New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)
No
Regular
09/03/2026
table that charts list comparision
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
540
0
178
0
0
0
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is proposing a new information collection consisting of a single, one-time experimental research study that involves voluntary participation from members of the public. Participants must have experience using either Android Auto or Apple CarPlay with in-vehicle infotainment systems. The collection consists of experimental data reporting and survey responses. Data collected will include eye tracking measurements, vehicle performance metrics, task completion times, error rates, participant demographics, and responses to questionnaires about interface usage and acceptance. The purpose of this research is to evaluate how safely drivers can interact with smartphone integration systems that allow access to smartphone applications through the vehicle's built-in display screen.
The research consists of two parts. Part I consists of an evaluation method called an "occlusion study" at Westat facilities in the Washington D.C. area. In this part, 24 participants per system (across up to 3 vehicles, for a total of up to 56 participants) will perform 6-9 standardized tasks while wearing special electronic goggles. These goggles automatically switch between clear and blocked views every 1.5 seconds, simulating how drivers normally shift their gaze between looking at the road and looking at the vehicle's displays. Before testing, participants will receive thorough training on each task. They will then perform each task five times while wearing the goggles per the testing procedures outlined in the NHTSA visual-manual distraction guidelines. Researchers will measure how long participants need to see the display to complete each task (called "Total Shutter Open Time" or TSOT), document any mistakes made during the tasks, record how participants recover from these mistakes, and gather feedback about whether the tasks are reasonable to perform while driving. Participants will be provided a $120 honorarium upon completion of Part I.
Part II consists of a closed-course track (CCT) evaluation conducted at Utah Motorsports Campus near Salt Lake City with 72 participants. Due to the cost of missing a study session, participants will be overbooked for each study session, meaning that two participants will be invited to the same study session but only one participant will complete the study. Both will be compensated the same rate ($120). The reason for using the overbooking strategy is because the cost of recruiting more participants is much less expensive than the cost of missing one session on the closed course track. This part will examine a subset of the tasks from Part I in actual driving conditions on a 0.84-mile stretch on a closed course tack (CCT). Participants will drive specially equipped vehicles while performing the interface tasks. Researchers will collect several types of data: where drivers look while driving (using eye tracking equipment), how well they control the vehicle (measuring lane position, speed, and steering movements), how quickly they respond to simple tasks while driving (using a standardized "Detection Response Task" where drivers press a button in response to a signal), how quickly they react to important events, how long it takes to complete tasks, and how many mistakes they make. Each participant will complete multiple drives to test different aspects of the interfaces.
For both parts, participants will complete questionnaires about their background, driving experience, and familiarity with these interfaces. The collected data will be analyzed to evaluate whether these interfaces meet NHTSA's guidelines for minimizing driver distraction and to assess their effects on driving safety. The findings will help inform future safety guidelines and policy decisions regarding in-vehicle portable device interfaces.
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.
Form 2065 Part II Email Templates