NHTSA Studies In-Car Driver Monitoring Systems
Published Date: 6/10/2026
Notice
Summary
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) wants your thoughts on a new info collection about Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS) that watch how drivers behave. This affects car makers, safety experts, and anyone interested in safer roads. Comments are open until August 10, 2026, and this step helps NHTSA get approval to gather important data without causing extra hassle or costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Get $120 to Join Driving Study
You can get a $120 honorarium for completing a driving simulator study that is expected to take about two hours. NHTSA and contractor Westat plan to recruit 48 final participants (contacting about 204 people) in the Washington, D.C. metro area to complete the one-time study.
You May Pay Up To $42 Travel Cost
Participants are expected to travel less than 30 miles one-way (60 miles round trip) and may incur up to $42 in transportation costs using the IRS mileage rate of $0.70 per mile. NHTSA states these travel costs are minimal and are expected to be offset by the $120 honorarium; total estimated travel burden cost across respondents is $2,184.
Your Study Data Kept Three Years
If you complete the study, your study data will be retained for three years per OMB data storage requirements; any other data collected but not tied to completed participation will be destroyed after the project period of performance. NHTSA says recruitment records will be kept separate from study data to maintain confidentiality.
Who Can Join: Eligibility Rules
To participate you must be at least 18 years old, have a valid driver's license, drive at least 3,000 miles per year, have normal or corrected vision and hearing, abstain from alcohol and recreational substances for 24 hours before the session, not take sedative or psychotropic medication, not wear bifocals while driving, not require specialized driving equipment, have no medical conditions that limit getting in/out of a vehicle or sitting for long periods, and have no history of simulator sickness. Recruitment focuses on individuals in the Washington, D.C. metro area who receive Westat research emails or respond to social media ads.
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