NHTSA Seeks Feedback on Driver Monitoring System Study Forms
Published Date: 4/10/2026
Notice
Summary
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) wants to try out a new way to study how drivers use Level 2 driver support systems with Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS). This is a one-time, voluntary experiment, and they’re asking for public comments by May 11, 2026. If approved, this could help make driving safer without costing drivers extra money or time.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
On-road participants: Phoenix drive and tests
If you volunteer for the on-road portion in the greater Phoenix, AZ area, you will complete a 12-minute introduction, a 10-minute risky-driving questionnaire, a 3-minute grip-strength test, a 15-minute eye-tracker calibration, a 10-minute vehicle familiarization, one 55-minute planned drive, and short trust/acceptance/debrief questionnaires. The on-road portion is for licensed drivers aged 18–64 and will be conducted using GoPro cameras and an eye-tracking device.
Focus group participants: virtual sessions
If you join the virtual focus groups as a U.S. resident aged 18–64, NHTSA may screen up to 500 people to recruit up to 192 consented participants for 12 virtual focus-group sessions (each focus group activity is 85 minutes) plus consent and debriefing (10 minutes each). Focus-group participants will be asked about DMS features, HMI reactions, and behaviors while using SAE Level 2 systems.
Estimated study time and opportunity cost
NHTSA estimates a total study burden of 946 hours (318 hours annually) across all participants and estimates the total annual opportunity cost to participants at approximately $10,779.01 using an Arizona mean hourly wage of $31.61. The notice also lists an "Estimated Total Annual Burden Cost: $0."
Data handling and public report protections
NHTSA will produce a technical report with summary figures and aggregated analyses that will be shared across the Department of Transportation and made available to the public; the agency states that no identifying information or individual responses connected to identifiers will be reported. The study received institutional review board approval.
Recruitment: balanced novice and experienced drivers
For the on-road portion, NHTSA requires that 50% of participants have no prior driving experience with the tested L2 driver support features or test vehicle model, and 50% must have such experience or prior experience with the test vehicle model. NHTSA states this sampling strategy is intended to provide insights on both novice and experienced users.
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