Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for Comment; Automated Driving Systems 2.0: A Vision for Safety

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: Automated Driving Systems 2.0: A Vision for Safety.

OMB Control Number: 2127-0723.

Form Number(s): None.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information collection.

Type of Review Requested: Regular.

Requested Expiration Date of Approval: 3 years from date of approval.

Summary of the Collection of Information:

In September 2017, NHTSA published a policy document titled, Automated Driving Systems 2.0: A Vision for Safety (ADS 2.0). Recognizing the potential that Automated Driving Systems (ADSs) have to enhance safety and mobility, this policy document set out an approach to enable the safe deployment of ADS-equipped vehicles. ADS 2.0 contains 12 priority safety design elements, each of which contains safety goals and approaches that could be used to achieve those safety goals. Entities engaged in ADS testing and deployment may demonstrate how they address—via industry best practices, their own best practices, or other appropriate methods—the safety elements by publishing a Voluntary Safety Self-Assessment (VSSA). The VSSA is the medium of collection of information for ADS 2.0. NHTSA provides the VSSA Index on the agency's website as a pointer system for entities' VSSAs.

Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the Information:

The VSSA is intended to demonstrate to the public (particularly States and consumers) that entities are: (1) considering the safety aspects of ADSs; (2) communicating and collaborating with DOT; (3) encouraging the self-establishment of industry safety norms for ADSs; and (4) building public trust, acceptance, and confidence through transparent testing and deployment of ADSs. It also allows companies an opportunity to showcase their approach to safety, without needing to reveal proprietary intellectual property.

Entities collecting information and disclosing that information via a Voluntary Safety Self-Assessment have been given the flexibility to disclose the information in a format deemed appropriate for that particular entity. Each entity has selected the layout, presentation, and verbiage structure that best fits its needs and goals.

Members of the public can retrieve the VSSA in order to understand the technology, learn about how the testing and safety elements are incorporated in the design and function of a system or vehicle, and become aware of the testing and deployments in locations around the country.

State stakeholders have expressed they would use the information in the VSSA to assess the safety of ADSs on their roadways. Those States looking to require application and permission to test and deploy ADSs review the VSSA prior to issuing the permit. The States also use information in the VSSA to communicate with law enforcement and first responders as well as to educate the public.

Other consumer-based stakeholders access the information in the VSSA to gather information to identify risk, inform decisions, and educate, among other uses.

Affected Public: Entities involved in the testing and deployment of ADS.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 4.

Frequency: Once.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,400 hours.

Estimating Respondents for this Information Collection: This extension of a currently approved collection includes changes in the annual respondents and thus a decrease in the annual burden hours to the public. The changes are based on observations of the current and past information collections.

NHTSA has combined multiple public lists of ADS entities to determine the potential universe of potential entities that may (past or future) develop a VSSA. Accessed on October 3, 2024, NHTSA combined entities that were listed on the current VSSA Index, the California Department of Motor Vehicle Autonomous Vehicles list of permit holders (testing with a driver, driverless testing, and deployment), and the entities that have submitted ADS incident reports through the Standing General Order. Staff then reviewed the list to determine which entities were no longer operational in the United States. This provided a universe as well as a grounding in the size of the industry, which entities have developed a VSSA in years past, and whether newer entrants are present in the universe such that they may develop a VSSA. The result of these steps was 59 ADS entities.

Of the 59 entities, 27 have developed and made public a VSSA since the collections began according to the VSSA Index. NHTSA is not aware that any of the 27 have updated the full VSSA during that time period. Two of those entities have released an appendix with separate information not included in ADS 2.0. NHTSA assumes these entities will not update their VSSA in the next three years. Table 1 provides a list of VSSA publication date since 2017. The average over the lifetime of ADS 2.0 is three VSSAs per year. Perhaps more reflective of the recent industry, the average over the current collection (three years) is 4 VSSAs per year.