Notice2025-00406
Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for Comment; Assessing the Fit and Comfort of Motorcycle Safety Gear
Primary source
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Published
January 13, 2025
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 information collection. 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 reinstatement of previously approved collections. This document describes a new collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval to gather information on the personal protective equipment (PPE) motorcyclists wear including helmets and riding jackets, pants, boots, and gloves, how well the PPE fits, and how comfortable riders find it to be.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 7 (Monday, January 13, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 7 (Monday, January 13, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2779-2781]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-00406]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-2024-0051]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for
Comment; Assessing the Fit and Comfort of Motorcycle Safety Gear
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice and request for public comment on a request for 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 information
collection. 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 reinstatement of
previously approved collections. This document describes a new
collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval
to gather information on the personal protective equipment (PPE)
motorcyclists wear including helmets and riding jackets, pants, boots,
and gloves, how well the PPE fits, and how comfortable riders find it
to be.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 14, 2025.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket No. NHTSA-2024-
0051 using any of the following methods:
<bullet> Electronic submissions: Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
<bullet> Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket Management Facility, U.S.
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202)
366-9322 before coming.
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 https://
[[Page 2780]]
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 <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="https://www.regulations.gov">https://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 background documents, contact Dr. Kathryn Wochinger, Contracting
Officer's Representative, Office of Behavioral Safety Research (NPD-
310), (202) 366-4300, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA) (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 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, for example, 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: Assessing the Fit and Comfort of Motorcycle Safety Gear.
OMB Control Number: New.
Form Numbers: NHTSA Form 2000, NHTSA Form 2001, NHTSA Form 2002,
NHTSA Form 2003, NHTSA Form 2004, and NHTSA Form 2005.
Type of Request: New information collection.
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 new, one-time information collection from a targeted sample of
625 motorcycle riders (from 1,250 screened for potential participation)
about their use and preference for motorcycle protective gear. The
study will involve recruiting motorcyclists attending motorcycle events
to gather information on the protective gear they are wearing
(including footwear, gloves, helmets, jackets, pants) about the
perceived and assessed fit and comfort. The study will allow NHTSA to
assess the relationship between perceived and objectively measured fit,
rider beliefs about the protective value of gear, and factors
influencing the selection and use of protective gear.
Participants will be recruited at locations where riders gather
such as rallies, training events, or other organized events. The study
plan is to recruit an equal number of riders of standard, cruiser,
sport, adventure/touring motorcycles, and seated motor scooters.
Depending on the venue, the study team will either invite riders to
participate at a study tent or conduct the survey near the rider's
motorcycle. Study staff will observe gear worn by riders, assess the
fit of the gear, and ask riders for their opinions about the fit and
comfort of the gear. Data collection will involve the use of a portable
tablet for the consent process, and for recording participant responses
and staff observations. Participants will self-administer some portions
of the survey, while data collectors will verbally ask the participants
about their gear during the gear assessments. Anthropometric
measurements (e.g., head circumference) will be taken using ribbon tape
or an anthropometer as appropriate depending on the gear type being
assessed.
The study plan is to assess one type of gear (e.g., jackets) per
respondent. Additionally, to obtain information on respondents'
perspectives of different types of gear, study staff will use a table
to present images of the gear type being assessed (one type per
respondent). The images will be of gear ranging in quality; they will
include product descriptions but no brand names. Participants will be
asked to rate the protection afforded by the gear, its quality, and the
likelihood of wearing or purchasing it.
All data collection activities will be voluntary and anonymous.
This collection only requires respondents to report their answers;
there are no record-keeping costs to the respondents. NHTSA will use
the information to produce a technical report that presents summary
statistics and tables; a de-identified data set will also be made
available to the public. No identifying information will be reported.
The study will advance our understanding of how the fit and comfort of
gear influences the choice to use or not use gear. This information
will inform the development of NHTSA outreach and education motorcycle
safety programs. The technical report will be distributed to
stakeholders in highway safety and the public.
Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the
Information: NHTSA was established to reduce 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 for the development of traffic safety programs. Title
23, United States Code, chapter 4, section 403 gives the Secretary of
Transportation (NHTSA by delegation) authorization to use funds
appropriated to conduct research and development activities. The agency
develops, promotes, and implements educational, engineering, and
enforcement programs with the goal of ending preventable tragedies and
reducing economic costs associated with vehicle use and highway travel.
Having current data is essential to develop appropriate approaches to
improve traffic safety. This is especially true for information on
vulnerable road users, such as motorcyclists, where data is much more
limited.
In 2022, there were 6,218 motorcyclists killed in traffic crashes,
comprising 15 percent of all traffic fatalities that year and
representing a fatality rate per vehicle miles traveled of 26.16,
nearly 22 times that of passenger car occupants (1.20).\1\ These
findings
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demonstrate the inherent risk of motorcycle riding and highlight the
importance of wearing personal protective gear, especially a helmet,
but including footwear, gloves, jacket, and pants. Nonetheless, not all
motorcyclists use gear on every ride.
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\1\ National Center for Statistics and Analysis. (2024, July).
Motorcycles: 2022 data (Traffic Safety Facts. Report No. DOT HS 813
589). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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The proposed study addresses the need to understand the
relationship between the fit and comfort of personal protective gear
and the decision to use gear. The results will assist NHTSA develop its
programmatic activities in motorcycle safety by providing information
on the types of gear being used, the comfort and fit of gear in use,
and deterrents to using protective gear.
Frequency of Collection: This study is intended to be a one-time
data collection. Because data collection may occur at multiple events,
there is a remote chance an individual could participate more than
once. This is not expected, however, as potential participants will not
know data collection locations or times.
Affected Public: This study will recruit volunteers who are riders
of selected types of motorcycles (standard, cruiser, sport, adventure/
touring, scooter) at the data collection locations. Motorcyclists
passing by the data collection locations will be recruited to
voluntarily participate in an assessment of the fit of their current
protective gear (if worn). They will be asked to review images of
selected gear and provide their opinions on the gears' protective
capabilities, usability, and perceived quality.
Estimated Number of Respondents: The study expects to contact
approximately 1,250 motorcyclists at the data collection locations to
obtain responses from 625 motorcyclists (125 per type of motorcycle).
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The total amount of burden is
estimated to be 340.42 hours. This includes the estimated 312.5 hours
for the 625 participates who fully participate, with an average
completion time of 30 minutes, and the 18.75 hours for the estimated 75
people who will partially participate, spending 15 minutes on average,
and 9.17 hours for the estimated 550 people who received screening
items but decline to participate, spending on average of 1 minute.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Cost: The total annual burden cost is
estimated to be $15,520 with an annual burden cost of $5,034 (total/3)
(see Table 1). Participation in this study is voluntary and there are
no costs to respondents beyond the time spent hearing about the study
and participating in data collection if they decide to participate.
Participants will incur no burden related to annual reporting or record
keeping due to the collection of this new information.
Table 1--Summary of Total Burden Hours and Estimated Costs by Type of Participation
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Total
Type of participation Number of Minutes per Estimated wage estimated Estimated cost
respondents respondent per hour * burden hours
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Rider Fully Participates........ 625 30 $45.97 312.5 $14,365.00
Rider Does Not Fully Participate 75 15 45.97 18.75 861.90
Rider Screened but Does Not 550 1 45.59 9.17 418.06
Participate....................
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Grand Total................. 1,250 .............. .............. 340.42 15,519.75
(340) (15,520)
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* September 2024 total private average hourly earnings (fully loaded at 30%) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics at <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t19.htm">https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t19.htm</a>.
Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspects of
this information collection, including (i) 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; (ii) the accuracy of the Department's estimate
of the burden of the proposed information collection; (iii) ways to
enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be
collected; and (iv) 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.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. chapter
35, as amended; 49 CFR 1.49; and DOT Order 1351.29A.
Nanda Narayanan Srinivasan,
Associate Administrator, Research and Program Development.
[FR Doc. 2025-00406 Filed 1-10-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 13, 2025.
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