Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for Comment; Government 5-Star Safety Ratings Label Consumer Research

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Published

November 19, 2021

Issuing agencies

Transportation DepartmentNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Abstract

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new collection of information. 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 one collection of information for consumer research purposes regarding the Government 5-Star Safety Ratings section of the Monroney label for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval. On April 28, 2020, NHTSA published a notice in the Federal Register soliciting public comments with a 60-day comment period. NHTSA received 4 public comments submitted to the docket during this period. Given the extended time period since the initial publication of that notice, NHTSA is publishing this new 60-day notice. This notice also responds to the comments received on the original notice.

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 221 (Friday, November 19, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 221 (Friday, November 19, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64989-64992]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-25241]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2021-0033]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for
Comment; Government 5-Star Safety Ratings Label Consumer Research

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

ACTION: Notice and request for public comments on approval of a new
collection of information.

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SUMMARY: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
invites public comments about our intention to request approval from
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new collection of
information. 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 one collection
of information for consumer research purposes regarding the Government
5-Star Safety Ratings section of the Monroney label for which NHTSA
intends to seek OMB approval. On April 28, 2020, NHTSA published a
notice in the Federal Register soliciting public comments with a 60-day
comment period. NHTSA received 4 public comments submitted to the
docket during this period. Given the extended time period since the
initial publication of that notice, NHTSA is publishing this new 60-day
notice. This notice also responds to the comments received on the
original notice.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted on or before January 18,
2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by the docket number
NHTSA-2021-0033 by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Electronic submissions: Go to the Federal eRulemaking
Portal at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the online instructions
for submitting comments.
<bullet> Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket Management, 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 on Federal holidays. To be
sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 366-9322 before
coming.
<bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and
docket number for this notice. For detailed instructions on submitting
comments and additional information on the information-collection
process, see the Public Participation heading of the Supplementary
Information section of this document. Note that all comments received
will be posted without change to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>, 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 <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/privacy">https://www.transportation.gov/privacy</a>.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received, go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>, 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

[[Page 64990]]

background documents, contact Mike Joyce, Marketing Specialist, Office
of Communications and Consumer Information (NCO-0200), National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE, W52-238,
Washington, DC, 20590. Mike Joyce's phone number is 202-366-5600 and
his email address is <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#83ceeae8e6adc9ecfae0e6c3e7ecf7ade4ecf5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d895b1b3bdf692b7a1bbbd98bcb7acf6bfb7ae">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

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; 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 for public
comments on the following proposed collection of information for which
the agency is seeking approval from OMB:
Title: Government 5-Star Safety Ratings Label Consumer Research.
OMB Control Number: 2127-New.
Form Number(s):
Type of Request: Request for approval of a new information
collection.
Type of Review Requested: Regular.
Requested Expiration Date of Approval: Three years from approval
date.
Abstract: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) was established by the Highway Safety Act of 1970 (Pub. L. 91-
605, 202(a), 84 Stat. 1713, 1739-40). NHTSA'S mission is to save lives,
prevent injuries and reduce economic costs due to crashes on the
nation's highways. Part C of the Motor Vehicle and Driver Programs, at
49 U.S.C. 32302, requires the Secretary of Transportation (NHTSA by
delegation) to provide to the public information about the safety of
new passenger motor vehicles. Under its New Car Assessment Program
(NCAP) and 5-Star Safety Ratings Program, NHTSA conducts frontal crash,
side crash and rollover resistance tests of new vehicles and, based on
the results, assigns safety ratings to the tested vehicles. The ratings
enable consumers to consider and assess the relative safety of vehicles
before deciding which new vehicle they want to purchase.
In 2005, Congress enacted the Safe, Accountable, Flexible,
Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU)
(Pub. L. 109-59), which required the safety ratings assigned by NHTSA
under NCAP or a statement that the vehicle was not assigned safety
ratings under NCAP to be included on the window label for new vehicles,
known as the Monroney label.\1\ Per 15 U.S.C. 1232(g), the window label
must contain the safety ratings published or released by NHTSA's New
Car Assessment Program, including the graphical depiction of those
ratings, reference to the safety rating categories (e.g., frontal
impact crashes tests, side impact crash tests, and rollover restistance
tests), and information describing the nature and meaning of the crash
test data presented and a reference to <a href="http://www.safercar.gov">http://www.safercar.gov</a>. This
information must be presented in a legible, visible, and prominent
fashion that covers at least 8 percent of the total area of the label,
or an area with a minimum length of four and a half inches and a
minimum height of three and a half inches. If a vehicle has not been
rated by NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program, then the label much state
that.\2\ On December 4, 2015, Congress enacted the Fixing America's
Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which requires the Secretary of
Transportation (NHTSA by delegation) to issue a rule to ensure crash-
avoidance information is provided next to crashworthiness information
on vehicle window stickers.\3\
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\1\ The Automobile Information Disclosure Act of 1958, 15 U.S.C.
1231-1233, requires that new vehicles carry a sticker on a window
containing specified information about the vehicle.
\2\ 12 U.S.C. 1232(h).
\3\ Section 24322 of Part II--Safety Through Informed Consumers
Act of 2015. Public Law 114-94.
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In continuing support of its mission and to assist the agency in
meeting its FAST Act requirement, NHTSA proposes to conduct qualitative
research using focus groups in four geographic markets located across
the country to evaluate design and consumer information improvements to
the Government 5-Star Safety Ratings section of the Monroney label.\4\
This information collection will involve a one-time, voluntary phone
screening survey involving members of the public to identify research
participants and a one-time, in-person focus group. Participants in the
research program will be asked to evaluate design and consumer
information improvements to the Government 5-Star Safety Ratings
section of the vehicle window sticker. NHTSA will use the findings from
this research to support planned changes to the current label
requirements and future designs for communicating vehicle safety
ratings and advanced driver assistance systems performance assessments
to consumers.
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\4\ 15 U.S.C. 1232.
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Summary of the Collection of Information: In this collection of
information, NHTSA is seeking approval to conduct qualitative focus
groups with 66 consumer participants. The focus groups aim to achieve
the following objectives:
(1) Evaluate the overall appeal of each label concept and identify
specific likes and dislikes associated with specific components of the
label;
(2) Measure the ease of comprehension for each label concept and
understand which visual and text features are most effective at
conveying vehicle safety information;
(3) Assess the distinctiveness of how the information is displayed
and understand how best to make the vehicle safety information stand
out on the Monroney label; and,
(4) Identify additional areas of improvement related to the three
main label sections relating to safety protection, safety technology,
and overall vehicle safety performance.
Description of the Need for the Information and the Proposed Use of
the Information: This collection of information will allow NHTSA to
obtain critical information to assist the agency in fulfilling the 2015
FAST Act's requirement that NHTSA issue a rule to ensure that crash-
avoidance information is provided next to crashworthiness information
on vehicle windows stickers.\5\ Specifically, the data from this

[[Page 64991]]

collection will be used to not only enhance consumer understanding of
NHTSA's vehicle safety ratings and advanced driver assistance systems
performance assessments, but also guide the development of
communications that will help consumers as they consider this
information in their vehicle purchase decisions.
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\5\ Section 24322 of Part II--Safety Through Informed Consumers
Act of 2015 requires the Secretary of Transportation (NHTSA by
delegation) to issue a rule to ensure that crash-avoidance
information is indicated next to crashworthiness information on
stickers placed on motor vehicles by their manufacturers. Public Law
114-94, December 4, 2015.
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Affected Public: Members of the public 18 years of age or older
with a driver's license, who are a decision-maker for vehicle purchases
for their household, has either purchased or leased a vehicle in the
last six months or is planning to do so in the next 12 months and lives
in one of the four recommended markets to conduct the research
(Arlington, VA; Dallas, TX; Columbus, OH; or San Jose, CA).
Frequency: One time.
Number of Respondents: 500.
For this information collection, NHTSA plans to conduct a total of
eight focus group sessions (two groups in each of the following
recommended markets: Arlington, VA; Dallas, TX; Columbus, OH; and San
Jose, CA), each lasting approximately 90 minutes. NHTSA intends for
each focus group to consist of approximately nine participants (six
participants in Arlington, due to social distancing restrictions) for a
total of 66 participants in the focus group sessions. Based on
experience, NHTSA will need to recruit up to 14 people per focus group
in order to ensure that the desired number will appear at the focus
group facility at the appointed time. If more than the desired number
of participants show up at the facility for a given session, the
research team will select nine participants (six in Arlington) based on
their profile information provided in the recruitment grid to seat. The
remaining participants will be paid their honorarium, thanked for their
willingness to participate, and informed that they are free to go.
Therefore, in order to ensure that there are approximately nine
participants (six in Arlington) per focus group session, a total of 100
potential participants (eight per focus group in Arlington and 14 per
focus group in other markets) will be recruited via telephone screening
calls, which are estimated to take five minutes per call. In order to
recruit 100 potential participants, NHTSA estimates that it will be
necessary to initially reach out to and screen 500 people. This is
based on experience that demonstrates that, of the people who are
contacted, 20% will qualify for the study, be available and be
interested in participating in the focus group.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 141 hours.
NHTSA estimates the total burden per person actually participating
in this focus group research is estimated to be 95 minutes (five
minutes for the screening/recruiting telephone call plus 90 minutes in
the focus group discussion session). Additionally, the total burden per
person recruited (but not participating in the discussions) is five
minutes. Therefore, the total annual estimated burden imposed by this
collection is approximately 141 hours.

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Participation
Category of respondent Number of time Burden
respondents (minutes) (hours)
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Recruit/screening call (assumes 20% qualify, are available and 500 5 * 41.7
interested in participating in the focus group)................
Participation in 90-minute group................................ 66 90 99.0
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Total Burden................................................ .............. .............. 141
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* Hours or 42 hours (rounded).

Estimated Burden Costs to All Respondents: $3,360.00.
The only cost burdens respondents will incur are costs related to
travel to and from the research location. The costs are minimal and are
expected to be offset by the honorarium that will be provided to all
research participants. NHTSA estimates that each of the focus group
participants will travel less than 30 miles one-way to the focus group
location (60 miles round trip). Using the IRS standard mileage rate of
$0.56 per mile,\6\ each respondent is expected to incur no more than
$33.60 in transportation costs. Therefore, NHTSA estimates that the
total costs to all respondents will be $3,360.00.
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\6\ From Internal Revenue Services' 2021 Standard Mileage Rate
for business miles driven. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/standard-mileage-rates">https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/standard-mileage-rates</a>, last accessed May 7, 2021.
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Public Comments Received During the First 60-Day Notice Period:
On April 28, 2020, NHTSA published a notice in the Federal Register
soliciting public comments with a 60-day comment period. The comment
period closed on June 29, 2020. NHTSA received 4 public comments
submitted to the docket during this period including those from a
disabled veteran, DEVCO Design & Development, The Center for Automotive
Safety, and the National Transportation Safety Board. Comments from the
public were invited on any aspects of the information collection,
including (1) whether the proposed collection of information was
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the
Department, including whether the information would have practical
utility; (2) the accuracy of the Department's estimate of the burden of
the proposed information collection; (3) ways to enhance the quality,
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) 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.
NHTSA received comments on the following topics:
(1) Manufacturing vehicles with appropriate standards of safety to
relieve the burden for people with disabilities;
(2) Including a title and summary for the consumer research that is
not restricted to the number of stars and is inclusive of the test
results of conditions at speed;
(3) Concerns about the proposed collection of information lacking
specificity about crash avoidance and other technology to be included
in the evaluated labels and consideration for performance ratings for
vulnerable road user protection systems; and
(4) Defining NCAP testing regimen before designing new safety
labels.
The public comments and NHTSA's responses are summarized below:
(1) Disabled Veteran: ``It would help relieve the burden for people
with disabilities to have a vehicle that is appropriate for standards
of safety.''
Response: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's
mission is to save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce economic costs
due to road traffic crashes, through education, research, safety
standards, and enforcement. NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Program provides
comparative

[[Page 64992]]

information on the safety performance of new vehicles to assist
consumers with vehicle purchasing decisions and to encourage safety
improvements. This proposed collection of information specifically
seeks to evaluate design and consumer information improvements to the
Government 5-Star Safety Ratings section of the Monroney label. NHTSA's
website is accessible and 508-compliant so that vehicle safety
information is available and may benefit the purchasing decisions of
everyone, including those with disabilities.
(2) David DeVeau, DEVCO Design & Development: Consideration for a
title and summary for the consumer research that is not restricted to
the number of stars and is inclusive of the test results of conditions
at speed.
Response: The title of the proposed consumer research is based on
the New Car Assessment Program's (NCAP) current consumer program, the
Government 5-Star Safety Ratings. NHTSA began using the 5-Star Safety
Ratings system in 1993 to help consumers make informed safety choices
when buying new or used vehicles. The proposed research seeks to
evaluate a variety of label concepts to explore both graphical and
text-based communications as potential modifications to the Government
5-Star Safety Ratings section of the Monroney label with the intent of
finding the most effective way to display information related to
vehicle safety. The research will also explore whether consumers prefer
ratings using a 5-Star system (1-5 stars), a numerical value or
numerical scale. If research findings determine that consumers prefer
the presentation of ratings in an alternative way, NHTSA will explore
further research which may have implications for changes to the title
of the consumer program.
(3) NTSB: Concerns about the proposed collection of information
lacking specificity about crash avoidance and other technology to be
included in the evaluated labels and consideration for performance
ratings for vulnerable road user protection systems.
Response: As NHTSA has done in the past, there are two separate
tracks for NHTSA efforts to upgrade NCAP. One track is the development
of NHTSA's planned changes to NCAP--which is still ongoing, and the
Agency intends to seek public comment on its proposal later in 2021.
This track includes specific information about the crash avoidance and
other technologies that NHTSA is considering including in NCAP such as
performance thresholds, testing crash avoidance features, and
developing a rating system that would compare all of those features.
The other track is the rulemaking proceeding to update the safety
ratings section on the Monroney label, which is the visualization of
the safety performance information that would be available to
consumers. NHTSA conducts comprehensive consumer research to inform its
rulemakings to update the visualization of NCAP's rating information
that would be included on the Monroney label. This consumer research
does not focus on the details of the underlying rating system or any
substantive changes to NCAP. Instead, NHTSA plans to use this consumer
research to determine how to best convey vehicle safety rating
information, including crash avoidance technologies, to the public.
This 60-day notice initiates the multi-phase consumer research that
NHTSA intends to use to inform its future update to the Monroney label.
NHTSA is mindful in its development of a new rating system and
accompanying visualization of the rating system through the Monroney
label of the flexibility necessary to allow the agency to regularly
update NCAP while also minimizing the number of rulemaking actions
needed each time the agency incorporates a new technology or program in
NCAP.
(4) Center for Auto Safety: Defining NCAP testing regimen before
designing new safety labels.
Response: Similar to the explanation provided to NTSB's comment,
there are two separate tracks for upgrading NCAP and upgrading the
visualization of NCAP rating information on the Monroney label.
Defining the NCAP testing regimen will be part of the first track,
which will be detailed in upcoming requests for comments to upgrade
NCAP. The consumer research efforts focus more on the consumer
understanding of the safety information on the Monroney label and what
NHTSA disseminates to the public. Also, due to the limited area on the
Monroney label, the consumer research will help guide NHTSA on which
visualization would best convey complex safety information to the
public in a more consumer-friendly and flexible approach that is
intended to minimize the number of rulemaking actions to update the
Monroney label after future NCAP upgrades.
Public Comments Invited: The results of this research will be used
to inform labeling requirement proposals and communications for the New
Car Assessment Program, also known as the Government 5-Star Safety
Ratings Program. You are asked to comment on any aspects of this
information collection, including (1) 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; (2) the accuracy of the Department's estimate of the
burden of the proposed information collection; (3) ways to enhance the
quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and
(4) 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. 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.

Issued on: November 16, 2021.
Juliette Marie Vallese,
Associate Administrator, Office of Communications and Consumer
Information.
[FR Doc. 2021-25241 Filed 11-18-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P

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