The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) is seeking approval to collect information
from licensed older drivers to determine (1) their eligibility to
participate in a study of the effectiveness of a visual scanning
training protocol to improve driving safety, (2) their driving
performance during on-road evaluations to measure training
effectiveness, and (3) their attitudes about the training
procedures. Older drivers are overrepresented in crashes at
intersections and when changing lanes compared to drivers of all
ages, and the purpose of this study is to determine the
effectiveness of visual training techniques for addressing these
behaviors and ultimately reducing older drivers’ crash risk. NHTSA
will collect information about age, license status and limitations
that could affect driving from an estimated 135 older licensed
drivers through a one-time, voluntary questionnaire to determine
their eligibility to participate in the study. NHTSA will then
invite 90 qualified older drivers to participate in the one-time
voluntary study. The 90 study participants will complete an
informed consent form, undertake a vision screening, participate in
four one-hour training sessions or equal time control (placebo)
activities, and undergo three one-hour on-road evaluations to
measure driving performance. Half of the study participants (45)
also will be asked to complete a one-time voluntary questionnaire
to collect attitudes and beliefs about the visual scanning training
protocol. This collection is solely reporting, and there are no
record-keeping costs to the respondents. NHTSA will use the
information to produce a technical report that presents the results
of the study. The technical report will provide aggregate (summary)
statistics and tables as well as the results of statistical
analysis of the information, but it will not include any personal
information. The technical report will be shared with State Highway
Safety Offices and other stakeholders interested in improving the
safety of older drivers.
US Code:
23
USC 403 Name of Law: Highway Safety Act
This study includes screening
questions and an experimental study that will result in a program
change of adding 690 hours to NHTSA's overall burden hours.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.