Feds Study How Your Phone Distracts You While Driving
Published Date: 8/21/2026
Notice
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. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. This document describes a collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval to conduct research on safety-related aspects of interactions with portable electronic device integration systems that allow access to smartphone applications through the vehicles built-in display. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on March 6, 2026. NHTSA received two comments. There were no changes to the design of the information collection based on the comments.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Study Pay and Overbooking Policy
Participants who complete Part I or Part II will be paid a $120 honorarium. For Part II (closed-course testing near Salt Lake City, UT) sessions will be double-booked so two people are invited per session but only one completes the driving portion; both invitees will be paid $120.
Time Commitment and Total Burden
Part I procedures are completed in 115 minutes per participant. For Part II, the initial setup and intake process is 50 minutes, the task assessment process is 160 minutes, and the debrief is about 5 minutes; NHTSA estimates total study burden of 139 hours for Part I and 392.4 hours for Part II (531.4 hours total across all respondents).
Who Can Join Part I (Occlusion Study)
For Part I (the occlusion study in the Washington, DC area) you must be at least 18 years old, familiar with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, drive at least 3,000 miles per year, have a valid driver’s license, have normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing, be fluent in English, and be generally in good health. NHTSA plans a final Part I sample of 56 participants (59 eligible with 5% attrition).
Health, Safety, and Behavior Rules for Part II
To take part in Part II (closed-course driving) you must be at least 21 years old and meet extra rules: abstain from alcohol and recreational drugs for 12 hours before a session, not take sedative or psychotropic medication, have no more than two at-fault accidents in the last two years, not wear corrective lenses while driving (contacts allowed), not require specialized driving equipment, have no medical conditions that might impact driving, and refrain from wearing false lashes or mascara during the session.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-11072, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 214; Side Impact Protection; Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 305a; Electric-Powered Vehicles: Electric Powertrain Integrity; Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 307; Fuel System Integrity of Hydrogen Vehicles
Starting July 6, 2026, car makers must follow updated safety rules that clean up old, outdated side-impact protection standards and fix related rules for electric and hydrogen vehicles. These changes make the rules clearer without adding new costs or big changes for manufacturers. If anyone wants to challenge the updates, they have until July 20, 2026, to speak up.
2026-08144, Administrative Rulemaking, Guidance, and Enforcement Procedures
The Department of Transportation is bringing back and improving its rules for making new policies, giving guidance, and enforcing laws. This affects anyone involved in transportation regulations, making the process clearer and more consistent. These changes kick in on May 27, 2026, aiming to save time and avoid confusion without adding extra costs.
2026-05023, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Modernization of FMVSS No. 103 and FMVSS No. 104 To Accommodate ADS-Equipped Vehicles; Incorporation by Reference
NHTSA is updating rules for windshield defrosting, defogging, wiping, and washing to better fit self-driving cars that don’t have steering wheels or pedals. These cars won’t have to follow old rules meant for human drivers, cutting costs and unnecessary requirements without hurting safety. The changes kick in about six months after the final rule, and manufacturers can still add these features if they want.
2026-05024, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Modernization of FMVSS No. 102 To Accommodate ADS-Equipped Vehicles
NHTSA wants to update a safety rule to help self-driving cars that don’t have steering wheels or gear shifts. They’re proposing to remove the need for a gear position display in these automated vehicles, cutting costs without hurting safety. If you have thoughts, speak up by April 15, 2026!
2025-22674, Public Hearing for Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards: The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicle Rule III for Model Years 2022 to 2031 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks
The government is holding a virtual public hearing on January 7, 2026, about new fuel economy rules for cars and light trucks from 2022 to 2031. These rules aim to keep vehicles safer and more affordable while improving fuel efficiency. If you care about how much gas your car uses or how much you pay at the pump, this is your chance to speak up before the rules are finalized.
2026-16983, Allwin Powersports Corp., Receipt of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance
Allwin Powersports found that some of their LS2 Rapid II helmets don’t fully meet safety rules. They asked the government to decide if this issue is minor and won’t affect rider safety. People have until September 21, 2026, to share their thoughts, and no money changes hands right now.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-17094, Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Consolidated Annual Report (CAR) for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Department is proposing a revision of a currently approved information collection request (ICR).
Next: 2026-17096, Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Information Request for the Underground Injection Control Program
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), "Information Request for the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program" (EPA ICR No. 0370.28, OMB Control No. 2040-0042) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through December 31, 2026. This notice allows for 60 days for public comments.