[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 22, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9787-9795]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02453]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2021-0059]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for 
Comments; Consolidated Vehicles' Owner's Manual Requirements for Motor 
Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Equipment

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice and request for comments on a reinstatement with 
modification of a previously approved information collection.

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SUMMARY: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration invites 
public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) to reinstate a previously approved 
information collection with modification. Before a Federal agency can 
collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval 
from OMB. Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit 
public comment on proposed collections of information, including 
extensions and reinstatements of previously approved collections. This 
document describes a collection of information for which NHTSA intends 
to seek OMB approval on Vehicle Owner's Manual Requirements for Motor 
Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Equipment. NHTSA is requesting a 
modification of the information collection to include regulatory 
changes made by NHTSA's Adaptive Driving Beam Headlamps final rule. 
NHTSA is also requesting modification to include requirements for 
owner's manuals in NHTSA's existing regulations.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by April 25, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by NHTSA docket number 
identified above, through any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Electronic submissions: Go to the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions 
for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
    <bullet> Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket Management, U.S. Department 
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Room W12-
140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except on Federal holidays. To be sure someone is there to help 
you, please call (202) 366-9322 before coming.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and 
docket number for this notice. Note that all comments received will be 
posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any 
personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act 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.transportation.gov/privacy.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to https://www.regulations.gov or the street 
address listed above. Follow the online instructions for accessing the 
dockets via internet.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or access 
to background documents, contact James Myers, NHTSA, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE, West Building, Room W43-320, NRM-100, Washington, DC 20590. 
Mr. Myers' telephone number is 202-493-0031. Please identify the 
relevant collection of information by referring to its OMB Control 
Number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), 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: (a) 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; (b) 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; (c) how to enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be

[[Page 9788]]

collected; and (d) 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.
    Title: Consolidated Vehicle Owner's Manual Requirements for Motor 
Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Equipment.
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0541.
    Form Numbers: N/A.
    Type of Request: Request for reinstatement with modification of a 
previously approved collection of information.
    Type of Review Requested: Regular.
    Requested Expiration Date of Approval: 3 years from date of 
approval.
    Summary of the Collection of Information:
    NHTSA is seeking approval for a reinstatement with modification of 
a previously approved information collection request (ICR) covering 
fifteen information collections. These information collections require 
or ask manufacturers of motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment to 
provide information in owner's manuals, as specified in the Federal 
motor vehicle safety standards and other NHTSA regulations. The 
modification reflects regulatory changes contained in the Adaptive 
Driving Beam (ADB) final rule published today affecting FMVSS No. 108, 
``Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.'' The 
modification also covers information collection requirements 
inadvertently left out of previous ICRs.
    The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act authorizes the 
Secretary of Transportation (NHTSA by delegation), at 49 U.S.C. 30111, 
to issue Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) that set 
performance standards for motor vehicles and items of motor vehicle 
equipment. Further, the Secretary (NHTSA by delegation) is authorized, 
at 49 U.S.C. 30117, to require manufacturers to provide information to 
first purchasers of motor vehicles or items of motor vehicle equipment 
related to performance and safety in printed materials that are 
attached to or accompany the motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle 
equipment. NHTSA has exercised this authority to require manufacturers 
to provide certain specified safety information to be readily available 
to consumers and purchasers of motor vehicles and items of motor 
vehicle equipment. This information is most often provided in vehicle 
owners' manuals and the requirements are found in 49 CFR parts 563, 
571, and 575. This information collection request only covers 
requirements or requests to provide information that is not provided 
verbatim in the regulation or standard. The information requirements or 
requests are included in: Part 563, ``Event data recorders;'' FMVSS No. 
108, ``Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment;'' FMVSS No. 
110, ``Tire selection and rims;'' FMVSS No. 138, ``Tire Pressure 
Monitoring Systems;'' FMVSS No. 202a, ``Head restraints;'' FMVSS No. 
205, ``Glazing materials;'' FMVSS No. 208, ``Occupant crash 
protection;'' FMVSS No. 210, ``Seat belt assembly anchorages;'' FMVSS 
No. 213, ``Child restraint systems;'' FMVSS No. 225; ``Child restraint 
anchorage systems:'' FMVSS No. 226, ``Ejection mitigation;'' FMVSS No. 
303, ``Fuel System Integrity of Compressed Natural Gas Vehicles;'' 
section 575.103, ``Truck-camper loading;'' section 575.104, ``Uniform 
tire quality grading standards;'' and section 575.105, ``Vehicle 
rollover.'' NHTSA is seeking approval from OMB for reinstatement with 
modification of this previously approved collection. Details of the 
information collection and modifications are described below.
    Part 563--Event data recorders. Section 563.11 requires 
manufacturers of vehicles equipped with event data recorders (EDRs) to 
provide a prescribed statement in the owner's manual.\1\ However, this 
statement is provided verbatim in the regulation and, therefore, is not 
an information collection. Section 563.11 also states that the owner's 
manual may include additional information about the form, function, and 
capabilities of the EDR, in supplement to the required statement. This 
voluntary disclosure of information is an information collection for 
which NHTSA is seeking approval.
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    \1\ 49 CFR 563.11(a).
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    FMVSS No. 108, ``Lamps, reflective devices, and associated 
equipment.'' This standard requires that certain lamps and reflective 
devices with certain performance levels be installed on motor vehicles 
to assure that the roadway is properly illuminated, that vehicles can 
be readily seen, and the signals can be transmitted to other drivers 
sharing the road during day, night, and inclement weather. In addition 
to establishing performance requirements for those lamps and reflective 
devices, FMVSS No. 108 also contains provisions requiring manufacturers 
to provide instructions or information on the lighting device.
    NHTSA is seeking approval to modify two of these requirements. The 
first (in S10.18.8.2) requires manufacturers to provide instructions so 
that owners, as well as traditional vehicle service personnel, can aim 
their vehicle's Vehicle Headlamp Aiming Device (VHAD) headlamps using 
equipment that is an integral part of the headlamp system. Because the 
specific manner in which headlamp aiming is to be performed is not 
regulated (only the performance of the device is), aiming devices 
manufactured or installed by different vehicle and headlamp 
manufacturers may work in significantly different ways. To assure that 
the VHAD can be correctly aimed, this standard requires that 
instructions for proper use of VHAD systems be part of the vehicle as a 
label, or optionally, be placed in the vehicle owner's manual. The 
second informational requirement NHTSA is seeking to modify (S9.4.1.1) 
requires manufacturers to provide information regarding how to operate 
semiautomatic beam switching devices.
    On October 12, 2018 (83 FR 51766), NHTSA published a Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing performance requirements for 
adaptive driving beam (ADB) headlighting systems. NHTSA is today 
publishing a final rule (Docket No. NHTSA-2021-0062) that modifies the 
informational requirements referred to above.
    First, the ADB final rule modifies the requirements regarding 
providing instructions for VHADs in S10.18.8.2.1. Prior to this final 
rule, the standard required manufacturers to provide instructions 
advising that the headlighting system is properly aimed if the 
appropriate vertical plane (as defined by the vehicle manufacturer) is 
perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and a 
horizontal plane when the vehicle is on a horizontal surface, and the 
VHAD is set at ``0'' vertical and ``0'' horizontal. The final rule 
changes this provision to require manufacturers to provide instructions 
either on a label permanently affixed to the vehicle adjacent to the 
VHAD, or in the operator's manual, advising the vehicle owner what to 
do if the headlighting system requires aiming, using the VHAD.
    Second, the ADB final rule modifies the requirements in S9.4.1.1 
for manufacturers to provide instructions for operating semiautomatic 
headlamp switching devices. Prior to this final rule, the standard 
required manufacturers to provide instructions on how to operate the 
device correctly,

[[Page 9789]]

including: How to turn the automatic control on and off; how to adjust 
the sensitivity control; and any other specific instructions applicable 
to the device. The final rule modifies this by excluding ADB systems 
from the requirement to provide instructions on how to adjust the 
sensitivity control.
    FMVSS No. 110, ``Tire selection and rims.'' This standard specifies 
requirements for tire selection to prevent tire overloading. The 
vehicle's normal load and maximum load on the tire shall not be greater 
than applicable specified limits. Section 7.2 of FMVSS No. 110 requires 
certain information in the owner's manual for vehicles equipped with a 
non-pneumatic spare tire. The owner's manual of the passenger car shall 
contain, in writing in the English language and in not less than 10 
point type, the following information under the heading ``IMPORTANT--
USE OF SPARE TIRE'': (a) A statement indicating the information related 
to appropriate use for the non-pneumatic spare tire including at a 
minimum the information set forth in S6 (a) and (b) and either the 
information set forth in S4.3(g) or a statement that the information 
set forth in S4.3(g) is located on the vehicle placard and on the non-
pneumatic tire; (b) An instruction to drive carefully when the non-
pneumatic spare tire is in use, and to install the proper pneumatic 
tire and rim at the first reasonable opportunity; and (c) A statement 
that operation of the passenger car is not recommended with more than 
one non-pneumatic spare tire in use at the same time.
    FMVSS No. 138, ``Tire pressure monitoring systems.'' This standard 
specifies requirements for a tire pressure monitoring system to warn 
the driver of an under-inflated tire condition. Its purpose is to 
reduce the likelihood of a vehicle crash resulting from tire failure 
due to operation in an under-inflated condition. The standard requires 
the owner's manual to include specific information on the low-pressure 
warning telltale and the malfunction indicator telltale. While most of 
this information is provided verbatim, the statement requires some 
customization. FMVSS No. 138, also states that the owner's manual may 
include additional information about the time for the TPMS telltale(s) 
to extinguish once the low tire pressure condition or the malfunction 
is corrected. It may also include additional information about the 
significance of the low tire pressure warning telltale illuminating, a 
description of corrective action to be undertaken, whether the tire 
pressure monitoring system functions with the vehicle's spare tire (if 
provided), and how to use a reset button, if one is provided.
    FMVSS No. 202a, ``Head restraints.'' This standard specifies 
requirements for head restraints. The standard, which seeks to reduce 
whiplash injuries in rear collisions, currently requires head 
restraints for front outboard designated seating positions in passenger 
cars and in light multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks and buses 
with a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kg or less and specifies 
requirements for optionally provided rear outboard seat head restraints 
in the same vehicles. The standard requires that vehicle manufacturers 
include information in owner's manuals for vehicles manufactured on or 
after September 1, 2008. The owner's manual must clearly identify which 
seats are equipped with head restraints. If the head restraints are 
removable, the owner's manual must provide instructions on how to 
remove the head restraint by a deliberate action distinct from any act 
necessary for adjustment, and how to reinstall the head restraints. The 
owner's manual must warn that all head restraints must be reinstalled 
to properly protect vehicle occupants. Finally, the owner's manual must 
describe, in an easily understandable format, the adjustment of the 
head restraints and/or seat back to achieve appropriate head restraint 
position relative to the occupant's head.
    FMVSS No. 205, ``Glazing materials.'' This standard specifies 
requirement for all glazing material used in windshields, windows, and 
interior partitions of motor vehicles. Its purpose is to reduce 
injuries resulting from impact to glazing surfaces, to ensure a 
necessary degree of transparency in motor vehicle windows for driver 
visibility, and to minimize the possibility of occupants being thrown 
through the vehicle windows in collisions. Detailed information 
regarding the care and maintenance of plastic glazing items, such as a 
glass-plastic windshield, is required to be placed in the vehicle 
owner's manual.
    FMVSS No. 208, ``Occupant crash protection.'' This standard 
specifies requirements for both active and passive occupant crash 
protection systems for passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, 
trucks, and buses. Certain safety features, such as air bags, or the 
care and maintenance of air bag systems, are required to be explained 
to the owner by means of the owner's manual. For example, the owner's 
manual must describe the vehicle's air bag system and provide 
precautionary information about the proper positioning of the 
occupants, including children. The owner's manual must also warn that 
no objects should be placed over or near the air bag covers. The 
owner's manual must also describe the operation of any tension 
relieving and locking features of the provided seat belts. There is 
also required information about the operation of seat belt assemblies 
and other information that could total up to about 20 pages in the 
owner's manual. This material would also need to be kept current with 
the latest technical information on an annual basis.
    FMVSS No. 210, ``Seat belt assembly anchorages.'' This standard 
specifies requirements for seat belt assembly anchorages to ensure 
effective occupant restraint and to reduce the likelihood of failure in 
a crash. FMVSS No. 210 requires that manufacturers place the following 
information in the vehicle owner's manual: (a) An explanation that 
child restraints are designed to be secured by means of the vehicle's 
seat belts, and (b) a statement alerting vehicle owners that children 
are always safer in the rear seat.
    FMVSS No. 213; ``Child restraint systems.'' This standard specifies 
requirements for built-in child restraint systems and requires vehicle 
manufacturers provide consumers with information about the operation 
and do's and don'ts in its owner's manual.
    FMVSS No. 225; ``Child restraint anchorage systems.'' This standard 
establishes requirements for child restraint anchorage systems to 
ensure their proper location and strength for the effective securing of 
child restraints, to reduce the likelihood of the anchorage systems' 
failure, and to increase the likelihood that child restraints are 
properly secured and thus more fully achieve their potential 
effectiveness in motor vehicles. The vehicle owner's manual must 
provide written instructions, in English, for using the tether 
anchorages and the child restraint anchorage system in the vehicle. 
Instructions must at a minimum indicate which seating positions in the 
vehicle are equipped with tether anchorages and child restraint 
anchorage systems, explain the meaning of markings provided to locate 
the lower anchorages, and include instructions that provide a step-by-
step procedure (including diagrams) for properly attaching a child 
restraint system's tether strap to the tether anchorages.
    FMVSS No. 226, ``Ejection mitigation.'' This standard establishes 
vehicle requirements intended to reduce the partial and complete 
ejection of vehicle occupants through side windows in crashes, 
particularly rollover crashes. The standard applies to passenger cars, 
and to multipurpose

[[Page 9790]]

passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses with a gross vehicle weight 
rating of 4,536 kg (10,000 pounds) or less. Written information must be 
provided that describes any ejection mitigation countermeasure that 
deploys in the event of a rollover and a discussion of the readiness 
indicator with a list of the elements of the system being monitored by 
the indicator, a discussion of the purpose and location of the 
telltale, and instructions to the consumer on the steps to take if the 
telltale is illuminated.
    FMVSS No. 303, ``Fuel System Integrity of Compressed Natural Gas 
Vehicles.'' This standard specifies requirements for the integrity of 
motor vehicle fuel systems using compressed natural gas (CNG), 
including the CNG fuel systems of bi-fuel, dedicated, and dual fuel CNG 
vehicles. This regulation requires manufacturers to permanently label 
CNG vehicles, near the vehicle refueling connection, with service 
pressure information and the statement ``See instructions on fuel 
container for inspection and service life.'' Manufacturers of CNG 
vehicles must also provide a first purchaser this information in either 
an owner's manual or a one-page document.
    Section 575.103, ``Truck-camper loading.'' This regulation requires 
manufacturers of slide-in campers to affix to each camper a label that 
contains information relating to identification and proper loading of 
the camper and to provide more detailed loading information in the 
owner's manual. This regulation also requires manufacturers of trucks 
that would accommodate slide-in campers to specify the cargo weight 
ratings and the longitudinal limits within which the center of gravity 
for the cargo weight rating should be located.
    Section 575.104, ``Uniform tire quality grading standards.'' This 
regulation requires manufacturers of motor vehicles to inform the 
drivers of the type and quality of the tires with which their vehicles 
are equipped. Manufacturers must include in the vehicle owner's manual 
a list of all possible grades for traction and temperature resistance 
and restate verbatim the explanation for each performance area 
specified in Sec.  575.104 Figure 2, Part II. The information must 
contain a statement referring the reader to the tire sidewall for the 
specific tire grades for the tires with which the vehicle is equipped.
    Section 575.105, ``Vehicle rollover.'' This regulation requires 
manufacturers of utility vehicles \2\ to alert the drivers of those 
vehicles that they have a higher possibility of rollover than other 
vehicle types and to advise them of steps that can be taken to reduce 
the possibility of rollover and/or to reduce the likelihood of injury 
in a rollover. The owner's manual must include a discussion of the 
vehicle design features which cause this type of vehicles to be more 
likely to rollover (e.g., higher center of gravity) and a discussion of 
the driving practices that can reduce the risk of a rollover (e.g., 
avoiding sharp turns at excessive speed).
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    \2\ 49 CFR 575.105 states Utility vehicles means multipurpose 
passenger vehicles (other than those which are passenger car 
derivatives) which have a wheelbase of 110 inches or less and 
special features for occasional off-road operation.
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Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the 
Information

    The purpose of requiring that certain information be provided in 
manuals is to ensure owners and operators are provided with readily 
accessible important information about critical components of their 
vehicles, such as the performance of their vehicle or instructions for 
proper operation. The Federal program for reducing highway fatalities, 
injuries and crashes is likely to be adversely affected if the 
information is not collected, since consumers would not be made readily 
aware of certain important safety provisions that apply to critical 
components of their vehicles and would not have a readily accessible 
source of information when circumstances require such information.

Earlier 60-Day Notice

    On May 12, 2021, NHTSA published a notice in the Federal Register 
(86 FR 26128) soliciting comments on reinstating the collection of 
information (Consolidated Vehicle Owner's Manual Requirements for Motor 
Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Equipment). NHTSA received one comment from 
the Alliance for Automotive Innovation (Auto Innovators) requesting 
that NHTSA consider the development of new compliance options to permit 
digital format owners' manuals in lieu of hard copy (printed) owners' 
manuals. However, as no such compliance option currently exists, the 
Auto Innovators' request to change the FMVSS is outside of the scope of 
this reinstatement request. NHTSA will consider the request for future 
Agency action.
    Affected Public: Vehicle manufacturers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 52.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 52.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 8,628.
    NHTSA estimates the burden for each of the information collections 
individually based on the estimated number of manufacturers expected to 
need to comply with the requirements and the estimated time each 
manufacturer spends each year complying with the requirements to put 
specific information into owner's manual. To calculate manufacturer 
burden, NHTSA has estimated the time to compile, revise, and review 
information for owner's manuals by vehicle model. This estimate is 
informed by the estimated number of vehicle models that would be 
subject to the requirements and also the expected number of new models 
or models undergoing changes that would necessitate updates to owner's 
manuals.
    Part 563--Event Data Recorders. NHTSA estimates that the vehicle 
manufacturers that voluntarily provide this additional information in 
the owner's manual incur minimal burden. We conservatively estimate 
that half of the 406 vehicle models for light duty vehicles will have 
owner's manuals that contain this supplemental information and that the 
burden for updating and reviewing this information will be 1 hour per 
model line. This would result in 203 annual burden hours (203 vehicle 
model lines x 1 hour of time x 1 manual per model).
    FMVSS No. 108, ``Lamps, reflective devices, and associated 
equipment.''

Vehicle Headlamp Aiming Device

    Considering that we anticipate adaptive driving beam systems to 
include a horizontal vehicle headlamp aiming device (VHAD), it is 
estimated 50% of models will offer adaptive driving beam headlighting 
systems on at least one trim level that will include a VHAD. Vehicles 
equipped with VHAD headlamps, for one model line with new VHAD 
headlamps, the time to collect the required information, prepare 
technical input, and review for accuracy of the required information 
placed for publication in the owner's manual template is estimated to 
be 4 hours per manual. In a carry-over vehicle owner's manual, we 
estimate that it would take a vehicle manufacturer 1 hour to review the 
required information for continued accuracy relating to VHAD systems. 
Section 571.108 permits each manufacturer a choice in placing headlamp 
aiming instruction in the owner's manual or on a label affixed to the 
vehicle. We estimate about half of the VHAD aiming applications would 
be

[[Page 9791]]

on labels attached to the VHAD, with the remainder (50%) using 
information in the owner's manual to convey the necessary information. 
Therefore, the number of annual burden hours imposed on manufacturers 
whose vehicles are subject to FMVSS No. 108 would be determined from 
the number of model lines produced annually (of which an estimated 25% 
are new and 75% are non-new, a repeat of previous years' model lines) 
multiplied by the portion of vehicles equipped with VHAD headlamps 
multiplied by the estimated number of hours required to assemble the 
required information (estimated to be 4 hours of review for new 
vehicles and 1 hour to review the information for non-new models). The 
annual burden hours required by FMVSS No. 108's VHAD section in the 
owner's manual is 383 hours ((438 models x 0.5 use VHAD x 0.25 new 
models x 4 hours/model) + (438 models x 0.5 use VHAD x 0.75 non-new 
models x 1 hour/model)).

SemiAutomatic Beam Switching Devices

    We estimate that approximately 80% of new vehicle models include a 
semiautomatic beam switching device (either traditional semiautomatic 
beam switching or adaptive driving beam) on at least one trim level for 
the U.S. market. For new model vehicles equipped with semiautomatic 
beam switching devices (SABs), the time to collect the required 
information, prepare technical input, and review for accuracy of the 
required information placed for publication in the owner's manual 
template is estimated to be 4 hours per manual. In a carry-over vehicle 
owner's manual, we estimate that it would take a vehicle manufacturer 1 
hour to review the required information for continued accuracy relating 
to semiautomatic beam switching devices. Section 571.108 requires 
manufacturers to provide instructions on how to operate semiautomatic 
beam switching devices if they are installed on the vehicle. The number 
of annual burden hours imposed on manufacturers whose vehicles are 
subject to FMVSS No. 108 would be determined from the number of model 
lines produced annually (of which an estimated 25% are new and 75% are 
non-new, a repeat of previous years' model lines) multiplied by the 
portion of vehicles equipped with semiautomatic beam switching devices 
multiplied by the estimated number of hours required to assemble the 
required information (estimated to be 4 hours of review for new models 
and 1 hour to review the information for non-new models). The annual 
burden hours required by FMVSS No. 108's semiautomatic beam switching 
device section in the owner's manual is 613 hours ((438 models x 0.8 
offer SABs x 0.25 new models x 4 hours/model) + (438 models x 0.8 offer 
SABs x 0.75 non-new models x 1 hour/model)).
    FMVSS No. 110, ``Tire selection and rims.'' Currently, 
manufacturers do not equip current passenger vehicles, trucks, buses, 
trailers, or motorcycles with non-pneumatic spare tires. If vehicles 
were equipped with non-pneumatic spare tires, the number of annual 
burden hours imposed on manufacturers who choose to equip their 
vehicles with this equipment would be determined from the number of 
model lines produced annually (of which an estimated 25% are new and 
75% are on-new, a repeat of previous years' model lines) multiplied by 
the portion of vehicle models equipped with non-pneumatic spare tires 
multiplied by the estimated number of hours required to assemble the 
required information (estimated to be 4 hours of review for new 
vehicles and 1 hour to review the information for non-new vehicles). 
The product of these factors would provide the number of hours required 
by manufacturers to produce necessary information to place into an 
owner's manual ``master'' for printing. Because manufacturers do not 
equip current passenger vehicles, trucks, buses, trailers, or 
motorcycles with non-pneumatic spare tires, NHTSA estimates the hour 
burden as 0 hours.
    FMVSS No. 138, ``Tire pressure monitoring systems.'' The 
information required by FMVSS No. 138 to be included in the owner's 
manual is provided verbatim and may be taken from the Federal 
regulation in its entirety. FMVSS No. 138, also states that the owner's 
manual may include additional information about the low-pressure 
telltale and the malfunction indicator telltale. NHTSA estimates the 
burden to be 1 hour for the respondents to compile, review, and revise 
the additional information. There is an average of 438 model lines each 
year that include tire pressure monitoring information in the owner's 
manual. Therefore, NHTSA estimates the total annual burden hours for 
Sec.  571.138 to be 438 hours (438 model lines x 1 manual per model x 1 
hour).
    FMVSS No. 202a, ``Head restraints.'' It is estimated that 438 model 
lines need to be reviewed annually, but only a fraction (25 percent) 
need major revision each year. It is further estimated that it would 
take 5 hours to complete the major revisions. The remaining fraction of 
model lines (75 percent) only require reverification of existing 
information. The total annual burden hours are estimated to be 876 
hours ((438 model lines x 0.25 needing revision x 5 hours) + (438 model 
lines x 0.75 needing revision x 1 hour)).
    FMVSS No. 205, ``Glazing materials.'' It is estimated that the 
burden to provide information in the owner's manual for detailed care 
and maintenance is minimal because manufacturers already provide this 
type of information in the vehicle cleaning and maintenance section of 
the owner's manual. NHTSA estimates a burden for each manual of 1 hour 
because manufacturers would need to verify that detailed care and 
maintenance information has been included in their cleaning and 
maintenance section of the owner's manual. The annual estimated burden 
from Sec.  571.205 is 176 hours (176 model lines x 1 manual per model x 
1 hour).
    FMVSS No. 208, ``Occupant crash protection.'' A conservative 
estimated burden to produce the required text and information is 16 
hours (or 2 days). It is also estimated that a fraction (25 percent) of 
the model lines would require updates annually. The remaining fraction 
of model lines (75 percent) only require reverification (1-hour burden) 
of existing information. This would result in 2,750 annual burden hours 
((579 vehicle model lines x 0.25 percent that need updating x 16 hours 
of time) + (579 model lines x 0.75 needing revision x 1 hour)).
    FMVSS No. 210, ``Seat belt assembly anchorages.'' It is estimated 
that it would take a vehicle manufacturer no more than 1 hour per 
vehicle model line to assemble all of the FMVSS No. 210 information for 
inclusion in the owner's manual. This would result in 438 annual burden 
hours (438 vehicle model lines x 1 manual per model x 1 hour).
    FMVSS No. 213, ``Child restraint systems.'' NHTSA estimates that 
the burden associated with compiling, revising, and reviewing FMVSS No. 
213 information for owner's manuals will be minimal. This information 
must also be made available on strategically placed labels within the 
vehicles, in addition to the vehicle's owner's manual. Thus, it is 
assumed that the burden hours would be minimal since the information is 
already available from the information required to produce the labels. 
NHTSA estimates that there are very few vehicle models that are 
equipped with built-in child restraints. A conservative estimate is 
that no more than 20 models would have built-in child restraints. This 
would result in 20 annual burden hours (20 vehicle model lines x 1 
manual per model x 1 hour).

[[Page 9792]]

    FMVSS No. 225, ``Child restraint anchorage systems.'' NHTSA 
estimates that it takes a vehicle manufacturer no more than 5 hours to 
compile the required material and that only a fraction (25 percent) 
would need major revisions each year. The remaining fraction of model 
lines (75 percent) only require reverification (1-hour burden) of 
existing information. This would result in 876 annual burden hours 
((438 vehicle model lines x 1 manual per model x 0.25 (percent 
requiring major revisions) x 5 hours of time) + (438 model lines x 1 
manual per model x 0.75 (percent requiring reverification) x 1 hour)).
    FMVSS No. 226, ``Ejection mitigation.'' NHTSA estimates that it 
takes a vehicle manufacturer no more than 8 hours to compile the 
required material and it is estimated that a fraction (25 percent) 
would need major revisions each year. The remaining fraction of model 
lines (75 percent) only require reverification (1-hour burden) of 
existing information. This would result in 1,205 annual burden hours 
((438 vehicle model lines x 1 manual per model x 0.25 (percent that 
need major revision) x 8 hours of time) + (438 model lines x 1 manual 
per model x 0.75 (percent needing reverification) x 1 hour)).
    FMVSS No. 303, ``Fuel System Integrity of Compressed Natural Gas 
Vehicles.'' Vehicle manufacturers must provide specific information to 
the consumer dealing with CNG vehicles' fuel systems. The information 
must be available on the fuel container of the vehicle and must also be 
made available in the Vehicle owner's manual. For the purposes of this 
justification, NHTSA assumes that all the necessary information is 
already available from the information required to produce the fuel 
container labels. Therefore, there is a slight burden of 1 hour for 
respondents to include this information in their owner's manuals. This 
would result in 18 annual burden hours (18 vehicle model lines x 1 
manual per model x 1 hour of time).
    Section 575.103, ``Truck-camper loading.'' The information required 
for the owner's manuals under section 575.103 is developed by 
manufacturers as part of their routine engineering development for 
their vehicles. The figures to include in truck and slide-in camper 
owner's manuals are provided in the regulation. Therefore, there is a 
slight 1-hour burden for respondents to include this information in 
their owner's manuals. This would result in 35 annual burden hours (35 
vehicle model lines x 1 manual per model x 1 hour of time).
    Section 575.104, ``Uniform tire quality grading standards.'' This 
requirement directs manufacturers to provide a statement in the owner's 
manual, that is provided in the regulation almost in its entirety or 
equivalent form. This regulation requires manufacturers of motor 
vehicles to include in the vehicle owner's manual a list of all 
possible grades for traction and temperature resistance and restate 
verbatim the explanation for each performance area specified in section 
575.104 Figure 2, Part II. A statement is provided in the regulation 
which manufacturers shall include, in its entirety or equivalent form, 
in the owner's manual. Therefore, NHTSA estimates that the burden for 
compiling, revising, and reviewing this information will only take 1 
hour per model each year. This results in 579 annual burden hours (579 
vehicle model lines x 1 manual per model x 1 hour of time).
    Section 575.105, ``Vehicle rollover.'' To comply with Section 
575.105, manufacturers of utility vehicles must include, in the owner's 
manual, a discussion of the vehicle design features which cause this 
type of vehicles to be more likely to rollover (e.g., higher center of 
gravity) and a discussion of the driving practices that can reduce the 
risk of a rollover (e.g., avoiding sharp turns at excessive speed). 
NHTSA estimates that because this information should be readily 
available, that it will take manufacturers 1 hour each year to compile, 
revise, and review the information for inclusion in the owner's 
manuals. This would result in 18 annual burden hours (18 vehicle model 
lines x 1 manual per model x 1 hour of time).
    The labor costs associated with these burden hours are derived by 
using hourly labor rates published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics 
(BLS). For the burden hours associated with compiling the owner's 
manual information required under the FMVSSs, NHTSA uses the mean 
hourly wage of $35.41 per hour for ``Technical Writers'' (occupational 
code 27-3042).\3\ BLS estimates that hourly wages represent 
approximately 70.2% of total compensation for private industry 
workers.\4\ Therefore, NHTSA estimates the labor cost associated with 
less senior Technical Writers to be $50.44 per hour. The total labor 
cost associated with the burden hours of this information collection 
are determined by multiplying the annual burden hours by $50.44; 
therefore, the total annual labor costs are estimated to be $435,171 in 
each of the next three years.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ May 2019 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment 
and Wage Estimates, NAICS 336100--Motor Vehicle Manufacturing, 
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_336100.htm#27-0000.
    \4\ https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ecec.pdf. Accessed 
March 20, 2020. Table 1. Employer Costs for Employee Compensation by 
ownership [March 2020], https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.t01.htm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The table below summarizes the total hour burden and associated 
labor costs estimates.

                            Table 1--Estimated Hour Burden and Associated Labor Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Estimated
                                                                                     Estimated     total annual
                 Part/section                              Brief title             total annual   labor costs at
                                                                                   burden hours     $50.44/hour
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
563...........................................  Event Data Recorders............             203         $10,239
571.108.......................................  Lighting-VHAD...................             383          19,319
571.108.......................................  Lighting-SABs...................             613          30,920
571.110.......................................  Tire Selection and Rims.........               0               0
571.138.......................................  Tire Pressure Monitoring........             438          22,093
571.202a......................................  Head Restraints.................             876          44,185
571.205.......................................  Glazing.........................             176           8,877
571.208.......................................  Crash Protection................           2,750         138,710
571.210.......................................  Seat Belt Anchors...............             438          22,093
571.213.......................................  Child Restraints................              20           1,009
571.225.......................................  Child Restraint Anchorages......             876          44,185

[[Page 9793]]

 
571.226.......................................  Ejection Mitigation.............           1,205          60,755
571.303.......................................  CNG Fuel Systems................              18             908
575.103.......................................  Truck-Camper Loading............              35           1,765
575.104.......................................  Tire Quality....................             579          29,205
575.105.......................................  Utility Vehicles................              18             908
                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals....................................  ................................           8,628         435,171
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Cost: $7,971,461.
    NHTSA estimates that the only costs, other than labor costs 
associated with labor hours, for this information collection are costs 
associated with printing the owner's manuals. NHTSA has estimated these 
costs by multiplying the estimated number owner's manuals that will be 
produced by the number of words provided in the owner's manual in 
response to the information collection. This estimate is then 
multiplied by the estimated cost per word for printing.
    Part 563--Event Data Recorders. NHTSA estimates that the word 
content in the owner's manual required by Part 563 would be 100 text 
words. Hence, the cost burden to vehicle manufacturers is estimated to 
be $30,566.25 (17,100,000 total vehicles x 50% of vehicles including 
added language in the owner's manuals x 100 text words x 1.1 production 
factor x 0.25 printing factor x $0.00013 per word). Cost burdens for 
this regulation were not included in the previous information 
collection request.
    FMVSS No. 108, ``Lamps, reflective devices, and associated 
equipment.'' The ADB final rule amended the standard with specific 
instructions for using the VHAD to aim ADB headlighting systems. We 
amended the VHAD requirements from specifically saying that it should 
be aimed at zero to a more general phrase that tells the owner what 
they should do when the headlamps need aimed horizontally. We expect 
this to decrease the words needed to convey the required information 
from 500 words to 250 words.
    The printing cost burden for these owner's manuals would be the 
number of vehicles produced annually multiplied by the portion of 
vehicles equipped with VHAD headlamps, multiplied by certain printing 
factors (an estimated 250 text words required per owner's manual, a 1.1 
multiplier to account for aftermarket manuals, a 0.25 printing factor, 
and a $0.00013 cost per word). The annual cost burden to the 
respondents to include the information required by FMVSS No. 108's VHAD 
section in the owner's manual is $38,208 (17,100,000 vehicles x 0.5 use 
VHAD x 0.5 provide info in manual x 250 words of text x 1.1 production 
factor x 0.25 printing factor x $0.00013 per word).
    The printing cost burden for these owner's manuals would be the 
number of vehicles produced annually multiplied by the portion of 
vehicles equipped with semiautomatic beam switching devices, multiplied 
by certain printing factors (an estimated 500 text words required per 
owner's manual, a 1.1 multiplier to account for aftermarket manuals, a 
0.25 printing factor, and a $0.00013 cost per word). The annual cost 
burden to the respondents to include the information required by FMVSS 
No. 108's semiautomatic beam switching device section in the owner's 
manual is $244,530 (17,100,000 vehicles x 0.8 use SABs x 500 words of 
text x 1.1 production factor x 0.25 printing factor x $0.00013 per 
word).
    FMVSS No. 110, ``Tire selection and rims.'' The printing cost 
burden for these owner's manuals would be the number of vehicles 
produced annually multiplied by the portion of vehicles equipped with 
non-pneumatic spare tires, multiplied by certain printing factors (an 
estimated 500 text words required per owner's manual, a 1.1 multiplier 
to account for aftermarket manuals, a 0.25 printing factor, and a 
$0.00013 cost per word). Because manufacturers do not equip current 
passenger vehicles, trucks, buses, trailers, or motorcycles with non-
pneumatic spare tires, NHTSA estimates the printing cost to be $0.
    FMVSS 571.138, ``Tire pressure monitoring systems.'' The recurring 
cost to the respondents to include the information required by section 
571.138 is based on the typical length of the tire pressure monitoring 
system information that is required, including depictions of the low-
pressure telltale and, if equipped, a separate malfunction indicator 
telltale. NHTSA estimates that this information is equivalent to 400 
words of text for the average owner's manual. NHTSA estimates there are 
17,100,000 new vehicles each year requiring tire pressure monitoring 
system information in the owner's manual. The annual cost burden to the 
respondents to include the information required by FMVSS No. 138 is 
$244,530 (17,100,000 vehicles x 400 words of text x 1.1 production 
factor x 0.25 printing factor x $0.00013 per word).
    FMVSS 571.202a, ``Head restraints.'' NHTSA estimates that it would 
take approximately 4 pages of the owner's manual to disclose the 
required head restraint information. Assuming that a page of owner's 
manual information represents a typical density of 300 words per page, 
manufacturers would need to publish about 1,200 words of instructions 
or cautioning information for the average owner's manual. NHTSA 
estimates there are 17,100,000 new vehicles each year requiring head 
restraint information in the owner's manual. Therefore, the total 
recurring cost estimate is $733,590 (17,100,000 vehicles x 1,200 words 
of text x 1.1 production factor x 0.25 printing factor x $0.00013 per 
word).
    FMVSS No. 205, ``Glazing materials.'' The word count required in 
the owner's manual is estimated to be 210 words. Only buses and low 
speed vehicles currently use plastic type glazing. Therefore, NHTSA 
estimates there are 17,400 new vehicles each year that include glazing 
information in the owner's manual. The annual cost burden to the 
respondents to include the information required by FMVSS No. 205 is 
estimated to be $130.63 (17,400 vehicles x 210 words of text x 1.1 
production factor x 0.25 printing factor x $0.00013 per word).
    FMVSS No. 208, ``Occupant crash protection.'' NHTSA estimates that 
the word content in the owner's manual required by FMVSS No. 208 would 
be 5,400 text words. Hence, the cost burden to vehicle manufacturers is 
estimated to be $3,397,680 (17,600,000

[[Page 9794]]

total vehicles x 5,400 text words x 1.1 production factor x 0.25 
printing factor x $0.00013 per word).
    FMVSS No. 210, ``Seat belt assembly anchorages.'' It is estimated 
that the word content in the owner's manual required by FMVSS No. 210 
would be 400 text words. Hence, the cost burden to vehicle 
manufacturers is estimated to be $244,530 (17,100,000 total vehicles x 
400 text words x 1.1 production factor x 0.25 printing factor x 
$0.00013 per word).
    FMVSS No. 213, ``Child restraint systems.'' It is estimated that 
the recurring information required for child safety in the owner's 
manual would be 500 text words. NHTSA estimates that, conservatively, 
5% of vehicles may be in lines that offer built in child restraints. 
Therefore, NHTSA estimates that there would be 880,000 vehicles with 
owner's manual containing information provided in response to this 
information collection. Hence, the cost burden to vehicle manufacturers 
is estimated to be $15,730 (880,000 total vehicles x 500 text words x 
1.1 production factor x 0.25 printing factor x $0.00013 per word).
    FMVSS No. 225, ``Child Restraint Anchorage Systems.'' NHTSA 
estimates that the word content in the owner's manual required by FMVSS 
No. 225 would be 1,500 text words. Hence, the cost burden to vehicle 
manufacturers is estimated to be $943,800 (17,600,000 total vehicles x 
1,500 text words x 1.1 production factor x 0.25 printing factor x 
$0.00013 per word).
    FMVSS No. 226, ``Ejection Mitigation.'' NHTSA estimates that the 
word content in the owner's manual required by FMVSS No. 226 would be 
3,000 text words. Hence, the cost burden to vehicle manufacturers is 
estimated to be $1,833,975 (17,100,000 total vehicles x 3,000 text 
words x 1.1 production factor x 0.25 printing factor x $0.00013 per 
word).
    FMVSS No. 303, ``Fuel System Integrity of Compressed Natural Gas 
Vehicles.'' NHTSA estimates that no more than 50 words are required in 
the owner's manual to comply with the requirements in FMVSS No. 303. 
There are conservatively 20,000 CNG vehicles produced annually. Hence, 
the cost burden to CNG vehicle manufacturers is estimated to be $35.75 
(20,000 total units x 50 text words x 1.1 production factor x 0.25 
printing factor x $0.00013 per word). Cost burdens for this regulation 
were not included in the previous information collection request.
    Section 575.103, ``Truck-camper loading.'' It is estimated that 480 
words are required in the owner's manual to comply with Sec.  575.103. 
There are approximately 2,300,000 pickup trucks and 11,000 truck camper 
units produced annually. These total to an annual production of 
2,311,000 units. Hence, the cost burden to vehicle manufacturers is 
estimated to be $39,656.76 (2,311,000 total units x 480 text words x 
1.1 production factor x 0.25 printing factor x $0.00013 per word).
    Section 575.104, ``Uniform tire quality grading standards.'' NHTSA 
estimates that 390 words are minimally required in the owner's manual 
to comply with Sec.  575.104. There are approximately 13,857,300 
vehicles covered by this regulation. Hence, the cost burden to vehicle 
manufacturers is estimated to be $193,205.41 (13,857,300 total vehicles 
x 390 text words x 1.1 production factor x 0.25 printing factor x 
$0.00013 per word). Cost burdens for this regulation were not included 
in the previous information collection request.
    Section 575.105, ``Vehicle rollover.'' NHTSA estimates that 117 
words are minimally required in the owner's manual to comply with 
section 575.105. There are approximately 2,700,000 utility vehicles 
with 4-wheel drive and a wheelbase of 110 inches or less. Therefore, 
the cost burden to vehicle manufacturers is estimated to be $11,293.43 
(2,700,000 total vehicles x 117 text words x 1.1 production factor x 
0.25 printing factor x $0.00013 per word). Cost burdens for this 
regulation were not included in the previous information collection 
request.
    The total annual cost to the respondents for information published 
in vehicles' owner's manuals is summarized in the table below.

                    Table 2--Estimated Printing Costs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Estimated
           Part/section                  Brief title      total costs to
                                                            respondents
------------------------------------------------------------------------
563...............................  Event Data Recorders         $30,566
571.108...........................  Lighting-VHAD.......          38,208
571.108...........................  Lighting-SABs.......         244,530
571.110...........................  Tire Selection and                 0
                                     Rims.
571.138...........................  Tire Pressure                244,530
                                     Monitoring Systems.
571.202a..........................  Head Restraints.....         733,590
571.205...........................  Glazing.............             131
571.208...........................  Occupant Crash             3,397,680
                                     Protection.
571.210...........................  Seat Belt Assembly           244,530
                                     Anchors.
571.213...........................  Child Restraints              15,730
                                     Systems.
571.225...........................  Child Restraint              943,800
                                     Anchorage Systems.
571.226...........................  Ejection Mitigation.       1,833,975
571.303...........................  Fuel System                       36
                                     Integrity of
                                     Compressed Natural
                                     Gas Vehicles.
575.103...........................  Truck-Camper Loading          39,657
575.104...........................  Uniform Tire Quality         193,205
                                     Grading Standards.
575.105...........................  Vehicle Rollover....          11,293
                                   -------------------------------------
    Total Costs...................  ....................       7,971,461
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspects of 
this information collection, including (a) whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Department, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Department's estimate 
of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.

[[Page 9795]]

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; 49 CFR 1.49; and DOT Order 1351.29.

Raymond R. Posten,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 2022-02453 Filed 2-18-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P