20064 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 71 / Tuesday, April 14, 2015 / Notices 

NHTSA notes that if MBUSA wishes 

in the future to modify the device on 

which this exemption is based, the 

company may have to submit a petition 

to modify the exemption. Part 543.7(d) 

states that a Part 543 exemption applies 

only to vehicles that belong to a line 

exempted under this part and equipped 

with the antitheft device on which the 

line’s exemption is based. Further, Part 

543.9(c)(2) provides for the submission 

of petitions ‘‘to modify an exemption to 

permit the use of an antitheft device 

similar to but differing from the one 

specified in that exemption.’’ 

The agency wishes to minimize the 

administrative burden that Part 

543.9(c)(2) could place on exempted 

vehicle manufacturers and itself. The 

agency did not intend in drafting Part 

543 to require the submission of a 

modification petition for every change 

to the components or design of an 

antitheft device. The significance of 

many such changes could be de 

minimis. Therefore, NHTSA suggests 

that if the manufacturer contemplates 

making any changes, the effects of 

which might be characterized as de 

minimis, it should consult the agency 

before preparing and submitting a 

petition to modify. 

Under authority delegated in 49 CFR part 

1.95. 

Raymond R. Posten, 

Associate Administrator for Rulemaking. 

[FR Doc. 2015–08491 Filed 4–13–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–59–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

National Highway Traffic Safety 

Administration 

[Docket No. NHTSA–2012–0084] 

Data Modernization Sampling 

Information 

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic 

Safety Administration (NHTSA), 

Department of Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Announcement of webinar. 

SUMMARY: NHTSA has redesigned the 

National Automotive Sampling System 

(NASS). Through this notice, NHTSA is 

announcing a public webinar to provide 

information about the two new surveys 

that will replace NASS: Crash Report 

Sampling System (CRSS) and Crash 

Investigation Sampling System (CISS). 

NHTSA will describe the samples 

designs and answer questions related to 

the samples. The webinar will be 

available via the web and requires 

internet access. 

DATES: NHTSA will hold the webinar on 

April 29, 2015, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 

p.m., EDT. The presentation will be 

available through internet access only 

via the web. NHTSA will post specific 

information on how to participate via 

the Internet on the NHTSA Web site at 

www.nhtsa.gov one week before the 

event. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

information concerning the webinar or 

access via the Internet, please contact 

Raj Subramanian, National Center for 

Statistics and Analysis, NHTSA 

(telephone: 202–366–3365 or email: 

raj.subramanian@dot.gov). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

webinar will allow interested persons to 

learn more about NHTSA’s newly 

designed nationally representative 

samples that will replace NASS. 

Background 

NHTSA is undertaking a 

modernization effort to upgrade the 

National Automotive Sampling System 

(NASS) by improving the information 

technology infrastructure, updating and 

prioritizing the data collected, 

reselecting the sample sites and sample 

sizes, re-examining the electronic 

formats in which the crash data files are 

made available to the public, and 

improving data collection methods and 

quality control procedures, among other 

activities. This project is called the Data 

Modernization (DataMod) Project. 

NASS collects crash data on a 

nationally representative sample of 

police-reported motor vehicle traffic 

crashes and related injuries. NASS data 

are used by Federal, State, and local 

government agencies, as well as by 

industry and academia in the U.S. and 

around the world. The data enable 

stakeholders to make informed 

regulatory, program, and policy 

decisions regarding vehicle design and 

traffic safety. The NASS system 

currently has two components: The 

General Estimates System (GES) and the 

Crashworthiness Data System (CDS). 

While the GES captures information on 

all types of traffic crashes, the CDS 

focuses on more severe crashes 

involving passenger vehicles to better 

document the consequences to vehicles 

and occupants in crashes—i.e., 

crashworthiness. 

NASS was originally designed in the 

1970’s, and has not received significant 

revision since that time with regard to 

the type of data collected and the sites 

for data collection. Over the last three 

decades NHTSA understands that the 

scope of traffic safety studies has 

expanded and the data needs of the 

transportation community have 

increased and significantly changed. In 

addition, the distribution of the U.S. 

population has shifted over the past four 

decades, and there is a growing need for 

the collection of information that 

addresses issues of crash avoidance. 

Recognizing the importance of this data, 

NHTSA is pursuing the DataMod Project 

to enhance the quality of the data 

collected and the overall effectiveness of 

the NASS. 

As part of the Data Modernization 

project, NHTSA has redesigned the 

NASS. It will be replaced with two new 

surveys: 

• CRSS will be a records-based data 

collection system similar to the current 

GES and will continue to provide the 

annual, nationally representative 

estimates of police-reported motor 

vehicle crashes overall. In addition, 

CRSS will provide estimates by type of 

vehicle, and for a broad range of vehicle 

and crash characteristics that are needed 

to fully describe current highway safety 

and to track motor vehicle crash trends. 

• CISS is an investigation-based 

system similar to the current CDS and 

will collect accurate, detailed 

information about a nationally 

representative selection of passenger 

vehicle crashes that involve a passenger 

vehicle towed from the crash scene. 

Researchers will investigate crashes a 

few days after the crash gathering 

information from a variety of sources: 

crash site inspection, vehicle 

inspections, interviews, medical records 

and others. CISS will have enhanced 

pre-crash data and data on the presence 

and use of crash avoidance 

technologies. 

Information on the current NASS 

sample, coding instructions, and 

descriptive materials can be reviewed 

on NHTSA’s Web site at: http://

nhtsa.gov/NASS. Information on the 

Data modernization project and the 

report to Congress on NHTSA’s Review 

of the National Automotive Sample 

System can be reviewed at: http://

www.nhtsa.gov/NCSA. 

Public Webinar 

NHTSA is hosting a public webinar to 

inform vehicle manufacturers and 

suppliers, the medical community, 

researchers, safety advocates and the 

general public about the new sample 

designs for CRSS and CISS. NHTSA will 

present a technical overview of the new 

sample designs covering the following 

topics: 

Draft Topics 

1. Welcome and Opening Remarks 

2. Webinar Outline 

3. Data Modernization 

a. MAP–21 

b. Data Needs 

4. Sample Redesign: Why and How? 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 71 / Tuesday, April 14, 2015 / Notices 20065 

a. Current Systems: GES and CDS threestage designs 

b. Independence between CRSS and CISS 

samples 

5. The CISS Sample Design 

a. Scope 

b. Frame, Stratification, Formation and 

Selection of each of the three stages (PSU, PJ 

and PAR) 

c. Sample Allocation 

6. The CRSS Sample Design 

a. Scope 

b. Frame, Stratification, Formation and 

Selection of each of the three stages (PSU, PJ 

and PAR) 

c. Sample Allocation 

7. Improvements in CISS/CRSS 

a. Scalability and Flexibility 

b. Precision of Estimates 

c. MOS aligned with Data Needs 

8. Ongoing and Upcoming Activities in 

Survey Modernization 

a. Estimation Protocols 

b. Calibration 

c. Analytic Guidelines 

9. Questions 

The webinar will be open to the 

public. NHTSA will present the new 

sample designs starting at 1:30 p.m. The 

presentation will be about one hour. 

After the presentation NHTSA has 

scheduled 30 minutes to answer 

questions from the participants on the 

sample designs. 

Participants may access the Webinar 

via the Internet and telephone. The 

telephone access number and other 

information on how to participate via 

the Internet will be posted on the 

NHTSA Web site at www.nhsta.gov one 

week before the event. For questions, 

contact Raj Subramanian at 

raj.subramanian@dot.gov or 202–366– 

3385. 

Under authority delegated by 49 CFR 

1.95. 

Terry Shelton, 

Associate Administrator, National Center for 

Statistics and Analysis. 

[FR Doc. 2015–08477 Filed 4–13–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

National Highway Traffic Safety 

Administration 

Petition for Exemption From the 

Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention 

Standard; Maserati North America Inc. 

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic 

Safety Administration (NHTSA), 

Department of Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Grant of petition for exemption. 

SUMMARY: This document grants in full 

the Maserati North America Inc.’s, 

(Maserati) petition for an exemption of 

the Ghibli vehicle line in accordance 

with 49 CFR part 543, Exemption from 

Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard. This 

petition is granted because the agency 

has determined that the antitheft device 

to be placed on the line as standard 

equipment is likely to be as effective in 

reducing and deterring motor vehicle 

theft as compliance with the partsmarking requirements of the 49 CFR 

part 541, Federal Motor Vehicle Theft 

Prevention Standard (Theft Prevention 

Standard). 

DATES: The exemption granted by this 

notice is effective beginning with the 

2016 model year (MY). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Carlita Ballard, Office of International 

Policy, Fuel Economy and Consumer 

Programs, NHTSA, W43–439, 1200 New 

Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 

20590. Ms. Ballard’s phone number is 

(202) 366–5222. Her fax number is (202) 

493–2990. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a 

petition dated February 5, 2015, 

Maserati requested an exemption from 

the parts-marking requirements of the 

Theft Prevention Standard for the Ghibli 

vehicle line beginning with MY 2016. 

The petition requested an exemption 

from parts-marking pursuant to 49 CFR 

part 543, Exemption from Vehicle Theft 

Prevention Standard, based on the 

installation of an antitheft device as 

standard equipment for an entire 

vehicle line. 

Under § 543.5(a), a manufacturer may 

petition NHTSA to grant an exemption 

for one vehicle line per model year. In 

its petition, Maserati provided a 

detailed description and diagram of the 

identity, design, and location of the 

components of the antitheft device for 

the Ghibli vehicle line. Maserati stated 

that all of its vehicles will be equipped 

with a passive, Sentry Key Immobilizer 

System (SKIS), a Vehicle Alarm System 

(VTA) and a Keyless Ignition System as 

standard equipment beginning with the 

2016 model year. Key components of its 

SKIS antitheft device will include an 

Engine Power Control Module, Fuel 

Delivery and a Starter Motor Circuit. 

Maserati’s keyless ignition system will 

consist of a Key Fob with Remote 

Keyless Entry (RKE) Transmitter, RFHub 

and Keyless Ignition Node (KIN). Key 

components of Maserati’s VTA system 

are a hood ajar switch, security 

indicator, RFHub/Kin and FOBIK, an 

intrusion and inclination sensor, door 

ajar switches, an intrusion module and 

a central body controller. Maserati also 

stated that its VTA system will include 

an audible and visual feature that will 

provide perimeter protection that will 

monitors the vehicle doors, ignition 

switch and deck lid for unauthorized 

tampering, and an ultrasonic intrusion 

sensor, designed to detect motion 

within the vehicle. Maserati further 

stated that if unauthorized tampering 

with any of these protected areas is 

detected, the vehicle’s horn/siren will 

sound and some of its exterior lamps 

will flash. 

Maserati stated that the immobilizer 

device is automatically activated when 

the ignition is changed from the run 

position to the off position. Once 

activated, only the use of a valid key can 

disable immobilization and allow the 

vehicle to run. Specifically, Maserati 

stated that the device is deactivated by 

performing an unlock actuation via the 

RKE transmitter or by starting the 

vehicle with a valid RFHub key. 

Maserati stated that to start the vehicle, 

the driver must press and hold the brake 

pedal while pressing the START/STOP 

button. The system takes over and 

engages the starter causing the starter 

motor to run and disengage 

automatically when the engine is 

running. Maserati stated that the RFHub 

contains and controls the SKIS, 

preventing the engine from running 

more than 2 seconds unless a valid 

FOBIK key is used to start the engine. 

Maserati also stated that the vehicle’s 

key fob with RKE transmitter, RFHub 

and the KIN contains over 50,000 

possible electronic key combinations 

and allows the driver to operate the 

ignition switch with the push of a 

button as long as the RKE transmitter is 

in the passenger compartment. 

Maserati’s submission is considered a 

complete petition as required by 49 CFR 

543.7, in that it meets the general 

requirements contained in § 543.5 and 

the specific content requirements of 

§ 543.6. 

In addressing the specific content 

requirements of 543.6, Maserati 

provided information on the reliability 

and durability of its proposed device. 

To ensure reliability and durability of 

the device, Maserati conducted tests 

based on its own specified standards. 

Maserati provided a detailed list of the 

tests conducted (i.e., low and high 

temperature exposure on system 

components, resistance for humidity, 

ice, water immersion, dust exposure, 

and drop shock on surfaces). Maserati 

also stated that the VTA, including the 

immobilizer device and its related 

components must meet design and 

durability requirements for full vehicle 

useful life (10 years/120k miles). 

Maserati stated that it believes that its 

device is reliable and durable because it 

complied with specified requirements 

for each test. 

Maserati stated that based on MY 

2010 theft data published by NHTSA, its 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES