FHWA Laboratory and Field Research; Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review, 8839-8841 [E9-4098]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 37 / Thursday, February 26, 2009 / Notices
W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590–0001.
Hand Delivery or Courier: U.S.
Department of Transportation, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140,
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Jones, 202–366–5053, Federal
Highway Administration, Department of
Transportation, Office of Highway
Policy Information, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Truck Congestion Information
Assessment.
Background: The Federal Highway
Administration’s (FHWA) ability to
assess congestion is critical for our
national leadership role. Highway traffic
congestion causes an estimated 3.5
billion hours of delays per year in 75 of
the largest metropolitan areas.
The volume of freight, the mix of
goods, and the way they are moved has
changed dramatically and highway
system improvements have not kept
pace with the growth and demand for
freight transportation, resulting in
congestion on our Nation’s highways
and straining other freight modes as
well.
The purpose of this research is to
collect highway congestion information
to assess highway system performance
and validate findings of the report on
bottlenecks produced from Speed,
Highway Performance Monitoring
System (HPMS) and Freight Analysis
Framework (FAF) data.
The selected service provider will
establish, promote, collect and analyze
data from a developed system to provide
easy access 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week allowing the roadway user a
convenient way to report areas of heavy
congestion and bottleneck conditions at
any point in time encountered
nationally on the highway system.
Roadside users can report information
by using an automated phone system or
the internet. The information from the
user will be date, time, state, and
highway route number, direction of
travel, mile marker and weather
condition. The reporting from the
roadside user is voluntary.
Respondents: Approximately 1200
Interstate roadway users daily, with the
majority being truck drivers.
Frequency: Every day for 3 years.
Estimated Average Burden per
Response: Each response will be
approximately 1 minute.
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:56 Feb 25, 2009
Jkt 217001
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: Approximately 4,380 hours in
the first year, 7,665 the second year, and
9,855 the third year. Totaling 21,900
hours.
Public Comments Invited: You are
asked to comment on any aspect of this
information collection, including: (1)
Whether the proposed collection is
necessary for the FHWA’s performance;
(2) the accuracy of the estimated
burdens; (3) ways for the FHWA to
enhance the quality, usefulness, and
clarity of the collected information; and
(4) ways that the burden could be
minimized, including the use of
electronic technology, without reducing
the quality of the collected information.
The agency will summarize and/or
include your comments in the request
for OMB’s clearance of this information
collection.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended;
and 49 CFR 1.48.
Issued on: February 20, 2009.
James R. Kabel,
Chief, Management Programs and Analysis
Division.
[FR Doc. E9–4097 Filed 2–25–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
[U.S. DOT Docket No. FHWA–2008–0183]
FHWA Laboratory and Field Research;
Agency Information Collection Activity
Under OMB Review
AGENCY: Federal Highway
Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Request for comments.
SUMMARY: The FHWA invites the public
to comment on our intention to request
the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) to approve a new information
collection. This collection is
summarized below under
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. We are
required to publish this notice in the
Federal Register by the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995.
DATES: Please submit comments by
April 27, 2009.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
identified by Docket ID Number FHWA–
2008–0183 by any of the following
methods:
Web Site: For access to the docket to
read background documents or
comments received, go to the Federal
eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
PO 00000
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8839
Fax: 1–202–493–2251.
Mail: Docket Management Facility,
U.S. Department of Transportation,
West Building Ground Floor, Room
W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590–0001.
Hand Delivery or Courier: U.S.
Department of Transportation, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140,
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Thomas Granda, PhD, Team Leader,
Human Centered Systems, Office of
Safety Research and Development,
HRDS–07, Turner-Fairbank Highway
Research Center, Federal Highway
Administration, 6300 Georgetown Pike,
McLean, VA 22101, tel. 202–493–3365
between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays,
or Paul J. Tremont, PhD, (same address)
at 202–493–3338.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: FHWA Laboratory and Field
Research.
Background: The FHWA invites
public comments on our intention to
request the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) to approve a total of 30
laboratory/field research studies that
will include collections of information
from the general public. These studies
will be conducted over a period not to
exceed three years with a total burden
of approximately 5250 hours and an
annual burden of approximately 1750
hours.
These collections are integral to the
performance of various analytical, field,
and laboratory human factors research
projects that FHWA plans to conduct in
support of its mission of improving
safety and increasing mobility on our
Nation’s highways through National
Leadership, Innovation, and Program
Delivery.
The laboratory and field research
FHWA conducts often involves
observations of driver behavior. In the
field, these studies are usually
completely non-intrusive. However,
some field and laboratory research
studies require that interview data be
collected from individual persons. For
example, if drivers are participating in
a research study on a novel intersection,
interview data might be acquired from
a subset of drivers to determine what
they observed while driving or how they
made their decisions. In these cases the
interview will be brief (10–15 minutes).
Similar interview data may be acquired
when studies are conducted in a
laboratory setting.
This planned approval request does
NOT include work subsumed under
E:\FR\FM\26FEN1.SGM
26FEN1
8840
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 37 / Thursday, February 26, 2009 / Notices
Subtitle C of Public Law 109–59,
Intelligent Systems Transportation
Research (ITS). ITS work is exempted
from requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, by a Special
Rule under Section 5305 of Public Law
109–59, that states the following: ‘‘Any
survey, questionnaire, or interview that
the Secretary considers necessary to
carry out the reporting of any test,
deployment, project, or program
assessment activity under this subtitle
shall not be subject to Chapter 35 of
Title 44, United States Code.’’
Research Areas and Associated
Collections
The FHWA Office of Safety Research
and Development intends to conduct
analytical, laboratory and field research
projects focused on highway safety that
will require acquisition of data from
small samples of the general public.
This research is directed at human
factors issues within the following
broad program areas: (A) Infrastructure
design including innovative intersection
configurations and signage and roadway
markings; (B) highway operations; (C)
driver-vehicle and infrastructure-vehicle
interfaces; (D) older and younger driver
programs; and (E) pedestrian and
bicyclist issues. Given that the focus of
the research in the above areas is on
human factors issues, it is necessary that
data also be collected on a few key
demographic variables such as age,
gender, and driving experience. None of
the data collected in any of the planned
research will be linked to personal
identifying information.
Situations That Require Collections of
Information—Examples From Each
Category
Category A (Infrastructure Design). An
example from Category A would be a
study designed to test an innovative
intersection design such as a Diverging
Diamond Interchange (DDI). This is a
highly efficient intersection design, but
if not properly implemented, it could
potentially cause confusion. In a DDI,
drivers cross over to the left side of the
highway, with the result that opposing
traffic is placed on their right side.
When testing a DDI, FHWA will need to
know whether drivers perceived any
ambiguity in the signage, if they had any
orientation problems seeing opposing
traffic on their right, and if they have
any suggestions for improving the
overall ease with which such an
intersection could be driven. Other
innovative intersection designs would
also benefit from similar information
acquired from drivers. Roadway
departure is another problem area that
could benefit from individual driver
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:56 Feb 25, 2009
Jkt 217001
data. For example, it would be helpful
to know how drivers perceive their
interaction with the roadway geometry
and signage, and then apply that
information to design decisions that can
lead to reductions in roadway
departures.
Category B (Highway Operations).
One of the many challenges confronting
highway engineers is designing a signal
system that maximizes throughput and
minimizes delay. Excess delays could
result in more drivers running red
lights. This problem can be examined by
observing drivers’ behavior under
differing signaling conditions. However,
direct verbal reports of drivers are often
needed to determine why drivers are
making their decisions. For example
FHWA may learn from questioning
drivers that they would be less likely to
speed up when approaching a signal if
they knew the signal system would
recognize this behavior and respond
accordingly. One way this might happen
is by advising the motorist earlier of the
impending signal change. Driver
interviews performed under this study
area can provide information on many
key issues including behavioral
adaptation, decisionmaking, and
reaction times to signal phases and
changes. This kind of information could
lead to improvements to signal
controllers that increase mobility and
improve safety. Speed management is
another area of highway operations that
could benefit from interview data. For
example, lower speed limits in
construction zones are difficult to
enforce, and interview data with drivers
can provide information on better
methods of restraining driver speeds in
these hazardous situations.
Category C (Older and Younger
Drivers). The opinions of these two high
risk groups are needed for almost all
FHWA safety related studies. For
example, data on the ease of use
expressed by older drivers with respect
to an innovative design informs the
engineer which aspects of the new
design that present potential safety
problems and may be in need of
modification. In contrast, young drivers
present a separate set of challenges for
highway engineers. Their ability to
negotiate a new design may be less of
a concern, however; it is necessary to
understand how these drivers regard the
conflict points presented by new
designs. This is of particular importance
as some younger drivers may be willing
to take extra risks in situations where
ambiguity exists. Gathering verbal
feedback from younger drivers will help
engineers determine areas of potential
ambiguity in design and modify these
PO 00000
Frm 00068
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
areas as necessary to ensure they are not
introducing safety hazards.
Category D (Pedestrians and
Bicyclists). Research related to
pedestrians and bicyclists arises from
the need to determine the most effective
ways to accommodate these
infrastructure users. While overt
pedestrian and bicyclist behavior can be
directly observed fairly easily, it is
sometimes necessary to collect user
opinions and reactions. For example,
when a new intersection design is being
introduced (e.g., a triple lane
roundabout), it is especially
advantageous to acquire data that
provides insights into the needs and
challenges that pedestrians and
bicyclists face as they negotiate such an
intersection. The needs of disabled
pedestrians are also considered when
researching new intersection treatments,
and in these efforts FHWA works
closely with the U.S. Access Board to
ensure that novel intersection
treatments accommodate their needs.
Another example of research in this area
is determining bicyclists’ reactions to
such treatments as separately marked
bicycle lanes, signage, and overall
roadway configuration.
Description of How Field and
Laboratory Study Participants Will Be
Acquired
Samples for research studies will be
acquired by advertisement in local
papers, by the distribution of flyers, or
by postings to the Internet. Typically,
interested parties contact FHWA and
they are asked a few questions to
determine whether they qualify for the
study. These questions involve such
issues as age, driver familiarity with the
location or scenario being used, number
of miles driven per year, and gender.
Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting
and Recordkeeping Burden Resulting
From These Information Collections
and Requests for Comments
Respondents: Approximately 6,000
roadway users drawn from the general
driving population.
Frequency: This approval request is
for 30 studies over a three-year period.
Estimated Average Burden per
Respondent: FHWA estimates data
acquisition from persons participating
in a laboratory or field research study
will average about 1 hour. For those
field studies only using direct
observation of driver behaviors and
interviews of randomly selected drivers,
the maximum burden (for the interview)
will be 15 minutes per participant.
Estimated Total Burden Hours:
Assuming 15 studies will be laboratory
based, 10 will be field based, and 5 will
E:\FR\FM\26FEN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 37 / Thursday, February 26, 2009 / Notices
use direct observation with 15-minute
interviews (.25 hour), the burden is
calculated as follows:
Laboratory studies: 15 studies × 200
participants × 1 hour = 3,000 hours
Field studies: 10 studies × 200
participants × 1 hour = 2,000 hours
Field studies (interview only): 5 studies
× 200 participants × .25 hour = 250
hours
3-year total = 5,250 hours
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:
5,250/3 = 1,750 hours
Public Comments Invited: You are
asked to comment on any aspect of
these information collections, including:
(1) Whether the proposed collections are
necessary for FHWA’s performance; (2)
the accuracy of the estimated burden;
(3) ways for FHWA to enhance the
quality, usefulness, and clarity of the
collected information; and (4) ways that
the burden could be minimized,
including the use of electronic
technology, without reducing the
quality of the collected information.
FHWA will respond to your comments
and summarize or include them when
requesting clearance from OMB for
these information data collections.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended;
and 49 CFR 1.48.
Issued on February 20, 2009.
Judith Kane,
Acting Chief, Management Programs &
Analysis Division.
[FR Doc. E9–4098 Filed 2–25–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration
[Docket No. FMCSA–2006–25756]
Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)
Standards: Granting of Exemption;
Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo)
AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of final disposition;
granting of application for exemption.
SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its
decision to grant Volvo Trucks North
America, Inc.’s (Volvo) application for
an exemption for one of its drivers to
enable him to test-drive commercial
motor vehicles (CMVs) in the United
States without a commercial driver’s
license (CDL) issued by one of the
States. Volvo stated the exemption is
needed to support a field test to meet
future air quality standards and to testdrive Volvo prototype vehicles to verify
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:56 Feb 25, 2009
Jkt 217001
results in ‘‘real world’’ environments. Its
driver holds a valid CDL issued in
Sweden but lacks the U.S. residency
necessary to obtain a CDL issued by one
of the States. FMCSA believes the
knowledge and skills testing and
training program that drivers must
undergo to obtain a Swedish CDL
ensures that their drivers will achieve a
level of safety that is equivalent to, or
greater than, the level of safety achieved
without the exemption.
DATES: This exemption is effective
February 26, 2009 and expires February
26, 2011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Richard Clemente, Driver and Carrier
Operations Division, Office of Bus and
Truck Standards and Operations, MC–
PSD, Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Telephone: 202–366–4325. E-mail:
MCPSD@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e),
FMCSA may grant an exemption from
the CDL requirements in 49 CFR 383.23
for a 2-year period if it finds ‘‘* * *
such exemption would likely achieve a
level of safety that is equivalent to, or
greater than, the level that would be
achieved absent such exemption * * *’’
(49 CFR 381.305 (a)). FMCSA has
evaluated Volvo’s application on its
merits and decided to grant the
exemption for its field test engineer,
Michael Tellstrom, for a 2-year period.
Volvo Application for an Exemption
Volvo applied for an exemption from
the 49 CFR 383.23 requirement that the
operator of a CMV obtain a CDL issued
by one of the States. This section of the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Regulations (FMCSRs) sets forth the
standards that States must employ in
issuing CDLs. An individual must be a
resident of a State in order to qualify for
a CDL. The Volvo driver-employee for
whom this exemption is sought is a
citizen and resident of Sweden;
therefore, he cannot apply for a CDL in
any State of the United States. A copy
of the request for exemption from
section 383.23 is in the docket
identified at the beginning of this
notice.
Swedish Driver
This exemption enables Michael
Tellstrom to test-drive in the U.S. Volvo
CMVs that are assembled, sold or
primarily used in the U.S. Volvo
currently employs this driver in
Sweden, and wants him to be able to
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
8841
test-drive Volvo prototype vehicles at its
test site and in the vicinity of Phoenix,
Arizona, to verify vehicle results in
‘‘real world’’ environments. He is a
highly trained, experienced CMV
operator with a valid Swedish-issued
CDL. Because he was required to satisfy
strict CDL testing standards in Sweden
to obtain a CDL and has extensive
training and experience operating
CMVs, Volvo believes that the
exemption will maintain a level of
safety equivalent to the level of safety
that would be obtained absent the
exemption.
Method To Ensure an Equivalent or
Greater Level of Safety
According to Volvo, drivers applying
for a Swedish-issued CDL must undergo
a training program and pass knowledge
and skills tests. Volvo believes the
knowledge and skills tests and training
program that these drivers undergo to
obtain a Swedish CDL ensure the
exemption would provide a level of
safety that is equivalent to, or greater
than, the level of safety obtained by
complying with the U.S. requirement for
a CDL. In addition, Volvo has submitted
a copy of the violation-free Swedish
driving record of this driver.
FMCSA had previously determined
that the process for obtaining a
Swedish-issued CDL adequately
assesses the driver’s ability to operate
CMVs in the U.S. Therefore, the process
for obtaining a Swedish-issued CDL is
considered to be comparable to, or as
effective as, the requirements of 49 CFR
part 383.
Comments
The Agency received no response to
its request for public comments
published in the Federal Register on
January 16, 2009 (74 FR 3130).
Terms and Conditions for the
Exemption
Based upon evaluation of the
application for an exemption, FMCSA
grants Volvo an exemption from the
CDL requirement in 49 CFR 383.23 for
its driver, Michael Tellstrom, to testdrive CMVs within the United States,
subject to the following terms and
conditions: (1) That this driver will be
subject to drug and alcohol regulations,
including testing, as provided in 49 CFR
part 382, (2) that this driver is subject
to the same driver disqualification rules
under 49 CFR parts 383 and 391 that
apply to other CMV drivers in the U.S.,
(3) that this driver keep a copy of the
exemption on the vehicle at all times,
(4) that Volvo notify FMCSA in writing
of any accident, as defined in 49 CFR
390.5, involving this driver, and (5) that
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 37 (Thursday, February 26, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8839-8841]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4098]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
[U.S. DOT Docket No. FHWA-2008-0183]
FHWA Laboratory and Field Research; Agency Information Collection
Activity Under OMB Review
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FHWA invites the public to comment on our intention to
request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a new
information collection. This collection is summarized below under
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. We are required to publish this notice in
the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
DATES: Please submit comments by April 27, 2009.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket ID Number FHWA-
2008-0183 by any of the following methods:
Web Site: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received, go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments.
Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Hand Delivery or Courier: U.S. Department of Transportation, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Granda, PhD, Team Leader, Human
Centered Systems, Office of Safety Research and Development, HRDS-07,
Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, Federal Highway
Administration, 6300 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA 22101, tel. 202-493-
3365 between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays, or Paul J. Tremont, PhD, (same address) at 202-493-
3338.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: FHWA Laboratory and Field Research.
Background: The FHWA invites public comments on our intention to
request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a total of
30 laboratory/field research studies that will include collections of
information from the general public. These studies will be conducted
over a period not to exceed three years with a total burden of
approximately 5250 hours and an annual burden of approximately 1750
hours.
These collections are integral to the performance of various
analytical, field, and laboratory human factors research projects that
FHWA plans to conduct in support of its mission of improving safety and
increasing mobility on our Nation's highways through National
Leadership, Innovation, and Program Delivery.
The laboratory and field research FHWA conducts often involves
observations of driver behavior. In the field, these studies are
usually completely non-intrusive. However, some field and laboratory
research studies require that interview data be collected from
individual persons. For example, if drivers are participating in a
research study on a novel intersection, interview data might be
acquired from a subset of drivers to determine what they observed while
driving or how they made their decisions. In these cases the interview
will be brief (10-15 minutes). Similar interview data may be acquired
when studies are conducted in a laboratory setting.
This planned approval request does NOT include work subsumed under
[[Page 8840]]
Subtitle C of Public Law 109-59, Intelligent Systems Transportation
Research (ITS). ITS work is exempted from requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, by a Special Rule under Section 5305 of Public
Law 109-59, that states the following: ``Any survey, questionnaire, or
interview that the Secretary considers necessary to carry out the
reporting of any test, deployment, project, or program assessment
activity under this subtitle shall not be subject to Chapter 35 of
Title 44, United States Code.''
Research Areas and Associated Collections
The FHWA Office of Safety Research and Development intends to
conduct analytical, laboratory and field research projects focused on
highway safety that will require acquisition of data from small samples
of the general public. This research is directed at human factors
issues within the following broad program areas: (A) Infrastructure
design including innovative intersection configurations and signage and
roadway markings; (B) highway operations; (C) driver-vehicle and
infrastructure-vehicle interfaces; (D) older and younger driver
programs; and (E) pedestrian and bicyclist issues. Given that the focus
of the research in the above areas is on human factors issues, it is
necessary that data also be collected on a few key demographic
variables such as age, gender, and driving experience. None of the data
collected in any of the planned research will be linked to personal
identifying information.
Situations That Require Collections of Information--Examples From Each
Category
Category A (Infrastructure Design). An example from Category A
would be a study designed to test an innovative intersection design
such as a Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI). This is a highly
efficient intersection design, but if not properly implemented, it
could potentially cause confusion. In a DDI, drivers cross over to the
left side of the highway, with the result that opposing traffic is
placed on their right side. When testing a DDI, FHWA will need to know
whether drivers perceived any ambiguity in the signage, if they had any
orientation problems seeing opposing traffic on their right, and if
they have any suggestions for improving the overall ease with which
such an intersection could be driven. Other innovative intersection
designs would also benefit from similar information acquired from
drivers. Roadway departure is another problem area that could benefit
from individual driver data. For example, it would be helpful to know
how drivers perceive their interaction with the roadway geometry and
signage, and then apply that information to design decisions that can
lead to reductions in roadway departures.
Category B (Highway Operations). One of the many challenges
confronting highway engineers is designing a signal system that
maximizes throughput and minimizes delay. Excess delays could result in
more drivers running red lights. This problem can be examined by
observing drivers' behavior under differing signaling conditions.
However, direct verbal reports of drivers are often needed to determine
why drivers are making their decisions. For example FHWA may learn from
questioning drivers that they would be less likely to speed up when
approaching a signal if they knew the signal system would recognize
this behavior and respond accordingly. One way this might happen is by
advising the motorist earlier of the impending signal change. Driver
interviews performed under this study area can provide information on
many key issues including behavioral adaptation, decisionmaking, and
reaction times to signal phases and changes. This kind of information
could lead to improvements to signal controllers that increase mobility
and improve safety. Speed management is another area of highway
operations that could benefit from interview data. For example, lower
speed limits in construction zones are difficult to enforce, and
interview data with drivers can provide information on better methods
of restraining driver speeds in these hazardous situations.
Category C (Older and Younger Drivers). The opinions of these two
high risk groups are needed for almost all FHWA safety related studies.
For example, data on the ease of use expressed by older drivers with
respect to an innovative design informs the engineer which aspects of
the new design that present potential safety problems and may be in
need of modification. In contrast, young drivers present a separate set
of challenges for highway engineers. Their ability to negotiate a new
design may be less of a concern, however; it is necessary to understand
how these drivers regard the conflict points presented by new designs.
This is of particular importance as some younger drivers may be willing
to take extra risks in situations where ambiguity exists. Gathering
verbal feedback from younger drivers will help engineers determine
areas of potential ambiguity in design and modify these areas as
necessary to ensure they are not introducing safety hazards.
Category D (Pedestrians and Bicyclists). Research related to
pedestrians and bicyclists arises from the need to determine the most
effective ways to accommodate these infrastructure users. While overt
pedestrian and bicyclist behavior can be directly observed fairly
easily, it is sometimes necessary to collect user opinions and
reactions. For example, when a new intersection design is being
introduced (e.g., a triple lane roundabout), it is especially
advantageous to acquire data that provides insights into the needs and
challenges that pedestrians and bicyclists face as they negotiate such
an intersection. The needs of disabled pedestrians are also considered
when researching new intersection treatments, and in these efforts FHWA
works closely with the U.S. Access Board to ensure that novel
intersection treatments accommodate their needs. Another example of
research in this area is determining bicyclists' reactions to such
treatments as separately marked bicycle lanes, signage, and overall
roadway configuration.
Description of How Field and Laboratory Study Participants Will Be
Acquired
Samples for research studies will be acquired by advertisement in
local papers, by the distribution of flyers, or by postings to the
Internet. Typically, interested parties contact FHWA and they are asked
a few questions to determine whether they qualify for the study. These
questions involve such issues as age, driver familiarity with the
location or scenario being used, number of miles driven per year, and
gender.
Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden
Resulting From These Information Collections and Requests for Comments
Respondents: Approximately 6,000 roadway users drawn from the
general driving population.
Frequency: This approval request is for 30 studies over a three-
year period.
Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: FHWA estimates data
acquisition from persons participating in a laboratory or field
research study will average about 1 hour. For those field studies only
using direct observation of driver behaviors and interviews of randomly
selected drivers, the maximum burden (for the interview) will be 15
minutes per participant.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: Assuming 15 studies will be
laboratory based, 10 will be field based, and 5 will
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use direct observation with 15-minute interviews (.25 hour), the burden
is calculated as follows:
Laboratory studies: 15 studies x 200 participants x 1 hour = 3,000
hours
Field studies: 10 studies x 200 participants x 1 hour = 2,000 hours
Field studies (interview only): 5 studies x 200 participants x .25 hour
= 250 hours
3-year total = 5,250 hours
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,250/3 = 1,750 hours
Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of
these information collections, including: (1) Whether the proposed
collections are necessary for FHWA's performance; (2) the accuracy of
the estimated burden; (3) ways for FHWA to enhance the quality,
usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) ways that
the burden could be minimized, including the use of electronic
technology, without reducing the quality of the collected information.
FHWA will respond to your comments and summarize or include them when
requesting clearance from OMB for these information data collections.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48.
Issued on February 20, 2009.
Judith Kane,
Acting Chief, Management Programs & Analysis Division.
[FR Doc. E9-4098 Filed 2-25-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P
