Agency information collection activities: Proposed collection; comment request,

[Federal Register: October 8, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 195)]

[Notices]

[Page 54184-54185]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr08oc98-129]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[U.S. DOT Docket No. NHTSA-98-4440]

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 December 7, 1998.

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-98-4440.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. John Eberhard, 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, 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 1230.8(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.

According to the Paperwork Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection will be published in the Federal Register after it is approved by the OMB.

In compliance with these requirements, NHTSA asks public comment on the following proposed collection of information.

Older Persons' Driving and Transportation Issues

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, 2000.

Summary of the Collection of Information--NHTSA proposes to conduct a survey by telephone among a nationally representative sample of 3,220 adults, including older adults. Participation by respondents would be voluntary. NHTSA's information needs require collection of information to assess the awareness of the American public concerning the mobility issues of seniors and establish benchmarks against which progress in improving seniors' safety and mobility can be assessed over time.

In conducting the proposed survey, the interviewers would use computer-aided telephone interviewing (CATI) to reduce interview length and minimize recording errors. A Spanish-language translation and bilingual interviewers are proposed 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. The Department of Transportation, including NHTSA, has for years been extensively involved in work to support a safe transportation environment for the nation in general, and senior citizens in particular. In fact, NHTSA has had an older driver program since 1988. As the nation's population ages, the need for national-level data concerning the mobility needs of the elderly population has increased. To develop informed policy making, data are needed that not only measure current transportation practices and needs of the elderly population, but the role of the general public in (and their attitudes toward) providing transportation for the elderly who cannot--or should not--continue driving.

So that Federal transportation policy makers, as well as professionals involved in the whole array of elderly issues, can make informed decisions concerning transportation policy (e.g., the allocation of resources, critical target audiences, etc.), a database that is easily accessible by such individuals is needed. Additionally, because the elderly population will continue to grow, and therefore so will the needs for alternatives to driving for this population segment, a database is needed that will serve as a benchmark against which to measure progress in meeting the mobility needs of the elderly.

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 twenty minutes in length would be administered to each of 3,220 randomly selected members of the general public aged sixteen and older in telephone households. The respondent sample would be selected from all fifty 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. There

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would be only one interview per respondent.

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 twenty minutes to complete the telephone interview. Thus, the number of estimated reporting burden hours a year on the general public (3,220 respondents multiplied by 1 interview multiplied by 20 minutes) would be 1,074 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.

Issued on: October 2, 1998. James Nichols, Acting Associate Administrator for Traffic Safety Programs.

[FR Doc. 98-27049Filed10-7-98; 8:45 am]

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