National Survey of the Use of Booster Seats

Forms and Documents

Document	Type	Status	Availability
Form NHTSA Form 1010 National Survey of the Use of Booster Seats	Form	Modified	Available
PartA_AttachmentC_Observation and Interview Questions_NHTSA_Form1010_NSUBS.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2025-07-16	Available
PartA_AttachmentA_TREAD Pub Law 106-414.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2025-07-16	Available
PartA_AttachmentB_ Antons Law Pub Law 107-318.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2025-07-16	Available
NSA-250616-001_-_Outgoing_-_20250603 - Supporting Statements Part A-clean.docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2025-07-23	Available
NSA-250616-001_-_Outgoing_-_Supporting Statements Part B_NSUBS-clean.docx	Supporting Statement B	Uploaded 2025-07-16	Available

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
26353	National Survey of the Use of Booster Seats	Form	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 2127-0644	ICR Reference No: 202507-2127-009
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202503-2127-005
Agency/Subagency: DOT/NHTSA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: National Survey of the Use of Booster Seats
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 07/29/2025

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	09/30/2025
Responses	4,600	5,300
Time Burden (Hours)	326	376
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: The National Survey of the Use of Booster Seats (NSUBS) is a voluntary collection of restraint use information for children under 13. NSUBS is a biennial collection. Data collectors observe restraint use for all passenger vehicle occupants included in the survey and for those vehicles that voluntarily participate, the data collectors conduct a brief interview with the vehicle driver or other knowledgeable adult to determine the age, height, weight, race, and ethnicity of the child occupants and age of the driver. Data collectors do not collect personal identifying information such as names, addresses, phone number of participating vehicle occupants. Data collectors use paper forms to collect information at fast food restaurants, gas stations, day care centers, and recreation centers where vehicles are mostly likely to have child occupants. The contractor supplies an electronic file of the data collected to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The contractor creates replicate weights, derives analytic variables, and adds auxiliary information on state laws. NHTSA uses the NSUBS data to estimate booster seat use among 4- to 7-year-old children. It also estimates restraint use for all children under 13, race and ethnicity breakouts of restraint use among all occupants in a vehicle, and estimates the extent to which children are “prematurely transitioned” from one restraint type to others that are inappropriate for their age as well as height and weight. The survey produces biennial estimates of: • Restraint use by Age Group • Restraint use by Weight Group • Restraint use by Height Group • Restraint use by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) categories for Race/Ethnicity NHTSA also asks the adult drivers their age to analyze the impact of driver age on driver seat belt use and child restraint use. NHTSA will tabulate the survey data, analyze the results, and publish the data in technical reports. NHTSA plans to release the results and the electronic file of the data collected to the public. NHTSA uses the NSUBS information to design outreach programs to help ensure that more of the nation’s children are using restraints that will protect them in motor vehicle crashes. The survey data will allow programs to better reach the caretakers whose children are unrestrained or not using the best restraint choice for their children’s sizes. The findings may also be of interest to State legislatures wanting to strengthen their child restraint laws by enacting mandatory or enhanced booster seat use provisions. The survey was previously approved as OMB Control No. 2127-0644 (current expiration date: 06/30/2022). The new collection will increase the number of respondents from 4,800 drivers to 5,300 drivers based on the average number of drivers interviewed over the last three surveys. This increases the burden hours by 36 hours (from 340 hours to 376 hours). NHTSA continues to estimate that there are no costs associated with the information collection.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 106 - 414 1-17 Name of Law: The TREAD Act
   PL: Pub.L. 107 - 318 1-7 Name of Law: Anton's Law
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 14515	04/02/2025
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 34575	07/22/2025
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
National Survey of the Use of Booster Seats	NHTSA Form 1010	NSUBS

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	4,600	5,300	0	-700	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	326	376	0	-50	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Short Statement: Since the last time NHTSA sought approval, the only adjustment to the information collection has been a decrease in the estimated number of respondents, from 5,300 to 4,600, leading to a reduction in burden hours. The original estimate of 376 hours has been reduced to 326 burden hours, reflecting a decrease of 50 hours. The previous estimate of 5,300 respondents was based on an earlier assessment. However, due to the nature of this survey, the number of respondents can vary from year to year. Over the last three surveys, the average number of drivers interviewed has been 4,600 respondents, necessitating this adjustment.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $739,963

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? Yes Part B of Supporting Statement

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 07/29/2025

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