Notice2025-10111
Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for Comment; Motorcycle Helmets (Labeling)
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 4, 2025
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Abstract
NHTSA invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an extension of a currently-approved information collection titled "Motorcycle Helmets (Labeling)" (OMB Control Number: 2127-0518). 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 collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval on Motorcycle Helmets Labeling.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 4, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 4, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23762-23765]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-10111]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-2025-0028]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for
Comment; Motorcycle Helmets (Labeling)
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice and request for comments on a request for extension of a
currently-approved information collection.
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SUMMARY: NHTSA invites public comments about our intention to request
approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an
extension of a currently-approved information collection titled
``Motorcycle Helmets
[[Page 23763]]
(Labeling)'' (OMB Control Number: 2127-0518). 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 collection of information for
which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval on Motorcycle Helmets
Labeling.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 4, 2025.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by the Docket No. NHTSA-
2025-0028 through any of the following methods:
<bullet> Electronic submissions: Go to the Federal eRulemaking
Portal at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. 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 <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="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 Mrs. Cristina Echemendia, U.S.
Department of Transportation, NHTSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West
Building Room W43-447, NRM-130, Washington, DC 20590. Mrs. Cristina
Echemendia's telephone number is 202-366-1810 and fax number is 202-
366-7002. 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 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: ``Motorcycle Helmets (Labeling)''.
OMB Control Number: 2127-0518.
Form Number(s): N/A.
Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Requested Expiration Date of Approval: Three years from the
approval date.
Summary of the Collection of Information: 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. Vehicle and
equipment manufacturers must certify that their vehicles or equipment
comply with these standards. 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 motor
vehicle equipment when the vehicle or equipment is purchased, in the
form of printed matter placed in the vehicle or attached to the vehicle
or motor vehicle equipment.
Using this authority, NHTSA issued the initial FMVSS No. 218,
``Motorcycle helmets,'' in 1974. Motorcycle helmets are devices used to
protect motorcyclists from head injury in motor vehicle accidents. The
standard requires the manufacturer to label every helmet it produces to
indicate compliance with the requirements of the Standard. The
certification label consists of the symbol ``DOT,'' the term ``FMVSS
No. 218,'' the word ``CERTIFIED,'' the precise model designation, and
the manufacturer's name and/or brand on the outer shell of the helmet
towards the posterior bottom edge. Manufacturers are also required to
label every helmet to provide helmet owners with important safety
information including manufacturer's name, discrete size, month and
year of manufacture, and specific instructions. FMVSS No. 218 S5.6
requires that each helmet shall be labeled permanently and legibly in a
manner such that the label(s) can be read easily without removing
padding or any other permanent part.
Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the
Information: The labeling requirement in the Standard supports the
Department of Transportation's strategic goal in safety, by ensuring
that motorcycle helmets are manufactured and certified to the
performance requirements of the Standard. NHTSA uses this information
for enforcement purposes to ensure that manufacturers certify
compliance with the Standard. State and local law enforcement use this
information to enforce helmet-use laws, and consumers use the
information to make decisions when purchasing motorcycle helmets.
Affected Public: Motorcycle helmet manufacturers.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 45.
Frequency: On occasion.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 10,900 hours.
NHTSA estimates the total burden hours of the collection of
information for Standard No. 218 is 10,900 hours (900 hours for label
design + 10,000 hours for affixing labels) annually. NHTSA estimates
that 3,600,000 motorcycle helmets are manufactured annually by 45
motorcycle helmet
[[Page 23764]]
manufacturers. The total associated labor costs for designing and
affixing the label is $430,384 ($42,984 + $387,400), see below for
calculation details.
Each helmet utilizes a generalized template for the required
information to include in the helmet labels. The basic format of each
manufacturer's label has not changed, and a onetime design of the label
template was created many years ago. Therefore, there is no new
annualized burden associated with template development. Specific helmet
labels can be readily created through insertion of the helmet's
specific information into the generalized template. The annual
administrative burden to either develop a new label or reconfirm an
existing label is estimated to be on the order of 2.0 hours per
manufacturer for each helmet model. For the purpose of this evaluation,
a point estimate of 450 helmet model labels per year \1\ is made in
order to estimate annualized costs. For the helmet label design, NHTSA
uses the mean wage of $33.62 per hour for ``Mechanical Drafters''
(occupational code 17-3013).\2\ BLS estimates that hourly wages
represent approximately 70.4% of total compensation for private
industry workers.\3\ NHTSA estimates the total hourly labor cost
associated with this employee to be $47.76 per hour ($33.62 per hour/
0.704). The annual burden for manufacturers to develop helmet labels is
900 hours (450 label designs * 2.0 hours per label) and $42,984 (450
label designs * 2.0 hours per label design * $47.76 per hour).
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\1\ NHTSA estimates 10 helmet models per Helmet Manufacturer for
the purpose of this evaluation.
\2\ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and
Wages, May 2023, occupant category 17-3013 Mechanical Drafters,
<a href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes173013.htm">https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes173013.htm</a>, accessed March 12,
2025.
\3\ Table 1. Employer Costs for Employee Compensation by
ownership, September 2024, <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.t01.htm">https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.t01.htm</a>.
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Number of Estimated
respondents Number of helmets Time to design Estimated total Total labor Labor cost (per Estimated total total annual
(helmet produced annually label per helmet annual burden hours cost per hour respondent) annual burden labor cost
manufacturers) (per respondent) model (hours) (per respondent) (rounded) (rounded) hours (rounded)
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45 80,000 2 20 $47.76 $955 900 $42,984
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NHTSA also estimates that 10 seconds are spent labeling each
helmet. Therefore, the estimated total annual burden hours for labeling
each helmet is 10,000 hours (= (3,600,000 helmets x 10 seconds) * (1
hour/3600 seconds)).
For the labor costs associated with the burden hours for affixing
labels to helmets, NHTSA uses the average wage of $27.27 per hour for
``Assemblers and Fabricators'' (occupational code 51-2000) published by
the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).\4\ BLS estimates that wages
represent approximately 70.4% of total compensation for private
industry workers. Therefore, NHTSA calculates the labor cost associated
with Assemblers and Fabricators to be $38.74 per hour ($27.27 / 0.704).
Multiplying that hourly rate by the estimated 10,000 labor hours needed
to affix labels yields an estimated total annual labor cost of $387,400
($38.74 x 10,000 hours). The total estimated burden hours and
associated labor costs for affixing the label are detailed in the table
below:
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\4\ November 2024 National Industry-Specific Occupational
Employment and Wage Estimates, NAICS 336100--Motor Vehicle
Manufacturing, <a href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_336100.htm#51-0000">https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_336100.htm#51-0000</a>.
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Number of helmets Estimated total
Number of produced annually Time to affix annual burden hours Total labor Labor cost (per Estimated total Estimated total
respondents (helmet per respondent label per helmet (per respondent) cost per hour respondent) annual burden annual labor
manufacturers) (rounded) (seconds) (rounded) (rounded) (rounded) hours cost (rounded)
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45 80,000 10 222 $38.74 $8,600 10,000 $387,400
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Estimated Total Annual Burden Cost: $1,512,000.
The total annual cost to the respondents is estimated to be
$1,512,000. NHTSA estimates that the printing and material cost per
helmet is $0.42. The total annual cost to respondents is calculated by
multiplying the printing and material cost ($0.42) by the estimated
3,600,000 responses (helmets produced) per year ($0.42 x 3,600,000).
The total estimated annual burden costs are detailed in the table
below:
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Number of
Number of helmets produced Printing and Annual printing Total number for Estimated total
respondents annually per material cost and material cost helmets produced annual printing
(helmet respondent per helmet per manufacturer annually and material costs
manufacturers) (rounded) (rounded)
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45 80,000 $0.42 $33.600 3,600.000 $1,512,000
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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.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter
35, as
[[Page 23765]]
amended; 49 CFR 1.49; and DOT Order 1351.29A.
David Hines,
Acting Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 2025-10111 Filed 6-3-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on June 4, 2025.
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