Agency Request for Approval of a New Information Collection: Recruitment and Debriefing of Human Subjects for Head-Up Displays and Distraction Potential, 141-142 [2015-33022]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 1 / Monday, January 4, 2016 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [Docket No. NHTSA–2015–0116] Agency Request for Approval of a New Information Collection: Recruitment and Debriefing of Human Subjects for Head-Up Displays and Distraction Potential National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT. ACTION: Request for public comments on a proposed collection of information. AGENCY: The Department of Transportation (DOT) invites public comments about our intention to request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for a new information collection. The information collection involves eligibility, demographic, and debriefing questionnaires. The information will be used to recruit participants for a study on vehicle Head-Up Displays. The proposed study will focus on acceptance and distraction potential of automotive Head-Up Displays. SUMMARY: Written comments should be submitted by March 4, 2016. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket No. NHTSA–2015– 0116 through one of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. • Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, Washington, DC 20590 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Telephone: 202–366–9826. • Fax: 202–493–2251. Instructions: All submission must include the agency name and docket number for this proposed collection of information. Note that all comments received will be posted without change to https://www.regulation.gov, including any personal information provided. Please see the Privacy 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 tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES DATES: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:43 Dec 31, 2015 Jkt 238001 published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477–78) or you may visit https:// www.dot.gov/privacy.html. Docket: For access to the docket to read comments received, go to https:// www.regulations.gov, or the street address listed above. Follow the online instructions for accessing the dockets. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For access to background documents, contact Julie Kang, Ph.D.; 202–366– 5677, Vehicle Safety Research, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 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 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: (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; (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. 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: OMB Control Number: Not assigned. Title: Head-Up Displays and Distraction Potential. Form Numbers: None. Type of Review: New Information Collection. Background: Head-Up Display (HUD) technology presents many opportunities and challenges for mitigating driver distraction, improving driver comfort, PO 00000 Frm 00081 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 141 and engaging drivers with their vehicles. On one hand, the reduction of the distance that the eyes need to travel between the road and a display can minimize the amount of time required to view a display relative to a traditional Head-Down Display (HDD). There is also an added benefit in that peripheral roadway information can be processed while viewing a HUD, allowing some aspects of vehicle control, like lane keeping, to be partially supported. On the other hand, humans have difficulty simultaneously processing two displays overlaid on each other. Viewing HUDs while driving may therefore prevent drivers from perceiving events in the environment, particularly centrally located hazards such as a braking lead vehicle. There is also a concern that HUDs whose focal depth is less than 22 feet require the eyes to accommodate to be viewed. Because older drivers have difficultly accommodating to view these displays, they may take more time to process the displayed information compared to younger drivers. There is also a concern that if drivers perceive HUDs to be safer than HDDs that they may not regulate the length of time they spend looking at the HUD. The HUD may therefore negatively alter drivers’ visual scanning behavior. The potential benefits and drawbacks of using a HUD in a vehicle must therefore be investigated. Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the Information: The collection of information consists of: (1) An eligibility questionnaire, (2) a demographic questionnaire, and (3) consent form. The information to be collected will be used as follows: • Eligibility questionnaire(s) will be used to obtain self-reported eligibility information. • Demographic questionnaire will be used to obtain demographic information to confirm that the study group includes participants from various groups (e.g., age; gender). Other demographic information will be collected to describe the study sample (e.g., annual travel distance). • Consent form will be used to inform the participants of the study details. Respondents: Virginia drivers with a valid driver license. Estimated Number of Respondents: 60 to 100. Estimated Number of Responses: Eligibility screening will consist of one response containing 15 questions per respondent. Full participation in the study will include 5 additional responses of 30 questions total per respondent. E:\FR\FM\04JAN1.SGM 04JAN1 142 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 1 / Monday, January 4, 2016 / Notices Estimated Total Annual Burden: 18 minutes per respondent (35 hours total). Estimated Frequency: One-time for the eligibility, demographic questionnaire, and consent form. TABLE 1—ESTIMATED BURDEN HOURS Number of respondents 1 Instrument Frequency of responses Estimated individual burden (minutes) Number of questions Total estimated burden hours Total annualized cost to respondents 2 Eligibility questionnaire ............................ Demographic questionnaire ..................... Informed consent ..................................... 100 60 60 1 1 1 15 8 1 10 3 5 17 3 5 $401.67 72.30 120.50 Total .................................................. ........................ ........................ ........................ ........................ 35 843.50 1 The number of respondents in this table includes drop-out rates. 2 Estimated based on the mean hourly rate for Virginia (all occupations) is $24.10 as reported in the May 2013 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_va.htm. Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of this information collection, including (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the Department’s performance; (b) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (c) ways for the Department to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and (d) ways that the burden could be minimized 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; 5 CFR part 1320; and 49 CFR 1.95. Issued in Washington, DC on December 7, 2015. Nathaniel Beuse Associate Administrator, Vehicle Safety Research. [FR Doc. 2015–33022 Filed 12–31–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–59–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Surface Transportation Board [Docket No. AB 33 (Sub–No. 318X)] tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Union Pacific Railroad Company— Abandonment Exemption—in McLennan County, TX Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR part 1152 subpart F– Exempt Abandonments to abandon 2.45 miles of rail line between milepost 2.31 and milepost 4.76 near Waco, in McLennan County, Tex. (the Line).1 The 1 UP states that the segment of rail line proposed for abandonment is the remaining portion of the former Texas Central Railroad (TCR). TCR was acquired by the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (MKT), and UP is the successor in interest to MKT. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:43 Dec 31, 2015 Jkt 238001 Line traverse United States Postal Service Zip Codes 76704 and 76705. UP has certified that: (1) No local traffic has moved over the Line for at least two years; (2) there is no overhead traffic on the Line; (3) no formal complaint filed by a user of rail service on the Line (or by a state or local government entity acting on behalf of such user) regarding cessation of service over the Line either is pending with the Surface Transportation Board (Board) or with any U.S. District Court or has been decided in favor of complainant within the two-year period; and (4) the requirements at 49 CFR 1105.7(c) (environmental report), 49 CFR 1105.11 (transmittal letter), 49 CFR 1105.12 (newspaper publication), and 49 CFR 1152.50(d)(1) (notice to governmental agencies) have been met. As a condition to this exemption, any employee adversely affected by the abandonment shall be protected under Oregon Short Line Railroad— Abandonment Portion Goshen Branch Between Firth & Ammon, in Bingham & Bonneville Counties, Idaho, 360 I.C.C. 91 (1979). To address whether this condition adequately protects affected employees, a petition for partial revocation under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) must be filed. Provided no formal expression of intent to file an offer of financial assistance (OFA) has been received, this exemption will become effective on February 3, 2016, unless stayed pending reconsideration. Petitions to stay that do not involve environmental issues,2 UP states that it is the owner and operator of the Line, which is known as UP’s Texas Central Lead. 2 The Board will grant a stay if an informed decision on environmental issues (whether raised by a party or by the Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) in its independent investigation) cannot be made before the exemption’s effective date. See Exemption of Out-of-Serv. Rail Lines, 5 I.C.C.2d 377 (1989). Any request for a stay should be filed as soon as possible so that the Board may PO 00000 Frm 00082 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 formal expressions of intent to file an OFA under 49 CFR 1152.27(c)(2),3 and interim trail use/rail banking requests under 49 CFR 1152.29 must be filed by January 14, 2016. Petitions to reopen or requests for public use conditions under 49 CFR 1152.28 must be filed by January 25, 2016, with the Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20423–0001. A copy of any petition filed with the Board should be sent to UP’s representative: Mack H. Shumate, Jr., 101 North Wacker Drive, Room 1920, Chicago, IL 60606. If the verified notice contains false or misleading information, the exemption is void ab initio. UP has filed a combined environmental and historic report that addresses the effects, if any, of the abandonment on the environment and historic resources. OEA will issue an environmental assessment (EA) by January 8, 2016. Interested persons may obtain a copy of the EA by writing to OEA (Room 1100, Surface Transportation Board, Washington, DC 20423–0001) or by calling OEA at (202) 245–0305. Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal Information Relay Service at (800) 877–8339. Comments on environmental and historic preservation matters must be filed within 15 days after the EA becomes available to the public. Environmental, historic preservation, public use, or interim trail use/rail banking conditions will be imposed, where appropriate, in a subsequent decision. Pursuant to the provisions of 49 CFR 1152.29(e)(2), UP shall file a notice of take appropriate action before the exemption’s effective date. 3 Each OFA must be accompanied by the filing fee, which is currently set at $1,600. See 49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25). E:\FR\FM\04JAN1.SGM 04JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 1 (Monday, January 4, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 141-142]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-33022]



[[Page 141]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2015-0116]


Agency Request for Approval of a New Information Collection: 
Recruitment and Debriefing of Human Subjects for Head-Up Displays and 
Distraction Potential

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Request for public comments on a proposed collection of 
information.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Transportation (DOT) invites public comments 
about our intention to request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
approval for a new information collection. The information collection 
involves eligibility, demographic, and debriefing questionnaires. The 
information will be used to recruit participants for a study on vehicle 
Head-Up Displays. The proposed study will focus on acceptance and 
distraction potential of automotive Head-Up Displays.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by March 4, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket No. NHTSA-2015-
0116 through one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building 
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590 between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. 
Telephone: 202-366-9826.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
    Instructions: All submission must include the agency name and 
docket number for this proposed collection of information. Note that 
all comments received will be posted without change to https://www.regulation.gov, including any personal information provided. Please 
see the Privacy 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.dot.gov/privacy.html.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read comments received, go to 
https://www.regulations.gov, or the street address listed above. Follow 
the online instructions for accessing the dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For access to background documents, 
contact Julie Kang, Ph.D.; 202-366-5677, Vehicle Safety Research, 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 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 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:
    (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;
    (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.
    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:
    OMB Control Number: Not assigned.
    Title: Head-Up Displays and Distraction Potential.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Type of Review: New Information Collection.
    Background: Head-Up Display (HUD) technology presents many 
opportunities and challenges for mitigating driver distraction, 
improving driver comfort, and engaging drivers with their vehicles. On 
one hand, the reduction of the distance that the eyes need to travel 
between the road and a display can minimize the amount of time required 
to view a display relative to a traditional Head-Down Display (HDD). 
There is also an added benefit in that peripheral roadway information 
can be processed while viewing a HUD, allowing some aspects of vehicle 
control, like lane keeping, to be partially supported. On the other 
hand, humans have difficulty simultaneously processing two displays 
overlaid on each other. Viewing HUDs while driving may therefore 
prevent drivers from perceiving events in the environment, particularly 
centrally located hazards such as a braking lead vehicle. There is also 
a concern that HUDs whose focal depth is less than 22 feet require the 
eyes to accommodate to be viewed. Because older drivers have 
difficultly accommodating to view these displays, they may take more 
time to process the displayed information compared to younger drivers. 
There is also a concern that if drivers perceive HUDs to be safer than 
HDDs that they may not regulate the length of time they spend looking 
at the HUD. The HUD may therefore negatively alter drivers' visual 
scanning behavior. The potential benefits and drawbacks of using a HUD 
in a vehicle must therefore be investigated.
    Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the 
Information: The collection of information consists of: (1) An 
eligibility questionnaire, (2) a demographic questionnaire, and (3) 
consent form.
    The information to be collected will be used as follows:
     Eligibility questionnaire(s) will be used to obtain self-
reported eligibility information.
     Demographic questionnaire will be used to obtain 
demographic information to confirm that the study group includes 
participants from various groups (e.g., age; gender). Other demographic 
information will be collected to describe the study sample (e.g., 
annual travel distance).
     Consent form will be used to inform the participants of 
the study details.
    Respondents: Virginia drivers with a valid driver license.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 60 to 100.
    Estimated Number of Responses: Eligibility screening will consist 
of one response containing 15 questions per respondent. Full 
participation in the study will include 5 additional responses of 30 
questions total per respondent.

[[Page 142]]

    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 18 minutes per respondent (35 hours 
total).
    Estimated Frequency: One-time for the eligibility, demographic 
questionnaire, and consent form.

                                                             Table 1--Estimated Burden Hours
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                               Total
                                                             Number of                                       Estimated         Total        annualized
                       Instrument                           respondents    Frequency of      Number of      individual       estimated        cost to
                                                                \1\          responses       questions        burden       burden hours     respondents
                                                                                                             (minutes)                          \2\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eligibility questionnaire...............................             100               1              15              10              17         $401.67
Demographic questionnaire...............................              60               1               8               3               3           72.30
Informed consent........................................              60               1               1               5               5          120.50
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...............................................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............              35          843.50
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The number of respondents in this table includes drop-out rates.
\2\ Estimated based on the mean hourly rate for Virginia (all occupations) is $24.10 as reported in the May 2013 Occupational Employment and Wage
  Estimates, Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_va.htm.

    Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of 
this information collection, including (a) whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the Department's 
performance; (b) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (c) ways for the 
Department to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the 
information collection; and (d) ways that the burden could be minimized 
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; 5 CFR part 1320; and 49 CFR 1.95.

    Issued in Washington, DC on December 7, 2015.
Nathaniel Beuse
Associate Administrator, Vehicle Safety Research.
[FR Doc. 2015-33022 Filed 12-31-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
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