation to communicate and educate the public on 
how to safely use L2 systems. They also asked some questions about the 
study design. We appreciate the comments from Alliance and TxDOT and 
thank them for thoughtfully considering the proposed collection.
    The Alliance provided comments about several aspects of the study 
design. The first topic involved how the study familiarizes 
participants with the L2 systems. We agree that is important to ensure 
that participants understand the L2 systems and that the 
familiarization should include information from the manufacturer. 
However, the Alliance indicated that the amount of time planned for 
familiarizing participants with the study vehicles and the two 
technologies is far more than is provided to car buyers under real 
world conditions. While we recognize that this protocol provides 
substantially more information and training than people typically 
receive or seek when buying a new vehicle, the study does not aim to 
replicate the level of familiarization car buyers receive from a 
dealership. The amount of time in this study is intended to familiarize 
participants with the L2 systems to minimize drivers' errors due to 
misunderstanding of the systems' capabilities and limitations that 
could arise if they use the systems without understanding and operating 
them appropriately. While the data collection plan (and the burden 
calculation) includes up to 120 minutes to provide adequate time to 
familiarize each participant with the vehicle, including the L2 
systems, we expect the average time will be closer to 90 minutes. 
During this time participants will watch a video about the L2 systems, 
and a researcher will go over all the L2-related materials in the 
owner's manual, including warnings, and explain when the system will 
not work. A researcher will then sit in the vehicle with the 
participant and review the systems including the location of buttons 
and warnings. A researcher will then demonstrate the systems on the 
roadway including examples and discussions of situations when the 
systems may not work, and finally the participant will practice with 
the systems on roadways until the participant and the researcher are 
confident about basic system operation. The researchers are not 
training participants to any performance or proficiency level beyond 
basic understanding and operation to minimize potential errors in data 
collection. The Alliance also noted the importance of correctly 
classifying risky behaviors. The protocol described above helps 
minimize misclassification of driver actions that stem from 
misunderstanding of system capabilities as opposed to intentional risky 
behavior. The Alliance also recommended that NHTSA consider examining 
various levels of training, which would likely involve varying the 
length of the familiarization and the burden per participant. We agree 
that a study of the effects of various levels of training would be 
useful in developing educational materials for drivers. However, we 
also believe such a design would require a much larger study with 
significantly more participants than this proposed study and should 
build upon this proposed collection. NHTSA will make decisions about 
future research based on the findings of this study and other ongoing 
research.
    The second topic focused on the choice of technologies. The 
Alliance noted that some L2 systems are limited to adaptive cruise 
control and lane keeping assist while others monitor driver state and 
support hands-free driving. They recommended that NHTSA include a 
variety of makes and models in the study to create more variation in 
the types of technologies. Since the behavioral safety research 
questions in this proposed study do not involve system comparisons or 
aim to examine system design, NHTSA plans to retain the design decision 
to use one vehicle to control for differences in technologies. This 
study design intentionally recruits participants who vary in age and 
sex while it aims to control for the type of system, and it is 
different from a design where one would include various makes and 
models with different designs and try to control for differences among 
participants. Varying both participant groups and systems would require 
a much larger study to have sufficient statistical power. This 
project's focus is drivers' behaviors while using the system. While we 
acknowledge the growing variety of L2 systems, we selected adaptive 
cruise control and lane centering for this study because they are 
widely available to consumers and are designed to provide similar types 
of driver support. We acknowledge, however, that restricting the study 
to a particular model requires careful selection. The goal is to select 
a ``typical'' or ``common'' vehicle and system and to avoid highly 
unusual or novel interfaces. With this goal in mind, we will select a 
study vehicle that provides adaptive cruise control and lane centering 
and is moderately priced. As such, we believe that the basic principles 
underlying these two systems are sufficiently similar across platforms 
that lessons learned about behaviors under one would generalize to 
others.
    Another topic involved how the study classifies behaviors as 
``safety related'' in the context of systems that allow hands-free 
operation under some conditions as well as strategies for re-engaging 
the driver. The L2 system for this study will not support hands-free 
driving, and participants will be advised to keep their hands on the 
wheel and to continually monitor traffic. Instances of a participant's 
eyes off road longer than 2 seconds or hands off the wheel will be 
coded as safety related (risky) behaviors.\1\ The Alliance further 
suggested that the study should evaluate differences in strategies for 
re-engaging drivers based on the number of warnings and warning types 
as well as

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other factors that may impact drivers' responses to warnings or 
potential misuses. Addressing these research questions would require 
variation in system design and inclusion of vehicles that support some 
hands-free operation. As discussed above, these questions are beyond 
the scope of the project and would require a much larger study.
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    \1\ See ``Visual-Manual NHTSA Driver Distraction Guidelines for 
Portable and Aftermarket Devices,'' 81 FR 87656 (December 5, 2016). 
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2016-12-05/pdf/2016-29051.pdf.
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    Another topic raised by the Alliance expressed concern about 
varying levels of driving experience, especially among the youngest age 
group, and suggested that we gather information on prior driving 
histories and experiences with systems in their personal vehicles. We 
agree that participants with varying levels of driving experience and 
experience with L2 systems could complicate the study and analysis. The 
proposed study design addresses this issue through the questions in the 
Screening Questionnaire (Form 1627). To qualify for the study, a person 
must have a valid driver's license and have been fully licensed for at 
least two years. The focus of this study is on drivers with little or 
no experience with L2 systems, so the Screening Questionnaire helps 
remove participants with experience driving a vehicle that comes with 
an L2 system. Further, participants cannot have used any adaptive 
cruise control, lane keeping assist, or lane centering systems five or 
more times. These screening requirements should ensure that 
participants have adequate driving experience and similar levels of L2 
experience.
    The Alliance's final topic involved the knowledge and opinion 
questionnaire (Form 1629). The Alliance recommended increasing the 
burden by administering the questionnaire to all participants before 
and after exposure to provide insights to inform communications with 
the public. We believe administering the questionnaire before and after 
L2 exposure to all participants risks carryover effects as completing 
the pre-exposure questionnaire would make it more likely for 
participants to note and remember the ``right'' responses during 
familiarization. This effect could undermine the validity of the post-
exposure responses as a measure of what drivers learned through the 
course of the study.
    TxDOT offered two comments regarding the design of the proposed 
study. The first comment noted that the proposed study involves three 
age groups (18 to 25, 35 to 55, and 70 and older), and they asked why 
it excluded drivers between the ages of 26 and 34 and 56 to 69. 
Recruiting in specific age groups and excluding others is a common 
method for comparing the effects of age because it allows substantive 
comparisons across age groups without potentially comparing 
participants whose age is only different by one year. Further, given 
that age is an important explanatory variable in this study, these age 
groups provide substantive differences across groups and could add to 
the statistical power to find an effect of age. Finally, TxDOT noted 
that the proposed study design of four weeks of observation may be too 
little time to measure changes in driving patterns as well as safety-
related behaviors and that we should consider increasing the burden to 
collect more valid data over a longer period. While we agree that this 
proposed study is a relatively limited amount of time to collect 
observation data, this project focuses on drivers' behaviors during 
their first weeks using the systems as they become familiar with them. 
We believe the proposed length of time is sufficient given the findings 
from this study will inform development of behavioral safety 
countermeasures, particularly in the areas of communications and 
training, to improve drivers' ability to use L2 systems safely. 
Additionally, drivers are most likely to seek such information when 
they first begin using, or even before using, L2 systems.
    Affected Public: Study volunteers in the Blacksburg, VA, area. The 
study plans to recruit participants with little to no experience 
driving a vehicle with L2 systems. Of the 180 selected drivers, 60 will 
be age 70 and older, 60 will be between the ages of 35 and 55, and 60 
will be between ages 18 and 25. Equal numbers of males and females will 
be recruited within each age group.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: The study anticipates screening 
1,000 potential participants to obtain 180 drivers who meet study 
inclusion criteria. NHTSA expects to provide screening questionnaires 
to 1,000 potential participants to determine their eligibility for the 
study. Based upon previous research experience in the study area, an 
estimated 200 potential participants (20% of those who respond to 
screener questions) will be eligible and interested. An estimated 180 
participants (90% of those who receive the consent form) are expected 
to consent and enroll in the study.
    Frequency: This study is a one-time information collection, and 
there will be no recurrence.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,305.
    The annual estimated burden is 2,305 hours. This estimate includes 
250 hours for 1,000 potential participants to complete the initial 
screening and 150 hours for 200 potential participants to review and 
complete the consent form. The burden estimate also includes 1,860 
hours for the 180 consented and enrolled participants to complete all 
study tasks above and beyond the driving they would normally complete 
during the naturalistic driving observation periods. The study tasks 
include a 15-minute process for study enrollment, a 1-hour vehicle 
familiarization briefing, a 2-hour training about the L2 systems, two 
2-hour planned drives (one at the beginning and one at the end of the 
study), five 30-minute planned drivers (during the study), a five-
minute usability questionnaire, and a 30-minute final debriefing. In 
addition, half the participants will complete a 15-minute questionnaire 
that measures knowledge and opinions before exposure to L2 systems and 
the other half will complete the questionnaire after exposure with an 
estimated burden of 45 hours. The total burden is the sum of the burden 
across screening, consenting, and completing the study for a total 
estimate of 2,305 hours. The details are presented in Table 1 below.

                                     Table 1--Estimated Burden Hours by Form
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                                                                                                       Total
                                                                                     Estimated       estimated
                Form                         Description           Participants     minutes per    burden hours
                                                                                    participant      per form
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Form 1627..........................  Screening Questionnaire....           1,000              15             250
Form 1628..........................  Informed Consent Briefing..             200              45             150
Form 1629..........................  Knowledge & Opinion                     180              15              45
                                      Questionnaire.
Form 1630..........................  Naturalistic Study.........             180             620           1,860
                                     Enrollment.................  ..............              15  ..............

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                                     Vehicle Familiarization....  ..............              60  ..............
                                     Baseline Planned Drive.....  ..............             120  ..............
                                     L2 System Familiarization..  ..............             120  ..............
                                     Five Weekly Planned Drives.  ..............             150  ..............
                                     Post-Study Planned Drive...  ..............             120  ..............
                                     Usability Questionnaire....  ..............               5  ..............
                                     Debriefing.................  ..............              30  ..............
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total..........................  ...........................  ..............  ..............           2,305
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    Estimated Total Annual Burden Cost: NHTSA estimates the only cost 
burdens to respondents beyond the time spent on data collection 
activities are costs related to drives above and beyond their normal 
driving required by the study, which impose additional fuel costs. 
These cost burdens are expected to be offset by the monetary 
compensation that will be provided to all research participants. 
Participants will receive $100 after completion of the first session, 
$150 after completion of the baseline naturalistic driving, and $200 
upon completion of the study. This compensation offsets both the 
participants time as well as the additional fuel costs, and the amount 
is in line with past similar efforts given the activities it requires 
of participants.
    Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspects of 
this information collection, including (a) 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; (b) 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; (c) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; 
and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, 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.
    Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 
35, as amended; 49 CFR 1.49; and DOT Order 1351.29.

Nanda Narayanan Srinivasan,
Associate Administrator, Research and Program Development.
[FR Doc. 2022-23842 Filed 11-1-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P


