Agency Information Collection Activities: Notice of Request for Extension of Currently Approved Information Collection, 32602-32604 [2014-13055]

Download as PDF rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 32602 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 108 / Thursday, June 5, 2014 / Notices permittee within such time as the Secretary of State or the Secretary’s delegate may specify, and upon failure of the permittee to remove, or to take such other action with respect to, this portion of the United States facilities as ordered, the Secretary of State or the Secretary’s delegate may direct that possession of such facilities be taken and that they be removed or other action taken, at the expense of the permittee; and the permittee shall have no claim for damages by reason of such possession, removal, or other action. Article 7. When, in the opinion of the President of the United States, the national security of the United States demands it, due notice being given by the Secretary of State or the Secretary’s delegate, the United States shall have the right to enter upon and take possession of any of the United States facilities or parts thereof; to retain possession, management, or control thereof for such length of time as may appear to the President to be necessary; and thereafter to restore possession and control to the permittee. In the event that the United States shall exercise such right, it shall pay to the permittee just and fair compensation for the use of such United States facilities upon the basis of a reasonable profit in normal conditions, and the cost of restoring said facilities to as good condition as existed at the time of entering and taking over the same, less the reasonable value of any improvements that may have been made by the United States. Article 8. Any transfer of ownership or control of the United States facilities or any part thereof shall be immediately notified in writing to the United States Department of State, including the submission of information identifying the transferee. This permit shall remain in force subject to all the conditions, permissions and requirements of this permit and any amendments thereto unless subsequently terminated or amended by the Secretary of State or the Secretary’s delegate. Article 9. (1) The permittee is responsible for acquiring any right-ofway grants or easements, permits, and other authorizations as may become necessary and appropriate. (2) The permittee shall save harmless and indemnify the United States from any claimed or adjudged liability arising out of construction, connection, operation, or maintenance of the facilities, including but not limited to environmental contamination from the release or threatened release or discharge of hazardous substances and hazardous waste. (3) The permittee shall maintain the United States facilities and every part VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:59 Jun 04, 2014 Jkt 232001 thereof in a condition of good repair for their safe operation, and in compliance with prevailing environmental standards and regulations. Article 10. The permittee shall take all necessary measures to prevent or mitigate adverse impacts on, or disruption of, the human environment in connection with connection, operation and maintenance of the United States facilities. Such measures will include any mitigation and control plans that are already approved or that are approved in the future by the Department of State or other relevant federal or state agencies, and any other measures deemed prudent by the permittee. Article 11. The permittee shall file with the appropriate agencies of the United States Government such statements or reports under oath with respect to the United States facilities, and/or permittee’s activities and operations in connection therewith, as are now or may hereafter be required under any laws or regulations of the United States Government or its agencies. The permittee shall file electronic Export Information where required. Article 12. The permittee shall provide information upon request to the Department of State with regard to the United States facilities. Such requests could include, for example, information concerning current conditions or anticipated changes in ownership or control, construction, connection, operation, or maintenance of the U.S. facilities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, the Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, have hereunto set my hand this 23rd day of May 2014 in the City of Washington, District of Columbia. Catherine A. Novelli, Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment. Date: May 27, 2014. Michael F. Brennan, Energy Officer, Office of Europe, Western Hemisphere and Africa, Bureau of Energy Resources, U.S. Department of State. [FR Doc. 2014–13092 Filed 6–4–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–09–P PO 00000 Frm 00075 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration [Docket No. FHWA–2014–0021] Agency Information Collection Activities: Notice of Request for Extension of Currently Approved Information Collection Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of request for extension of currently approved information collection. AGENCY: The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) approval for renewal of an existing information collection that 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 August 4, 2014. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID 2014–0021 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., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Thor, Ph.D., Office of Safety Research and Development (HRDS), at (202) 493–3338, Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, Federal Highway Administration, 6300 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA, 22101, between 7:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Motorcycle Crash Causation Study. OMB Control #: 2125–0619. Background: In 2011, there were 4,612 motorcycle crash-related fatalities in the United States—more than twice the number of motorcycle rider fatalities SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\05JNN1.SGM 05JNN1 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 108 / Thursday, June 5, 2014 / Notices that occurred in 1997. This increase contrasts with a 33% reduction in the number of fatalities in passenger cars and light trucks.1 In response to this growing concern, the U.S. Congress passed legislation to fund a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) research effort into the causes of motorcycle crashes in the United States. Congress has recognized this problem and directed the Department of Transportation to conduct research that will provide a better understanding of the causes of motorcycle crashes. Specifically, in Section 5511 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA–LU) Public Law 109– 59, Congress directed the Secretary of Transportation to provide grants to the Oklahoma Transportation Center (OTC) for the purpose of conducting a comprehensive, in-depth motorcycle crash causation study that employs the common international methodology for in-depth motorcycle crash investigation developed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).2 The Secretary of Transportation delegated authority to FHWA for the Motorcycle Crash Causation Grants under Section 5511 (71 FR 30831). This study began in June, 2012 and has been successful in completing the necessary data collection. rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Proposed Data Acquisition Methodology Use of Parallel and Complementary Procedures The OECD describes two complementary procedures to be performed for acquiring the data needed to understand the causes of motorcycle crashes. The first of these is the traditional in-depth crash investigation that focuses on the sequence of events leading up to the crash, and on the motorcycle, rider, and environmental characteristics that may have been relevant to the crash. The second procedure, known as the case-control procedure, complements the first. It requires the acquisition of matched control data to allow for a determination of the extent to which rider characteristics and pre-crash factors observed in the crash vehicles are present in similarly-at-risk control vehicles. Such a dual approach offers specific advantages to the understanding of crashes and the development of 1 NHTSA FARS encyclopedia: https://wwwfars.nhtsa.dot.gov/Main/index.aspx. 2 The OECD methodology may be obtained by sending a request to jtrc.contact@oecd.org. VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:59 Jun 04, 2014 Jkt 232001 countermeasures. The in-depth study of the crash by itself allows for analysis of the events antecedent to the crash, some of which, if removed or altered, could result in a change in subsequent events that would have led to a non-crash, or reduced crash severity outcome. The main purpose of acquiring matched data is to allow for inferences to be made regarding risk factors for crash causes. A brief explanation is provided here so that those less familiar with case-control procedures will understand the advantage of acquiring controls. Consider a hypothetical situation where it is observed that the proportion of older riders involved in crashes who were unfamiliar with the roadway is the same as the proportion of matched (similarly-at-risk) older control motorcycle riders not involved in crashes. Conversely, the proportion of Younger riders involved in crashes who were unfamiliar with the roadway is the greater than the proportion of matched younger control motorcycle riders not involved in crashes. These hypothetical findings would suggest that a lack of familiarity with the roadway poses a greater crash risk for younger riders than it does for older riders. Other risk factors for crashes (i.e. gender, riding experience, fatigue level) for motorcyclists may also be examined in this manner. If scaled interval measurements of risk factor levels are obtained (for example, the number of years of riding experience for both crash-involved and control riders), then it becomes possible to calculate functions showing how risk changes with changes in the variable of interest. Such risk functions are highly useful in the development of countermeasures.3 Issues Related to Sampling Characteristics of the Crash Sample To properly acquire in-depth crash data, it was necessary to find a location in the country that experiences the full range of motorcycle crash types that occur under a wide range of conditions and with a wide range of motorcycle rider characteristics. For this study, Orange County, California was selected as the data collection site. This location resembles a cross-section of motorcycle riding environments. There are both rural and urban regions; flat land and rolling hills; and daily commuters and leisure riders, therefore, the data collected from this region should reflect many of the causative factors that produce motorcycle crashes in these different riding environments. This 3 Certainly other outcomes besides the one presented are possible, and other comparisons are of interest. PO 00000 Frm 00076 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 32603 location also allows for a sufficiently high frequency of motorcycle crashes to allow acquisition of the crash data in a reasonable amount of time. To date, this single location has proven to be sufficient to collect the required number of cases and controls. It is not necessary that the crash types observed (or other composite indices or parameters of interest) be drawn from a nationally representative sample, because it is not the intent of FHWA to make projections of the national incidence of the causes of crashes involving motorcycles from this study. Rather, the focus will be on identifying the antecedents and risk factors associated with motorcycle crashes. If it is deemed necessary, FHWA and NHTSA may utilize their alternative databases that incorporate certain of the key variables that will be acquired in this study, and those databases could be used in conjunction with this study’s data to make national estimates of population parameters of interest.4 In addition, the crash investigations will be conducted on-scene, and, when possible, while the involved operators and vehicles are still in place. This provides access to physical data that is less disturbed by rescue and clean up activities. It also facilitates the collection of interview data while memories are unaffected. This quickresponse approach is most effective when a census of applicable crashes is selected for inclusion. Characteristics of the Control Sample While the occurrence of a crash involving a motorcycle in the study site is sufficient for it to be selected into the study, selecting the similarly-at-risk controls requires a different approach. The OECD recommends several options for acquiring matched controls including interviewing motorcyclists who may be filling up at nearby gas stations, taking videos of motorcyclists who pass the crash scenes, and interviewing motorcyclists at the location of the crash location at the same time of day, same day of week, and same direction of travel. The first of these methods suffers from the shortcoming that a rider or motorist filling his fuel tank is not presented with the same risks, in the same setting, 4 There is a lengthy precedent for studying crashes using case-control methods including the Grand Rapids study, (Borkenstein, R.F., Crowther, F.R., Shumate, R.P., Ziel, W.B. & Zylman, R. (1974). The Role of the Drinking Driver in Traffic Accidents (The Grand Rapids Study). Blutalkohol, 11, Supplement 1), and of course the Hurt study, (Hurt, H.H., Jr., Ouellet, J.V., and Thom, D.R. (1981). Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures Volume I: Technical Report). E:\FR\FM\05JNN1.SGM 05JNN1 32604 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 108 / Thursday, June 5, 2014 / Notices as is the crash-involved rider and motorist. Passenger-vehicle motorists and motorcyclists need to be sampled at the location of the crash on the same day of the week, at the same hour, and from the same travel direction. Using the second method mentioned above, acquiring the risk sample by taking video at the crash scene provides a similarly-at-risk pool and it also allows for many controls to be acquired at low cost. Its chief disadvantage is that it does not allow capture of some of the key risk factors for crashes (e.g., fatigue), while others (e.g., age) may be very difficult to capture. Therefore, this method is not sufficient to support the scope of the current effort. The final method, the voluntary safety research interview, involves setting up a safety zone at or near the crash location, one week later at the same time of day, and asking those motorcyclists who pass through to volunteer in a study. With this method, Certificates of Confidentiality are presented to each interviewed driver and rider and immunity is provided. The main advantage of this method is that the key variables that are thought to affect relative crash risk can be acquired from riders who are truly similarly-at-risk. This is the method used in the current effort. Information Proposed for Collection The data collection protocol includes the following number of variables for each aspect of the investigation: diagrams and photographs that are essential elements of each investigation that are entered into the database. Up to 1,600 data elements may be collected for each case, including the control rider data. Estimated Burden Hours for Information Collection Frequency: Annually. Respondents: This study will be based on all crashes occurring within the Administrative log ................. 43 sampling area. This burden estimate is Crash Form ........................... 22 based on the distribution of crash types Motorcycle Rider Form ......... 105 seen in the study to date. The plan calls Motorcycle Passenger .......... 65 Motorcycle Mechanical ......... 91 for data to be captured from up to 1,200 Motorcycle Dynamics ........... 43 crashes with motorcycle involvement, Environment Form ................ 51 and for all surviving crash-involved Helmet Form ......................... 77 riders and drivers to be interviewed. Other Vehicle Form .............. 26 Two control riders will be interviewed Injury Form ........................... 160 for each crash-involved motorcyclist. Passengers accompanying crashNote that multiple copies of various involved riders and passenger-vehicle data forms will be completed as the data drivers will also be interviewed. The on each crash-involved vehicle and following table shows the sampling plan person and each control vehicle and and estimated number of interviews person are acquired. This increases the assuming 1,200 crashes are number of variables above the sum of investigated.5 Maximum total crashes to what is presented above. There are also be investigated is 1,200. Data Collection Form Number of questions Crash Interviews Single vehicle motorcycle crashes .............................................................................................................................................. Multi-vehicle (2-vehicle) motorcycle crashes (840*2) .................................................................................................................. Passenger interviews motorcycle (.07* 252 + .07*1680) ............................................................................................................ Passenger interviews cars (.19*235) ........................................................................................................................................... 252 1680 136 319 Total Crash Interviews .......................................................................................................................................................... 2387 Control interviews 504 1680 0 Total Control Interviews ........................................................................................................................................................ 2184 Grand Total Crash plus Control Interviews .......................................................................................................................... rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Controls for single vehicle motorcycle crashes (2*252) .............................................................................................................. Controls for multi-vehicle motorcycle crashes (1*840 + 1*840) .................................................................................................. Passenger Interviews .................................................................................................................................................................. 4571 Estimated Average Burden per Interviewee: Crash interviews are estimated to require about 30 minutes per individual interviewed. To the extent possible, crash interviews will be collected at the scene, although it is likely that some follow-ups will be needed to get completed interviews from crash involved individuals. Control individuals’ interviews will be completed in a single session and are expected to require about 15 minutes per individual. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: Burden hours estimates are based on the total of 2,387 crash interviews to be conducted at an average length of 30 minutes each and 2,184 control interviews to be conducted at an average length of 15 minutes each for a total one-time burden on the public of 1,770 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 5 The final crash sample size will depend on the rate at which crashes can be acquired in the 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. selected site(s) and other matters related to logistics and the final budget. VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:59 Jun 04, 2014 Jkt 232001 PO 00000 Frm 00077 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48. Issued on: May 29, 2014. Michael Howell, Information Collection Officer. [FR Doc. 2014–13055 Filed 6–4–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–22–P E:\FR\FM\05JNN1.SGM 05JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 108 (Thursday, June 5, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32602-32604]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-13055]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2014-0021]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Notice of Request for 
Extension of Currently Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of request for extension of currently approved 
information collection.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to 
request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for 
renewal of an existing information collection that 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 August 4, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID 2014-
0021 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., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Thor, Ph.D., Office of Safety 
Research and Development (HRDS), at (202) 493-3338, Turner-Fairbank 
Highway Research Center, Federal Highway Administration, 6300 
Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA, 22101, between 7:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Motorcycle Crash Causation Study.
    OMB Control #: 2125-0619.
    Background: In 2011, there were 4,612 motorcycle crash-related 
fatalities in the United States--more than twice the number of 
motorcycle rider fatalities

[[Page 32603]]

that occurred in 1997. This increase contrasts with a 33% reduction in 
the number of fatalities in passenger cars and light trucks.\1\ In 
response to this growing concern, the U.S. Congress passed legislation 
to fund a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) research effort into 
the causes of motorcycle crashes in the United States. Congress has 
recognized this problem and directed the Department of Transportation 
to conduct research that will provide a better understanding of the 
causes of motorcycle crashes. Specifically, in Section 5511 of the 
Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A 
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) Public Law 109-59, Congress directed the 
Secretary of Transportation to provide grants to the Oklahoma 
Transportation Center (OTC) for the purpose of conducting a 
comprehensive, in-depth motorcycle crash causation study that employs 
the common international methodology for in-depth motorcycle crash 
investigation developed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation 
and Development (OECD).\2\ The Secretary of Transportation delegated 
authority to FHWA for the Motorcycle Crash Causation Grants under 
Section 5511 (71 FR 30831). This study began in June, 2012 and has been 
successful in completing the necessary data collection.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ NHTSA FARS encyclopedia: https://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/Main/index.aspx.
    \2\ The OECD methodology may be obtained by sending a request to 
jtrc.contact@oecd.org.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proposed Data Acquisition Methodology

Use of Parallel and Complementary Procedures

    The OECD describes two complementary procedures to be performed for 
acquiring the data needed to understand the causes of motorcycle 
crashes. The first of these is the traditional in-depth crash 
investigation that focuses on the sequence of events leading up to the 
crash, and on the motorcycle, rider, and environmental characteristics 
that may have been relevant to the crash. The second procedure, known 
as the case-control procedure, complements the first. It requires the 
acquisition of matched control data to allow for a determination of the 
extent to which rider characteristics and pre-crash factors observed in 
the crash vehicles are present in similarly-at-risk control vehicles.
    Such a dual approach offers specific advantages to the 
understanding of crashes and the development of countermeasures. The 
in-depth study of the crash by itself allows for analysis of the events 
antecedent to the crash, some of which, if removed or altered, could 
result in a change in subsequent events that would have led to a non-
crash, or reduced crash severity outcome. The main purpose of acquiring 
matched data is to allow for inferences to be made regarding risk 
factors for crash causes. A brief explanation is provided here so that 
those less familiar with case-control procedures will understand the 
advantage of acquiring controls. Consider a hypothetical situation 
where it is observed that the proportion of older riders involved in 
crashes who were unfamiliar with the roadway is the same as the 
proportion of matched (similarly-at-risk) older control motorcycle 
riders not involved in crashes. Conversely, the proportion of Younger 
riders involved in crashes who were unfamiliar with the roadway is the 
greater than the proportion of matched younger control motorcycle 
riders not involved in crashes. These hypothetical findings would 
suggest that a lack of familiarity with the roadway poses a greater 
crash risk for younger riders than it does for older riders. Other risk 
factors for crashes (i.e. gender, riding experience, fatigue level) for 
motorcyclists may also be examined in this manner. If scaled interval 
measurements of risk factor levels are obtained (for example, the 
number of years of riding experience for both crash-involved and 
control riders), then it becomes possible to calculate functions 
showing how risk changes with changes in the variable of interest. Such 
risk functions are highly useful in the development of 
countermeasures.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ Certainly other outcomes besides the one presented are 
possible, and other comparisons are of interest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Issues Related to Sampling

Characteristics of the Crash Sample
    To properly acquire in-depth crash data, it was necessary to find a 
location in the country that experiences the full range of motorcycle 
crash types that occur under a wide range of conditions and with a wide 
range of motorcycle rider characteristics. For this study, Orange 
County, California was selected as the data collection site. This 
location resembles a cross-section of motorcycle riding environments. 
There are both rural and urban regions; flat land and rolling hills; 
and daily commuters and leisure riders, therefore, the data collected 
from this region should reflect many of the causative factors that 
produce motorcycle crashes in these different riding environments. This 
location also allows for a sufficiently high frequency of motorcycle 
crashes to allow acquisition of the crash data in a reasonable amount 
of time. To date, this single location has proven to be sufficient to 
collect the required number of cases and controls. It is not necessary 
that the crash types observed (or other composite indices or parameters 
of interest) be drawn from a nationally representative sample, because 
it is not the intent of FHWA to make projections of the national 
incidence of the causes of crashes involving motorcycles from this 
study. Rather, the focus will be on identifying the antecedents and 
risk factors associated with motorcycle crashes. If it is deemed 
necessary, FHWA and NHTSA may utilize their alternative databases that 
incorporate certain of the key variables that will be acquired in this 
study, and those databases could be used in conjunction with this 
study's data to make national estimates of population parameters of 
interest.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ There is a lengthy precedent for studying crashes using 
case-control methods including the Grand Rapids study, (Borkenstein, 
R.F., Crowther, F.R., Shumate, R.P., Ziel, W.B. & Zylman, R. (1974). 
The Role of the Drinking Driver in Traffic Accidents (The Grand 
Rapids Study). Blutalkohol, 11, Supplement 1), and of course the 
Hurt study, (Hurt, H.H., Jr., Ouellet, J.V., and Thom, D.R. (1981). 
Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of 
Countermeasures Volume I: Technical Report).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, the crash investigations will be conducted on-scene, 
and, when possible, while the involved operators and vehicles are still 
in place. This provides access to physical data that is less disturbed 
by rescue and clean up activities. It also facilitates the collection 
of interview data while memories are unaffected. This quick-response 
approach is most effective when a census of applicable crashes is 
selected for inclusion.
Characteristics of the Control Sample
    While the occurrence of a crash involving a motorcycle in the study 
site is sufficient for it to be selected into the study, selecting the 
similarly-at-risk controls requires a different approach. The OECD 
recommends several options for acquiring matched controls including 
interviewing motorcyclists who may be filling up at nearby gas 
stations, taking videos of motorcyclists who pass the crash scenes, and 
interviewing motorcyclists at the location of the crash location at the 
same time of day, same day of week, and same direction of travel. The 
first of these methods suffers from the shortcoming that a rider or 
motorist filling his fuel tank is not presented with the same risks, in 
the same setting,

[[Page 32604]]

as is the crash-involved rider and motorist. Passenger-vehicle 
motorists and motorcyclists need to be sampled at the location of the 
crash on the same day of the week, at the same hour, and from the same 
travel direction. Using the second method mentioned above, acquiring 
the risk sample by taking video at the crash scene provides a 
similarly-at-risk pool and it also allows for many controls to be 
acquired at low cost. Its chief disadvantage is that it does not allow 
capture of some of the key risk factors for crashes (e.g., fatigue), 
while others (e.g., age) may be very difficult to capture. Therefore, 
this method is not sufficient to support the scope of the current 
effort.
    The final method, the voluntary safety research interview, involves 
setting up a safety zone at or near the crash location, one week later 
at the same time of day, and asking those motorcyclists who pass 
through to volunteer in a study. With this method, Certificates of 
Confidentiality are presented to each interviewed driver and rider and 
immunity is provided. The main advantage of this method is that the key 
variables that are thought to affect relative crash risk can be 
acquired from riders who are truly similarly-at-risk. This is the 
method used in the current effort.

Information Proposed for Collection

    The data collection protocol includes the following number of 
variables for each aspect of the investigation:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Number of
                  Data Collection Form                       questions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Administrative log......................................              43
Crash Form..............................................              22
Motorcycle Rider Form...................................             105
Motorcycle Passenger....................................              65
Motorcycle Mechanical...................................              91
Motorcycle Dynamics.....................................              43
Environment Form........................................              51
Helmet Form.............................................              77
Other Vehicle Form......................................              26
Injury Form.............................................             160
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Note that multiple copies of various data forms will be completed 
as the data on each crash-involved vehicle and person and each control 
vehicle and person are acquired. This increases the number of variables 
above the sum of what is presented above. There are also diagrams and 
photographs that are essential elements of each investigation that are 
entered into the database. Up to 1,600 data elements may be collected 
for each case, including the control rider data.

Estimated Burden Hours for Information Collection

    Frequency: Annually.
    Respondents: This study will be based on all crashes occurring 
within the sampling area. This burden estimate is based on the 
distribution of crash types seen in the study to date. The plan calls 
for data to be captured from up to 1,200 crashes with motorcycle 
involvement, and for all surviving crash-involved riders and drivers to 
be interviewed. Two control riders will be interviewed for each crash-
involved motorcyclist. Passengers accompanying crash-involved riders 
and passenger-vehicle drivers will also be interviewed. The following 
table shows the sampling plan and estimated number of interviews 
assuming 1,200 crashes are investigated.\5\ Maximum total crashes to be 
investigated is 1,200.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ The final crash sample size will depend on the rate at which 
crashes can be acquired in the selected site(s) and other matters 
related to logistics and the final budget.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Crash Interviews
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Single vehicle motorcycle crashes...................                 252
Multi-vehicle (2-vehicle) motorcycle crashes (840*2)                1680
Passenger interviews motorcycle (.07* 252 +                          136
 .07*1680)..........................................
Passenger interviews cars (.19*235).................                 319
                                                     -------------------
    Total Crash Interviews..........................                2387
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Control interviews
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Controls for single vehicle motorcycle crashes                       504
 (2*252)............................................
Controls for multi-vehicle motorcycle crashes (1*840                1680
 + 1*840)...........................................
Passenger Interviews................................                   0
                                                     -------------------
    Total Control Interviews........................                2184
                                                     -------------------
    Grand Total Crash plus Control Interviews.......                4571
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Average Burden per Interviewee: Crash interviews are 
estimated to require about 30 minutes per individual interviewed. To 
the extent possible, crash interviews will be collected at the scene, 
although it is likely that some follow-ups will be needed to get 
completed interviews from crash involved individuals. Control 
individuals' interviews will be completed in a single session and are 
expected to require about 15 minutes per individual.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: Burden hours estimates are 
based on the total of 2,387 crash interviews to be conducted at an 
average length of 30 minutes each and 2,184 control interviews to be 
conducted at an average length of 15 minutes each for a total one-time 
burden on the public of 1,770 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: May 29, 2014.
Michael Howell,
Information Collection Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-13055 Filed 6-4-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P
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