SUPPORTING STATEMENT
Drivers’ Awareness of and Response to Significant Weather Events and the Correlation of Weather to Road Impacts
OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0624
JUSTIFICATION
1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.
Over the past several decades, Utah has experienced rapid population growth, including nearly a 24% increase between 2000 and 2008 alone. This has resulted in increased demand on Utah’s existing interstate and arterial infrastructure. Recurring traffic congestion (i.e., AM/PM peak commute times) and non-recurring congestion (e.g., weather-related) result in an average annual cost of $250 million dollars in Utah alone (source: Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT). Recent studies (UDOT 2007 Congestion Report) have confirmed that inclement weather plays a significant role in non-recurring congestion and associated negative impacts with respect to delays, mobility, productivity, and safety.
In accordance with Executive Order 12862, the National Performance Review, and good management practices, NOAA offices seek to be able to continue to gather customer feedback on services and/or products, which can be used in planning for service and/or product modification and prioritization. Information will be gathered from adults who have recently driven during storms in South Davis, Salt Lake or Summit Counties, on how they access and respond to weather reports about driving conditions.
This request is for a reinstatement of a previously approved information collection, for a one-time administration of the survey.
2. Explain how, by whom, how frequently, and for what purpose the information will be used. If the information collected will be disseminated to the public or used to support information that will be disseminated to the public, then explain how the collection complies with all applicable Information Quality Guidelines.
Through the administration of a targeted survey, important details will be gathered regarding:
(a) the information that drivers possessed prior to and during a storm, including knowledge of observed and forecast weather conditions; (b) sources of weather and road information; (c) any
modification of travel and/or commute plans, based on event information; (d) anticipation and perception of storm impacts and severity; and (e) perception and behavioral response to messages conveyed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) National Weather Service (NWS) and UDOT, along with their satisfaction with information
provided. Analyses of the information gathered will focus on driver knowledge, perceptions, and decision-making.
The information gathered from this project will be used by NWS, UDOT, and NorthWest Weathernet (NWN) to plan for improved services during winter storm events.
Ultimately, the results of this survey will provide insight on how the Weather Enterprise may more effectively communicate hazard information to the public, in a manner which leads to improved response (i.e., change travel times, modes, etc.). With a sufficient level of behavior change, it should be possible to improve safety and reduce the costs associated with weather-related congestion and associated delays. Additionally, the project will shed light upon the interrelationship between meteorological phenomena, road conditions, and their combined impact on travel.
Specific planned uses of the information, and how the questions in the survey will map to them, are:
UDOT/NWN
More
effective messaging in UDOT Traffic program (Questions 9, 9a, 10g,
10g1, 10h, 10h1, 10i, 10i1, 11, 13, 14, 15, and 16)
Precise,
effective messaging on Variable Message Signs (Questions, 9, 9a,
11,13, 14, 15, and 16)
Potential new service delivery options
(Question 16)
Ideas for mitigating traffic congestion (Questions
1, 2, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, and 16)
Opportunities for
enhanced collaboration with NWS, specifically with respect to
anticipated road conditions (The data analysis, and actions based on
the survey results as a whole, will increase collaboration).
NWS
More effective messaging for impact-based
statements and precautionary and/or preparedness
actions
wording in watches, warnings, and advisories (Questions 9, 9a, 10e,
10e1, 10g, 10g1, 10j, 10j1, 11, 13, 14, 15, and 16
Potential
new service delivery options, such as social media (Questions 10g,
10g1, and 16)
Improved collaboration with UDOT/NWN and media
interests (The data analysis, and actions based on the survey results
as a whole, will increase collaboration).
NOAA
will retain control over the information and safeguard it from
improper access, modification, and destruction, consistent with NOAA
standards for confidentiality, privacy, and electronic information.
See response to Question 10 of this Supporting Statement for more
information on confidentiality and privacy. The information
collection is designed to yield data that meet all applicable
information quality guidelines. To ensure consistency with NOAA
Information Quality Guidelines, the information collected will be
coded and analyzed by PEGUS Research and representatives of the
University of Utah, ensuring rigorous quantitative and qualitative
research methods are met. Knowledge gained from this effort will be
used to complement performance verification metrics, currently used
by the NWS, including Probability of Detection (POD), False Alarm
Rate (FAR), and Lead Time (LT), in relation to weather events. Prior
to dissemination, the information will be subjected to quality
control measures and a pre-dissemination review pursuant to Section
515 of Public Law 106-554.
3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological techniques or other forms of information technology.
Random digit dialing (home phones and cell phones) by live interviewers, who control the dialing, will be utilized to conduct a survey in the days following winter storm events.
Due to the flow, and desired content, electronic submission of the information was not considered, so no form is involved. The information collected, in a generalized form, will be available over the Internet.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.
A review of various scientific journals and conference proceedings, and discussion with federal colleagues at a variety of conferences, does not indicate any duplication of effort. Also, we checked with Paul Pisano, Team Leader, Road Weather Management, in the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) about possible similar DOT surveys. Mr. Pisano stated in an e-mail message that “to the best of my knowledge there have been no surveys conducted of this nature. The only recent survey we conducted pertains to information to and from a vehicle, but this is much different that the work you're pursuing.”
5. If the collection of information involves small businesses or other small entities, describe the methods used to minimize burden.
This information collection applies only to individuals.
6. Describe the consequences to the Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently.
If the data collection is not conducted, a valuable opportunity to more effectively communicate hazardous weather information to NOAA’s customers and partners, and the general public, will be compromised. Essentially, an opportunity to protect lives and livelihoods will be lost.
We will select different kinds of storms (morning, evening, etc.) having different potential impacts on the commute. If the survey is conducted less frequently, the opportunity to protect life and property, as outlined above, may be jeopardized.
7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.
All information collection will be conducted in a manner that is consistent with OMB guidelines.
8. Provide information on the PRA Federal Register Notice that solicited public comments on the information collection prior to this submission. Summarize the public comments received in response to that notice and describe the actions taken by the agency in response to those comments. Describe the efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.
A Federal Register Notice published on July 3, 2012 (77 FR 39469) solicited public comment. No comments were received.
The survey questions were developed in a collaborative effort between the NWS, UDOT, NWN, and the University of Utah’s Department of Psychology. The survey was also reviewed by the University of Utah Institutional Review Board.
With respect to data collection logistics, input was received from PEGUS Research, the survey firm for this effort, in addition to that provided by the project core partners.
9. Explain any decisions to provide payments or gifts to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.
No payments or gifts will be given.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
The following statement, approved by the University of Utah’s Institutional Review Board, will be read to each potential survey respondent.
I would like to ask you 10 to 15 questions which will take less than 10 minutes. Your participation is voluntary, and you are free to skip any questions you choose not to answer. There are no immediate benefits to you for participating, but your answers will help us improve weather reporting in the state.
Your answers are completely confidential. We are not recording your name or telephone number; we use only code numbers in our data file. This interview might be audio-recorded for quality control and to check your answers to open-ended questions. The tapes will be destroyed once we are certain we have accurately typed up your responses.
You can call the researcher, Carol Werner at 801 581 8938 or you can contact the Institutional Review Board if you have questions regarding your rights as a research participant. Also, contact the Review Board if you have questions, complaints or concerns which you do not feel you can discuss with the interviewer. The University of Utah’s Institutional Review Board may be reached by phone at (801) 581-3655 or by e-mail at [email protected].
Are you willing to participate in this survey? We would appreciate your help.
11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private.
No questions of a sensitive nature will be asked.
12. Provide an estimate in hours of the burden of the collection of information.
The number of respondents will be 1,200. Each respondent will be asked to provide just one response during the survey period, so 1,200 responses are expected. The average response time is expected to be 6 minutes, based on tests by the survey planners and colleagues. Total estimated hours would be 120. The annualized labor cost for each respondent, based on an average hourly wage of $20 per hour, is $2, totaling $2,400.
13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to the respondents or record-keepers resulting from the collection (excluding the value of the burden hours in Question 12 above).
Respondents will incur no costs beyond the time spent on the survey.
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government.
This effort will require 200 NWS employee hours. The NWS will incur no additional costs, as resources allocated for this project are consistent with duties outlined in staff performance plans. The majority of the employee hours will be devoted to the collection and analysis of meteorological data sets, and the correlation of this data to road impacts and information gleaned from the survey.
A breakdown of the costs associated with the work provided by PEGUS Research is below.
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15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments.
This request is for a reinstatement of a previously approved information collection. Due to an unusually dry winter, this survey could not be conducted during the OMB approval period.
16. For collections whose results will be published, outline the plans for tabulation and publication.
Information will be collected during the winter of 2012–2013. Analysis of data collected will occur in 2013.
Following the analysis, results of this survey may be presented at workshops and conferences, and submitted to various scientific journals for publication. Presentations and publications may be posted on NOAA/National Weather Service Web pages.
17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons why display would be inappropriate.
Not applicable.
18. Explain each exception to the certification statement.
Not applicable.
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Title | SUPPORTING STATEMENT |
| Author | Richard Roberts |
| Last Modified By | Sarah Brabson |
| File Modified | 2012-09-26 |
| File Created | 2012-09-14 |