Document ID: NHTSA-2014-0126-0001
Agency: nhtsa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Evaluation of Correct Child Restraint System Installations
Posted Date: 2015-01-21T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 21, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3008-3010]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-00810]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[U.S. DOT Docket No. NHTSA-2014-0126]

Reports, Forms, and Record Keeping Requirements

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

ACTION: Request for public comment on proposed collection of 
information.

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SUMMARY: Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from 
the public, it must receive approval from the Office of Management and 
Budget (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 one collection of information for which 
NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 23, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number 
NHTSA-[docket number] using any of the following methods:
    Electronic submissions: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the online instructions for submitting comments.
    Mail: Docket Management Facility, M-30, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590.
    Hand Delivery: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9

[[Page 3009]]

a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
    Instructions: Each submission must include the Agency name and the 
Docket number for this Notice. Note that all comments received will be 
posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov including any 
personal information provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Amanda M. Kelley, Contracting 
Officer's Representative, Office of Behavioral Safety Research (NTI-
132), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE., W46-495, Washington, DC 20590. Dr. Kelley's phone number is 
202-366-7394 and her email address is Amanda.Kelley@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
before an agency submits a proposed collection of information to OMB 
for approval, it must 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 regulations (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; and
    (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 public comment on 
the following proposed collection of information:
    Title: Evaluation of Correct Child Restraint System Installations.
    Type of Request: New information collection requirement.
    OMB Clearance Number: None.
    Form Number: NHTSA Forms 1265, 1266, 1267.
    Requested Expiration Date of Approval: 3 years from date of 
approval.
    Summary of the Collection of Information--The National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposes to conduct individual 
data collection session with 150 participants. Each session will 
require participants to complete a set of questionnaires including: A 
risk appraisal assessment tool specific to motor vehicle crash and 
injury risks; a measure of invincibility beliefs; and a demographics 
questionnaire. Then each participant will be instructed to install a 
CRS (rear-facing, forward facing, high-back booster, no-back booster) 
for each of the four child-size dummies (16-month-old, 3-year-old, 6-
year-old, and 8-year-old) into one of the four vehicle types (SUV, 
compact SUV, mini-van, sedan) provided. By providing the participant 
with the age, height, and weight of the child, and asking the 
participant to select the appropriate CRS to install, NHTSA will 
immediately address whether the parent has selected the best restraint 
type for each child's age and physical dimensions. No verbal 
instructions on how to use the CRS features or vehicle features will be 
provided. Participants will be instructed to complete each installation 
by securing a child-size doll in the CRS. Participants will complete a 
total of 4 installations.
    The order of installations for a given participant will be 
randomized with respect to CRS type, vehicle type, and child's age/
weight/height in order to preclude any effects of sequence and control 
for any learning or fatigue that might take place. In addition, the CRS 
within each CRS type (easier, more challenging) and the vehicle type 
will vary across participants.
    After each installation, various types of objective and subjective 
measures will be collected. Together, these measures will describe how 
the participant used the CRS system, what problems were encountered, 
errors identified, how acceptable the system was to the user, and the 
degree of confidence each participant exhibited with correctly 
installing the CRS to the vehicle and securing the child in the CRS. 
Participants will convey this information by responding to a series of 
ratings and open-ended questions regarding the ease of installation and 
challenges related to usability of the CRS system, the CRS manual, and 
the vehicle features and vehicle manual.
    Each CRS installation will be video-taped using electronic 
equipment. Any and all personally identifiable information will be 
separated from data collected. Also, all identifying information 
collected during initial scheduling will be separated from collected 
information, kept on a secure server in password protected files, and 
discarded when no longer needed. Access to this information will be 
limited. All information collected during the sessions will be 
summarized using generic categories and summary statistics.
    Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the 
Information--The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 
was established by the Highway Safety Act of 1970 (23 U.S.C. 101) to 
carry out a Congressional mandate to reduce the mounting number of 
deaths, injuries, and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle 
crashes on the Nation's highways. As part of this statutory mandate, 
NHTSA is authorized to conduct research as a foundation for the 
development of motor vehicle standards and traffic safety programs.
    Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death to children in 
the United States. In 2012 a total of 952 children younger than 13 
years died in motor vehicle traffic crashes, and two-thirds of these 
fatalities occurred among children riding in passenger vehicles. The 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), recommends that 
all children ages 12 and under be properly buckled in an age- and size-
appropriate car seat, booster seat, or seat belt in the rear seat. 
Currently, there are four types of child restraint systems designed for 
children: Infant, convertible, combination, and belt-positioning 
booster seats. Each system is designed to protect a child within a 
given height and weight category in the event of a crash. Child safety 
seat (CSS) use reduces the risk for death to infants (aged <1 year) by 
71%; and to toddlers (aged 1-4 years) by 54% in passenger vehicles. 
Booster seat use reduces the risk for serious injury by 45% for 
children aged 4-8 years when compared with seat belt use alone. Infant, 
convertible, and combination seats are secured to the vehicle seat 
using the vehicle's seat belt system or the vehicle's LATCH system, and 
the child is secured to the seat using the CRS's harness system. 
Conversely, combination and booster seats provide a transition from the 
child safety seat with its internal harness to the vehicle lap/shoulder 
belt by repositioning the child so that the vehicle's seat belt system 
holds both the child and the booster in place.
    While child restraint use has increased over the years, many 
children are still fatally injured as a result of motor vehicles 
crashes. One possible explanation for this occurrence could be the 
large number of child passengers

[[Page 3010]]

who are either riding unrestrained in vehicles, improperly placed in a 
CRS, or prematurely graduated to an adult vehicle seat belt system. A 
NHTSA survey, the National Child Restraint Use Special Study, conducted 
in 2011, observed and interviewed a nationally representative sample of 
drivers with child passengers (NHTSA, 2012). The most prevalent 
installation errors identified in this survey were: Incorrect harness 
routing slot used, improper harness clip position, loose CRS 
installation, loose harness straps, and improper lap belt placement. 
Other potential installation errors may include: Improper routing of 
the vehicle's seat belt system or lower LATCH straps, and twisting of 
the seat belt or LATCH. While these errors can be classified as 
improper installation and/or securement errors, researchers have also 
identified errors related to caregivers selecting the correct CRS for 
the children's ages, heights, and weights.
    Evaluating the causes of the various selection and installation 
errors can be challenging. That is, one or more factors may contribute 
to any one type of installation error. There are numerous CRS makes and 
models marketed to the consumer, each with its own installation 
procedures/manual. In addition, vehicle manufacturers design vehicle 
restraint systems and vehicle seats that are incompatible with various 
CRSs. New vehicles are continually introduced to the fleet, and CRSs 
continue to evolve each year. Finally, there is a never-ending flow of 
new parents/caregivers who need to be educated on child passenger 
safety. Despite their inexperience, new parents may overestimate their 
own accuracy in selecting and securely installing a CRS to the vehicle 
and securing the child in the CRS.
    While it might be hard to control for some factors, such as the 
continuing flow of new parents, and the number and variety of vehicles 
and CRSs, others might be more easily examined. For example, among the 
large variety of CRS designs, CRS and vehicle labeling, vehicle seating 
attachments, and manual designs and instructions, there may be ways to 
better convey information to the caregivers. In addition, specific 
features or designs that minimize installation errors could improve the 
ease of use for CRS for the parent or caregiver. In an effort to reduce 
the number of errors, NHTSA is undertaking a study to gain some insight 
into the causes of errors related to selecting and installing CRSs. To 
accomplish this, NHTSA will evaluate installation performance and 
caregiver confidence in both experienced and novice CRS users and 
determine which factors contribute to both installation and securement 
errors and to determine what factors related to the CRS, vehicle, and 
user confidence contribute to errors. Identifying these causal factors 
that contribute to errors related to selecting and installing CRSs, as 
well as those factors that contribute to accurately selecting and 
properly installing CRSs for both novice and experienced users, will be 
the first step in increasing the safety of child passengers in moving 
vehicles. In addition, overall findings can be made available to CRS 
manufacturers and vehicle manufacturers related to improvements to 
specific CRS and vehicle design features that may foster a better fit 
in the vehicles and securement for children.
    Description of the Likely Respondents (Including Estimated Number, 
and Proposed Frequency of Response to the Collection of Information)--
Under this proposed effort, a total of 150 individuals evenly 
distributed among experienced and novice CRS users. ``Experienced'' 
users will be defined as individuals who regularly care for a child 
under the age of 4 years, transport the child in a vehicle at least 
twice a week, and also have installed any CRS a minimum of five times 
in the past 6 months. ``Novice'' users are defined as individuals who 
do not regularly transport children and have not installed a CRS in the 
past 6 months.
    NHTSA estimates that each session will last 120 minutes. Each 
participant will complete four installations, resulting in 600 total 
installations distributed across vehicle type, CRS type, and child's 
age, weight, and height. Each CRS installation will be video recorded. 
Prior to installing the CRS's, participants will complete a set of 
questionnaires including a risk appraisal assessment tool specific to 
motor vehicle crash and injury risks, an invincibility beliefs index, 
and demographics.
    Throughout the project, the privacy of all participants will be 
protected. Personally-identifiable information (names, telephone 
numbers, email addresses, etc.) will be kept separate from the data 
collected, and will be stored in restricted folders on secure password 
protected servers that are only accessible to study staff who have need 
to access such information. In addition, all data collected from 
participants will be reported in aggregate, and participant names will 
not be used in any reports resulting from this project. Rigorous de-
identification procedures will be used during summary and feedback 
stages to ensure no officers will be identified through reconstructive 
means.
    Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Record Keeping Burden 
Resulting from the Collection of Information--NHTSA estimates that the 
total time for each respondent to participate in the data collection 
effort will likely not be more than 2 hours. Staff estimates that the 
travel time for participants will not be more than 30 minutes one-way. 
Therefore, a maximum of 3 hours of burden will be placed on any one 
participant. The duration of the study for each participant will be 3 
hours, or a total of 450 hours for the 150 participants. The 
participants will not incur any reporting cost from the information 
collection. The participants also will not incur any record keeping 
burden or record keeping cost from the information collection.

    Authority:  44 U.S.C. Section 3506(c)(2)(A)

    Dated: January 15, 2015.
Jeff Michael,
Associate Administrator, Research and Program Development.
[FR Doc. 2015-00810 Filed 1-20-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P