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.
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.
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 NHTSA Form 1010 National Survey of the Use of Booster Seats
PartA_AttachmentC_Observation and Interview Questions_NHTSA_Form1010_NSUBS.pdf
NSA-250616-001_-_Outgoing_-_20250603 - Supporting Statements Part A-clean.docx
National Survey of the Use of Booster Seats