Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for Comment; Influence of Drivers' Internal Reasoning on Speeding

Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for Comment; Influence of Drivers' Internal Reasoning on Speeding

Publication: Federal Register
Signing Official: Nanda Narayanan Srinivasan
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Date: 25 October 2022

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 205 (Tuesday, October 25, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64536-64538]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-23086]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2022-0045]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for
Comment; Influence of Drivers' Internal Reasoning on Speeding

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

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

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SUMMARY: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
invites public comments about our intention to request approval from
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a proposed collection of
information. Before a Federal agency can collect certain information
from the public, it

[[Page 64537]]

must receive approval from OMB. Under procedures established by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal
agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of
information. This document describes a collection of information for
which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval on the Influence of Drivers'
Internal Reasoning on Speeding.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 27, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by the Docket No. NHTSA-
2022-0045 through any of the following methods:
Electronic submissions: Go to the Federal eRulemaking
Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions
for submitting comments.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket Management, U.S. Department
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Room W12-
140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except on Federal holidays. To be sure someone is there to help
you, please call (202) 366-9322 before coming.
Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and
docket number for this notice. Note that all comments received will be
posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading
below.
Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or you may visit https://www.transportation.gov/privacy.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov or the street
address listed above. Follow the online instructions for accessing the
dockets via internet.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or access
to background documents, contact Stacy Jeleniewski, Ph.D., Office of
Behavioral Safety Research (NPD-310), (202) 366-2752 (office), (202)
981-3173 (cell), Stacy.Jeleniewski@dot.gov, National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, W46-491, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington,
DC 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), before an agency submits a proposed
collection of information to OMB for approval, it must first 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 regulation (at 5 CFR 1320.8(d)), an agency must
ask for public comment on the following: (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) how to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;
and (d) 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 for public comments on the following proposed collection of
information for which the agency is seeking approval from OMB.
Title: Influence of Drivers' Internal Reasoning on Speeding.
OMB Control Number: New.
Form Numbers: NHTSA Form 1659.
Type of Request: Approval of a New Information Collection.
Type of Review Requested: Regular.
Requested Expiration Date of Approval: 3 years from date of
approval.
Summary of the Collection of Information: NHTSA is seeking approval
to conduct a survey of 1,500 licensed drivers in Washington State age
18 and older regarding speeding. The study will coordinate with the
Washington Traffic Safety Commission and Washington Department of
Licensing to survey drivers in the State who received one or more
speeding convictions in the last three years and drivers not convicted
of speeding in that same time-frame. Participation in the study will be
voluntary. The study will use a self-administered web-based survey with
a paper survey option available. The survey will include general and
speeding-specific questions about moral reasoning (judgments about
rightfulness and wrongfulness), legal reasoning (judgments about
lawfulness and unlawfulness), and attitudes and perceptions of laws,
enforcement, and sanctions. Past speeding behavior and intent to speed
in the future will also be assessed.
In conducting the proposed research, the survey will use computer-
assisted web interviewing (i.e., a programmed, self-administered, web
survey) to facilitate ease of use and maximize data accuracy. Although
web will be the primary data collection mode, a paper questionnaire
will be sent to households that do not respond to the web invitations.
The proposed survey will be anonymous, and the survey will not collect
any personal identifying information. This collection only requires
respondents to report their answers; there are no record-keeping costs
to the respondents. Individuals receiving a survey invitation will
receive compensation in return for their activities.
The results of this research will assist NHTSA in better
understanding how to develop successful programs to improve driver
safety. The technical report will be distributed to a variety of
audiences interested in improving highway safety. This collection will
inform the development of countermeasures, particularly in the areas of
communications and outreach intended to reduce speeding.
Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the
Information: NHTSA was established to reduce the 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
traffic safety programs. Title 23, United States Code, Section 403
gives the Secretary of Transportation (NHTSA by delegation)
authorization to use funds appropriated to conduct research and
development activities, including demonstration projects and the
collection and analysis of highway and motor vehicle safety data and
related information, with respect to all aspects of highway and traffic
safety systems and conditions relating to vehicle, highway, driver,
passenger, motorcyclist, bicyclist, and pedestrian characteristics;
accident causation and investigations; and human behavioral factors and
their effect on highway and traffic safety. Speeding behavior is an
area for which NHTSA has developed comprehensive

[[Page 64538]]

programs to meet its injury reduction goals. The major components of
speeding safety programs are education, enforcement, and outreach, with
legislative efforts added to the mix.
Speeding continues to be a major safety problem. In 2019, speeding
was a contributing factor in 26% of fatal, 12% of injury, and 9% of
property-damage-only crashes. Motor vehicle crashes in 2019 where at
least one driver was speeding accounted for 9,478 fatalities. That same
year, 326,000 people were injured in speeding-related traffic
crashes.\1\ To address the safety problem, NHTSA has provided State
Highway Safety Offices and safety advocates with information on
attitudes and behaviors of drivers who speed, including changes across
time, and classified speeder types.2 3 NHTSA is continuing
these efforts and attempting to assist the development of more tailored
countermeasures by conducting this new study to evaluate additional
psychological factors that may predict speeding behavior.
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\1\ National Center for Statistics and Analysis. (2021,
October). Speeding: 2019 data (Traffic Safety Facts. Report No. DOT
HS 813 194). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
\2\ Richard, C.M., Campbell, J.L., Lichty, M.G., Brown, J.L.,
Chrysler, S., Lee, J.D., Boyle, L., & Reagle, G. (2012, August).
Motivations for speeding, Volume I: Summary report. (Report No. DOT
HS 811 658). Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration.
\3\ Schroeder, P., Kostyniuk, L., & Mack, M. (2013, December).
2011 National Survey of Speeding Attitudes and Behaviors. (Report
No. DOT HS 811 865). Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration.
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In order to design countermeasures that address directly the
factors that influence speeding behavior and intention to engage in
this behavior, it is necessary to understand as much as possible about
the internal reasoning of drivers who speed. Insight into factors such
as judgments about whether speeding is morally right or wrong and
perceptions of the legitimacy of the speed laws, enforcement, and
sanctions can help to develop tailored and effective interventions.
This study will examine these factors by conducting a survey of
speeders and non-speeders. NHTSA will use the findings to assist
States, localities, and communities in developing and refining
countermeasures that will aid in their efforts to reduce speeding
behavior and speeding-related crashes and injuries.
NHTSA will disseminate the information from this study in a
technical report. The technical report will provide aggregate (summary)
statistics and tables as well as the results of statistical analysis of
the information, but it will not include any personally identifiable
information (PII). The technical report will be shared with State
highway offices, local governments, and those who develop traffic
safety communications that aim to reduce speeding behavior and
speeding-related crashes.
Affected Public: Participants are eligible for the survey if they
are (1) licensed drivers in the State of Washington at the time the
sample is drawn; (2) age 18 and older; (3) randomly selected from the
total drivers in Washington State in three groups based on the number
of speeding convictions on their driver record (0; 1; and 2+).
Estimated Number of Respondents: Participation in this study will
be voluntary. The study anticipates contacting up to 4,545 adult
licensed drivers from Washington State to obtain no more than 1,500
completed surveys.
Frequency of Collection: The study will be conducted one time
during the three-year period for which NHTSA is requesting approval.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: NHTSA estimates the
approximate time to complete the survey is 20 minutes per participant.
Details of the burden hours for each wave in the survey are included in
Table 1 below. When rounded up to the nearest whole hour for each data
collection effort, the total estimated annual burden from the project
activities for 1,500 participants is 501 hours.

Table 1--Estimated Total Burden for Survey
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Estimated
Number of burden per Frequency of Number of Total burden
Wave contacts Participant type sample unit burden sample units hours *
(in minutes)
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Wave 1 (Initial Invitation)............... 4,545 Recruited participant-- 20 1 495 165
Eligible respondent.
Wave 2 (Reminder Postcard #1)............. 4,050 Recruited participant-- 20 1 297 99
Eligible respondent.
Wave 3 (1st Survey Mailing--NHTSA Form 3,753 Recruited participant-- 20 1 376 126
1659). Eligible respondent.
Wave 4 (Reminder Postcard #2)............. 3,377 Recruited participant-- 20 1 188 63
Eligible respondent.
Wave 5 (2nd Survey Mailing--NHTSA Form 3,189 Recruited participant-- 20 1 144 48
1659). Eligible respondent.
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Total................................. .............. ............................ .............. .............. .............. 501
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* Rounded up to the nearest hour.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Cost: Participation in this study is
voluntary, and there are no costs to respondents beyond the time spent
completing the questionnaires.
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 Department, including whether the information will
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Department's estimate
of the burden of the proposed information collection; (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 automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. chapter
35, as amended; 49 CFR 1.49; and DOT Order 1351.29A.

Nanda Narayanan Srinivasan,
Associate Administrator, Research and Program Development.
[FR Doc. 2022-23086 Filed 10-24-22; 8:45 am]
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