Document

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Request for Comment; Pulsating Stop Lamps, Flashing Lights, and Distance Perception

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below will be submitted to the Offic...

Department of Transportation
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  1. [Docket No. NHTSA-2025-0589]

AGENCY:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments on a new information collection.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This document describes a new collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval titled “Pulsating Stop Lamps, Flashing Lights, and Distance Perception.” A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on this information collection was published on May 26, 2026. Three comments were received in response, providing support for the research and recommending consideration for motorcycles and international regulations related to “emergency stop signals.” While these topics are out of scope for this research, NHTSA plans to incorporate the recommended topics into the final report by including them in the literature review and background sections. Incorporation of these inputs into the study does not materially impact the burden on the participants, and therefore the participant burden estimate included in the 60-day notice remains unchanged.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before September 28, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection, including suggestions for reducing burden, should be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget at www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. To find this particular information collection, select “Currently under Review—Open for Public Comment” or use the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For additional information or access to background documents, contact Dr. ( printed page 55664) Kathryn Lucaites, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20590; email ; phone: 202-366-7409. Please identify the relevant collection of information by referring to its OMB Control Number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), a Federal agency must receive approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) before it collects certain information from the public and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information by a Federal agency unless the collection displays a valid OMB control number. In compliance with these requirements, this notice announces that the following information collection request will be submitted OMB.

Title: Pulsating Stop Lamps, Flashing Lights, and Distance Perception.

OMB Control Number: New.

Form Numbers: NHTSA Form 2150—Flashing Lights Screening; NHTSA Form 2151—Flashing Lights Participant Reminders; NHTSA Form 2152—Flashing Lights Informed Consent; NHTSA Form 2153—Vision & Hearing Tests; NHTSA Form 2154—Flashing Lights Surface Street Checklist; NHTSA Form 2155—Flashing Lights Highway Checklist; NHTSA Form 2156—VTTI Post-Drive Questionnaire, Flashing Lights Study; NHTSA Form 2157—UMN Survey Research Informed Consent; NHTSA Form 2158—UMN Survey Research One-time Pre-Questionnaires; NHTSA Form 2159—UMN Survey Research Data Collection and Driver Response; NHTSA Form 2160—UMN Survey Research One-time Post-Questionnaires; NHTSA Form 2161—UMN Simulation Screening Questionnaires; NHTSA Form 2162—Participant Scheduling; NHTSA Form 2163—UMN Simulation Informed Consent; NHTSA Form 2164—UMN Simulation Vision Evaluation; NHTSA Form 2165—Pre-Simulator Questionnaire; NHTSA Form 2166—Driving Simulation Checklist; NHTSA Form 2167—Post-Simulator Drive Questionnaire; NHTSA Form 2168—Demographics Questionnaire; NHTSA Form 2169—UMN Simulator Post-Simulator Study Questionnaire.

Type of Request: New information collection.

Type of Review Requested: Regular.

Length of Approval Requested: Three years from date of approval.

Summary of the Collection of Information: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is seeking approval to conduct 21 voluntary information collections as part of a multi-phase research study involving up to 270 licensed drivers of various ages to evaluate potential safety benefits and disbenefits of implementing pulsating stop lamps on a broader scale across a range of driving contexts and over time. The study involves three different parts that will be executed simultaneously:

Descriptions of the VTTI (Part 1—Test Track Study) and UMN (Part 2—Survey Research and Part 3—Simulator Study) efforts are detailed below.

Across three sessions, participants will be asked to complete a series of drives in an immersive driving simulator while following vehicles with varied stop lamp configurations and braking events. In addition to participant's brake response characteristics collected from the simulator, participants' demographics, attitudes and interpretations will also be measured with questionnaires.

The driving simulation study aims to quantify driver performance in response to pulsating stop lamps during normal and crash imminent scenarios. In addition, the multi-session experiment aims to address questions regarding the effects of repeated exposure to pulsating stop lamps over time. The entirety of participation in the study is estimated at 3.5 hours.

NHTSA will use the information gathered from both the VTTI and UMN efforts to produce a technical report that presents the results of the study. The report will provide important information needed by NHTSA to develop, implement, and maintain effective countermeasures that meet the agency's mandate to reduce the number of deaths, injuries, and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes on the U.S. highways.

Recruitment of study respondents will be from the area near the testing facilities in Blacksburg, VA, Minneapolis, MN, as well as a digital crowdsourcing component. The target for the study varies based on the part in question (a total of 30 participants for Part 1, a total of 200 participants for Part 2, a total of 40 participants for Part 3); however, the research team has provided sufficient additional recruitment such that the target sample is achieved given expected reductions in respondents due to ineligibility and attrition. The planned data collection activities discussed herein have been approved by an Institutional Review Board.

Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the Information: As part of NHTSA's mission to save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce traffic-related health care and other economic costs, the agency conducts research as a foundation for the development of motor vehicle standards and traffic safety programs The House Report accompanying the ( printed page 55665) Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2020 (H.R. 116-106) directed NHTSA to study the safety effectiveness of rear-end collision avoidance systems that mitigate and prevent rear-end crashes and specified that the study should include the effectiveness of pulsating light systems in motor vehicles.

Pulsating stop lamps are not currently permitted on new vehicles under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, which requires stop lamps to be steady burning (FMVSS No. 108 S7.3). However, there are aftermarket products which alter stop lamps so that they pulsate when the brake is applied. NHTSA has previously conducted research studying the potential of flashing rear-brake lighting to capture attention in crash-imminent scenarios. However, there may be unintended consequences associated with pulsating stop lamps when considering the broader driving context in which they operate.

The objective of this NHTSA project is to evaluate potential safety benefits and disbenefits of implementing pulsating stop lamps on a broader scale across a range of driving contexts and over time.

NHTSA will use the information collected to produce a technical report containing summary statistics and tables that will be made available publicly through the agency website and the National Transportation Library.

60-Day Notice: A Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting public comments on the following information collection was published on May 26, 2026 (91 FR 30783). NHTSA received a total of three public comments from the American Trucking Associations (ATA), the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC), and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation (the Alliance).

The ATA supported the proposed research, citing the importance of understanding the safety impacts of pulsating stop lamps and pulsating auxiliary lamps on commercial trucks.

The MIC indicated they support the overall goal of the research and requested that NHTSA include motorcycles as part of the study, noting that motorcycles have a narrower profile than other motor vehicles and may benefit from pulsating stop lamps. MIC further encouraged any research on motorcycles to explore the use of pulsating stop lamps combined with hazard lamps, and increased illumination levels above current legal limits. NHTSA agrees that the narrower profile of a motorcycle may affect the safety impacts of pulsating stop lamps. While the scope of the proposed research is limited to aftermarket flashing or pulsating brake light systems for passenger vehicles and commercial trucks, NHTSA will conduct a review of literature related to pulsating stop lamps on motorcycles, the combined use of stop lamps and hazard lamps, and the effect of pulsating lamp brightness, and will incorporate the findings of the literature review into the study's final report, noting the potential for future research.

The Alliance supported the proposed research, and encouraged NHTSA to consider relevant international approaches, including requirements for “emergency stop signals” under UNECE Regulation No. 48. NHTSA acknowledges that prior work sponsored by the agency and supported by industry has emphasized the use of flashing brake signals as a means of alerting drivers to emergency braking events (Wierwille et al., 2005; [1] Wierwille et al., 2009; [2] Llaneras et al., 2010).[3] Unlike “emergency stop signals” supported by UNECE that trigger under hard deceleration, the scope of the proposed research is focused on aftermarket systems in the U.S. that activate on any brake pedal press, regardless of deceleration rate or brake pedal force. To incorporate the point raised in this comment, discussion of international regulations and previous research on emergency brake signaling will be included in the background section of this project's final report, and the potential for future research will be noted.

After thoughtful consideration of the comments, NHTSA will incorporate discussion of the application of this research to motorcycles as well as considerations for alternative brake signal configurations ( e.g., emergency stop signals) in the final report. Incorporation of the above material into the study does not materially impact the burden on the participants, and therefore the participant burden estimate included in the 60-day notice remains unchanged.

Affected Public: Respondents to this collection will be members of the public recruited from Blacksburg, VA; Minneapolis, MN, and national sample. Effort will be made to recruit equal numbers of adult males and females, including participants aged 21 to 65. A representative sample is not necessary to satisfy the objectives of the study and therefore, a convenience sample of individuals meeting eligibility criteria will be sufficient.

Estimated Number of Respondents: The target for the study is for 270 participants total across all 3 parts of the study (a total of 30 participants for Part 1, a total of 200 participants for Part 2, a total of 40 participants for Part 3) to complete all sessions with valid data collected for each. However, eligibility and attrition must be accounted for throughout the individual information collections included in this request. As previously stated, there are 21 individual information collections in this request. The number of respondents annually for each collection is as follows: Recruitment Screener—33; Participant Reminders—10; Informed Consent—10; W-9 Form—10; Vision-Hearing Form—10; Surface Street Controlled Driving on Smart Roads—10; Highway Controlled Driving on Smart Roads—10; Post-Drive Questionnaire—10; Survey Research—67; One-time Pre-Questionnaire—67; Survey Research Data Collection and Driver Response—67; One-time Post-Questionnaire—67; Simulator Study Screening Questionnaire—40; Participant Scheduling—13; Informed Consent—13; Vision Evaluation—13; Pre-Simulator Questionnaire—13; Driving Simulation Checklist—13; Post-Simulator Drive Questionnaire—13; Demographics Questionnaire—13; and Post-Simulator Study Questionnaire—13.

Frequency: This is a one-time information collection.

Estimated Number of Responses: 12,470.

Estimated Annual Burden Hours: The total estimated burden for this one-time information collection is 386 hours total, or 127 annual burden hours (based on a 3-year period of performance). Further details are provided below. This ICR includes 21 information collections (8 information collections at VTTI and 13 at UMN), which are described below. Total burden estimates for each information collection are provided in Table 1 and annual burden estimates for each information collection are provided in Table 2. ( printed page 55666)

Part 1—Test Track Study

1. Recruitment Screener (Form 2150)

An estimated 100 total respondents (33 respondents annually) will answer a Recruitment Screener (form 2150) over the phone to determine if they qualify for the study. Participants will be screened over the phone to determine eligibility, with recruitment personnel recording responses on a paper form using an anonymized ID. Respondents who meet the inclusion criteria will be individually scheduled for an appointment over the phone to go to the contractor facilities in Blacksburg, VA. Respondents are expected to take an estimated average of 20 minutes to complete the questionnaire and will complete this questionnaire once, resulting in a total of 33 burden hours (11 annual burden hours) for the screening of potential participants. Recruitment of study respondents is from Southwest Virginia, specifically the New River Valley and surrounding areas (Roanoke, Salem, etc.).

2. Participant Reminders (Form 2151)

Participants will both be contacted by phone in order to remind them of their appointment (Form 2151), as well as contacted through email (Form 2151). These activities (the phone contact and the participant reviewing the email content) are expected to take a total of two minutes. For a maximum of 30 participants (10 respondents annually), this results in a total of 1 burden hour (<1 annual burden hour).

3. Informed Consent (Form 2152)

Based on an estimate that 30 percent of those who begin the screening process will be eligible and interested in participating, we anticipate an estimated 30 total participants (10 respondents annually) initiate the consenting process. The visit to the VTTI facility will begin with a consenting process that includes an overview of the study, an explanation of the informed consent form, (Form 2152) and an opportunity for the potential participants to ask questions and get clarification. Those individuals who consent to the study and enroll will complete the Informed Consent form and move on to the next process. This consent process and completion of the Informed Consent form, using the maximum of 30 respondents (10 annually), are expected to take six minutes and will be completed resulting in a total of three burden hours (1 annual burden hour). This is a paper form, which participants are required to sign two copies of, keeping one for their records.

4. W-9 Form

After completing the informed consent process, 30 participants will also be required to fill out a W-9 Form, in order to receive compensation for their participation. This form is expected to take two minutes and will be completed once, resulting in a total of 1 burden hour (<1 annual burden hour). This is a paper form.

5. Vision-Hearing Form (Form 2153)

Following the consenting process, the experimenter will administer a brief vision and hearing evaluation (Form 2153) for a maximum of 30 respondents (10 respondents annually). The purpose of this evaluation is to ensure that participants meet the basic vision requirements of driver's licensure in Virginia (20/40), and to confirm that they can hear instructions provided by the experimenter when looking away. The hearing evaluation consists of repeating approximately five statements back to the experimenter. Results will be completed once and will be recorded on paper. This evaluation is expected to take two minutes, resulting in a total of 1 total burden hour (<1 annual burden hour).

6. Surface Street: Controlled Driving on Smart Roads (Form 2154)

To assess reactions to multiple brake light configurations and scenarios, study participants will experience a series of controlled driving tests with research vehicle on the Smart Roads Surface Street test track. VTTI anticipates that staged trial scenarios on the Surface Street test track will include 3-lanes of forward traffic (a lead, and two adjacent vehicles on either side of the lead). Participants will be presented with a set of staged car-following trials in which they must respond to lead vehicle braking events. To ensure safety, VTTI will use a dual-control study vehicle that has been specifically modified by moving the primary driving controls to the rear seat (experimenter station) while still maintaining functional driving capabilities from the factory driver's seat. The modifications allow the experimenter in the rear seat to take control of the vehicle at any time, but still provides the ability to measure driver control inputs in response to staged braking events. Participant drivers will be required to brake as needed and appropriate when they first detect lead vehicle deceleration. Visual occlusion will be used to control the onset of the exposure interval and mimic a distracted driver, with the drivers' “gaze” opening just prior to the start of the trial. Note that the participant's braking response, deceleration profile, and gaze pattern will serve as key outcome measures during these trials. Not including the questionnaire elements referenced below, this driving session is expected to take 130 minutes, including vehicle familiarization, drive-time, and breaks. For a maximum of 30 participants (10 respondents annually), this results in a total of 65 burden hours (22 annual burden hours).

7. Highway: Controlled Driving on Smart Roads (Form 2155)

The highway portion of the data collection investigates the impact of pulsating/flashing lights on driver brake response characteristics and habituation resulting from repeated exposures. This part of the study will use the Smart Roads Highway section allowing continuous driving interactions and evolving events over a 35-minute period. As with the Surface Street portion, VTTI will use a dual-control study vehicle that has been specifically modified by moving the primary driving controls to the rear seat (experimenter station) while still maintaining functional driving capabilities from the factory driver's seat. Unlike the Surface Street portion, participants will be actively driving the vehicle with the rear-seat experimenter serving as a safety driver intervening to take control of the vehicle if needed. Specific aspects of focus during this portion include car following, headway maintenance, and braking scenarios under distracted and attentive driving, extended car following situations (over a period of minutes, habituation to flashing/pulsating signals over a single episode where pulsing/flashing signals are de-coupled from meaningful deceleration events (episodic habituation). This driving session is expected to take 35 minutes, including vehicle familiarization, drive-time, and breaks. For a maximum of 30 participants (10 respondents annually), this results in a total of 18 burden hours (six annual burden hours).

8. Post-Drive Questionnaire (Form 2156)

Following the Highway portion of the VTTI test track scenarios, respondents will be asked to complete a single Questionnaire (on paper) (Form 2156) related to their reactions to the brake light presentation. Completion of this form will take five minutes per person and is to be completed 1 time per respondent for a maximum of 30 respondents (10 respondents annually), resulting in a total of three burden hours (one annual burden hour). ( printed page 55667)

Part 2—Survey Research

1. Informed Consent (Form 2157)

An estimated 200 participants (67 respondents annually) will be recruited via prolific.com and initiate the consenting process. Using the maximum 200 respondents (six annually), the consent process, including reading the information sheet and agreeing to participate, is expected to take five minutes and will be completed 1 time per respondent, resulting in a total of 17 burden hours (six annual burden hours). This is a digital form, which participants digitally indicate their agreement and consent and are then free to download a copy for their records.

2. One-Time Pre-Questionnaires (Form 2158)

After the informed consent process, respondents will complete a series of online forms filled on Prolific, comprising a demographics questionnaire and a request to participants to provide their Prolific ID's to allow the research team to validate responses and provide payment via Prolific payment system. Respondents are expected to take an estimated average of one minute to complete the one-time questionnaires and will complete this questionnaire once. This data collection, using the maximum of 200 respondents (67 annually), results in a total of three burden hours (one annual burden hour) for participants.

3. Survey Research Data Collection and Driver Response (Form 2159)

Participants using an online crowdsourcing platform ( prolific.com) will then observe a series of animated images in an imagined vehicle-following scenario and respond with their interpretations of the behavior of the vehicle in the animated image, as well as their likely responses in the vehicle-following scenario. 54 experimental trials will be presented in random order. Each video will play for six seconds. Along with each video, participants will be asked to answer questions related to potential signal interpretations, potential driving responses, and subjective ratings. Using the maximum of 200 respondents (67 annually), each trial (viewing the video and responding to the associated survey questions) is anticipated to take no more than 0.5 minutes and will be completed 54 times per respondent, resulting in a total of 90 burden hours (30 annual burden hours).

4. One-time Post-Questionnaires (Form 2160)

A post-study questionnaire is included at the end of the study, which is a set of three questions asking about their experience with pulsating or flashing brake lights, requiring a response on multiple choice entries. Respondents are expected to take an estimated average of one minute to complete the one-time questionnaires and will complete this questionnaire once. This data collection, using the maximum of 200 respondents (67 annually), results in a total of three burden hours (one annual burden hours) for participants.

Part 3—Simulator Study

1. Screening Questionnaire (Form 2161)

An estimated 120 participants (40 respondents annually) will complete a screening questionnaire to determine study eligibility. Respondents are expected to take an estimated average of three minutes to complete the questionnaire and will complete this questionnaire 1 time per respondent, resulting in a total of six burden hours (two annual burden hours).

2. Participant Scheduling (Form 2162)

Participants who pass the screening are potential candidates for scheduling. Participants must be at least 18 years of age, have a driver's license for at least one year, have adequate visual acuity and normal color vision and hearing, and not have conditions that leave them susceptible to simulation sickness ( e.g., issues with dizziness, motion sickness, sea sickness, migraines, etc.). There will also be natural attrition from participants who lose interest after they've filled out the screening form. This will restrict the number of participants who are eligible for scheduling, from 120 who complete the screening survey to those who are scheduled and take the consent form in the next line item. For scheduling participants for the first simulator driving session, along with the informed consent and vision evaluation, the research team will reach out to the participant with their preferred method ( e.g., email or phone), and coordinate the best available time for both the research team and the participant. Participant Scheduling for First Session, using the maximum of 40 respondents (13 annually), is expected to take two minutes and will be completed three times per respondent resulting in a total of four burden hours (one annual burden hour).

3. Informed Consent (Form 2163)

While NHTSA estimates that 120 respondents will begin the screening process, NHTSA estimates that only 40 (13 respondents annually) will complete informed consent, anticipating that either some respondents may choose not to proceed with the study or that the experimenter may determine that they should not participate (uncooperative, impaired, etc.). The visit to the UMN facility will begin with a consenting process that includes an overview of the study, an explanation of the consent form, and an opportunity for the potential participants to ask questions and get clarification. Those individuals who consent to the study and enroll will complete the Informed Consent form (Form 2163) and move on to the next process. This consent process and completion of the Informed Consent form, using the maximum of 40 respondents (13 annually), are expected to take five minutes and will be completed one time per respondent, resulting in a total of three burden hours (one annual burden hour). This is a digital form, which participants are required to sign digitally and are able to download a copy if desired.

4. Vision Evaluation (Form 2164)

In order to ensure that the participants in the study have comparable visual capabilities, they will be evaluated on their visual acuity and color vision, due to the UMN simulator study having significant visual requirements. The evaluation will comprise a combination of the typical Snellen test for visual acuity, as well as Ishihara's Concise Color Vision Test. The former requires participants to read rows of letters in progressively smaller font sizes, and the latter requires participants to identify numbers and lines in colored plates. This vision evaluation, using the maximum of 40 respondents (13 annually), is expected to take 10 minutes and will be completed one time per respondent, resulting in a total of seven burden hours (two annual burden hours).

5. Pre-Simulator Questionnaire (Form 2165)

Before the simulation drive, participants are administered the pre-drive Short Stress State Questionnaire (SSSQ), which assesses the change in task stress experienced by the participant during the simulator drive. This Pre-Simulator Questionnaire, using the maximum of 40 respondents (13 annually), is expected to take two minutes and will be completed three times per respondent, resulting in a total of four burden hours (one annual burden hour). ( printed page 55668)

6. Driving Simulation Checklist (Form 2166)

The simulated world will consist of a roughly 10-mile stretch of a four-lane or six-lane divided highway at dusk or nighttime conditions, i.e., to maximize the visibility of brake lamp indications in the projection system-based simulation environment. Participants will be presented with a brief urban driving scenario featuring a series of city blocks and signalized intersections. Participants will be given an indication of which lane they should travel in and, depending on beta and pilot testing results, may be prompted to reach a set speed and set their cruise control to maintain this speed. Distractor and target vehicles will be presented in the roadway and will be programmed to travel at an independent speed or a speed which maintains a constant distance from the participant's vehicle. Participants are expected to perform four 10-mile drives during each test session. The Simulator Driving Session 1, using the maximum of 40 respondents (13 annually), is expected to take 50 minutes and will be completed three times per respondent, resulting in a total of 100 burden hours (33 annual burden hours).

7. Post-Simulator Drive Questionnaire (Form 2167)

After completing the four drives, participants will complete the Post-Simulator Drive Questionnaire (Form 2167. This includes a set of questions assessing respondents' understanding of the meaning of the flashing brake lamps, along with the sense of urgency, usefulness, ease of interpretation, and annoyingness, distractingness, and discomfort of the brake lamps in the driving scenario. Other questions include Rating Scale Mental Effort (RSME) and the post-drive version of the Short Stress State Questionnaire (SSSQ). The RSME assesses how mentally demanding the drive was for the participant, and the SSSQ assesses the change in task stress experienced by the participant during the simulator drive by measuring the participant's self-reported stress before (Pre-Questionnaire) and immediately after (Post-Questionnaire) the drive. The Post-Stimulator questionnaire also has a set of questions examining symptoms of simulation sickness (Wellness Questionnaire), to ensure the health and well-being of participants after the drive. This set of questionnaires, using the maximum of 40 respondents (13 annually), is expected to take 10 minutes and will be completed three times per respondent, resulting in a total of 20 burden hours (seven annual burden hours).

8. Demographics Questionnaire (Form 2168)

After the first set of drives, a set of questionnaires is administered, which includes demographic questions asking about age, sex, education level, racial background, region of habitation (urban, suburban, rural), and area the participant drives. This set of questionnaires, using the maximum of 40 respondents (13 annually), is expected to take one minute and will be completed one time per respondent, resulting in a total of one burden hour (0.43 annual burden hours).

9. Post-Simulator Study Questionnaire (Form 2169)

After completing all three simulation sessions, participants will complete the post-simulator study questionnaire. These include questions about participant experience with pulsating brake lights and whether they've encountered, driven, or owned a vehicle with pulsating brake lights. This will also include a brief debriefing period where the participant will verbally communicate their experiences with the simulated drives. The Post-Simulator Study Questionnaire, using the maximum of 40 respondents (13 annually), is expected to take five minutes and will be completed once per respondent, resulting in a total of three burden hours (one annual burden hour).

For ease in understanding the calculations for burden and opportunity cost, Tables 1, 2, and 3 summarize the estimated annual burden hours for each of the study-related activities and forms, based on a 3-year period. Note: For Tables 1-3, Annual Number of Respondents is rounded to the nearest 1, Cost per Response is rounded to the nearest $.01, Annual Burden Hours are rounded to the nearest hour, Annual Opportunity Cost is rounded to the nearest $1, and Loaded Annual Opportunity Cost is rounded to the nearest $1. There may be some discrepancies in the tables due to rounding. The annual information will be entered into ROCIS.

Table 1—Annual Burden Estimates by Information Collection

[Part 1—Test track study]

Information collection Annual number of respondents Frequency of response Time per response (minutes) Cost per response Annual burden hours Annual opportunity cost (AHE = $36.16) Loaded annual opportunity cost
Screening questionnaire (Form 2150) 33 1 20 $12.05 11 $398 $517
Participant Reminders (Form 2151) 10 1 2 1.21 0 12 16
Informed Consent (Form 2152) 10 1 6 3.62 1 36 47
IRS Form W-9 10 1 2 1.21 1 12 16
Vision/Hearing evaluation (Form 2153) 10 1 2 1.21 0 12 16
Surface Street: Controlled driving on the Smart Roads (orientation, drive-time) (Form 2154) 10 1 130 78.35 22 783 1,019
Highway: Prescribed driving on public roads (orientation, drive-time) (Form 2155) 10 1 35 21.09 6 211 274
Post-Drive Questionnaire (Form 2156) 10 1 5 3.01 1 30 39
Total 41 1,494 1,944

Table 2—Annual Burden Estimates by Information Collection

[Part 2—Survey research]

Information collection Annual number of respondents Frequency of response Time per response (minutes) Cost per response Annual burden hours Annual opportunity cost (AHE = $37.01) Loaded annual opportunity cost
Informed Consent (Form 2157) 67 1 5 $3.08 6 $207 $269
One-time Pre-Questionnaires (Form 2158) 67 1 1 0.62 1 41 54
( printed page 55669)
Survey Research Data Collection and Driver Response (Form 2159) 67 54 0.5 0.31 30 1,116 1,451
One-time Post-Questionnaires (Form 2160) 67 1 1 0.62 1 41 54
Total 38 1,405 1,828

Table 3—Annual Burden Estimates by Information Collection

[Part 3—Simulator study]

Information collection Annual number of respondents Frequency of response Time per response (minutes) Cost per response Annual burden hours Annual opportunity cost (AHE = $40.09) Loaded annual opportunity cost
Screening questionnaire (Form 2161) 40 1 3 $2.00 2 $80 $104
Participant Scheduling (Form 2162) 13 3 2 1.34 1 52 68
Informed Consent (Form 2163) 13 1 5 3.34 1 43 56
Vision evaluation (Form 2164) 13 1 10 6.68 2 87 113
Pre-Simulator Questionnaire (Form 2165) 13 3 2 1.34 1 52 68
Driving Simulation Checklist (Form 2166) 13 3 50 33.41 33 1,303 1,694
Post-Simulator Drive Questionnaire (Form 2167) 13 3 10 6.68 7 261 339
Demographic Questionnaire (Form 2168) 13 1 1 0.67 0 9 11
Post-Simulator Study Questionnaire (Form 2169) 13 1 5 3.34 1 43 56
Total 48 1,930 2,509

Estimated Total Annual Burden Cost: $0.

The only cost burdens respondents will incur are costs related to travel to and from the research location. The costs are minimal and are expected to be offset by the honorarium that will be provided to the research participants.

Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspects of this information collection, including (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) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 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.

Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended; 49 CFR 1.49; and DOT Order 1351.29A.

Cem Hatipoglu,

Associate Administrator, Office of Vehicle Safety Research.

Footnotes

1.  Wierwille, W. W., Lee, S. E., and DeHart, M. C. (2005). Enhanced Rear Lighting and Signal Systems: Project Final Report Emphasizing Task 3 Results: Test Road Experiment on Imminent Warning Rear Lighting and Signaling. DOT HS 809 864. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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2.  Wierwille, W. W., Llaneras, R. E., & Neurauter, M. (2009). Evaluation of Enhanced Brake lights Using Surrogate Safety Metrics Task 1 Report: Further Characterization and Development of Rear Brake Light Signals. DOT HS 811 127. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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3.  Llaneras, R. E., Neurauter, M., & Perez, M. (2010). Evaluation of Enhanced Brake Lights Using Surrogate Safety Metrics Task 2 & 3 Report: Development of a Rear Signaling Model and Work Plan for Large Scale Field Evaluation. DOT HS 811 329. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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[FR Doc. 2026-17612 Filed 8-27-26; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-59-P

Legal Citation

Federal Register Citation

Use this for formal legal and research references to the published document.

91 FR 55663

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Suggested Web Citation

Use this when citing the archival web version of the document.

“Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Request for Comment; Pulsating Stop Lamps, Flashing Lights, and Distance Perception,” thefederalregister.org (August 28, 2026), https://thefederalregister.org/documents/2026-17612/agency-information-collection-activities-submission-to-the-office-of-management-and-budget-for-review-and-approval-reque.