Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)

Influential Scientific Disseminations

1. DOT OA:

FMCSA – Analysis Division

2.  Preliminary Title:

Violations Severity Assessment Project

3.  Subject and Purpose:

Provide a brief description of the project.  The project summary in the e‑Portfolio system may be used providing the information is current.  Include: Topic, Specific Issues, Broad Goals, Potential Public Benefits.

  1. Topic: Reassessing the appropriate levels of severity that should be assigned to violations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs).
  1. Specific Issues: Currently, a subset of FMCSR violations are classified as critical or acute through a qualitative methodology. 
  1. Broad Goals: New levels of severity will be explored for violations of the FMCSRs, based upon a quantitative analysis of each violation’s potential impact upon highway safety. 
  1. Potential Public Benefits: More effective in removing unsafe motor carriers from our highways.

4.  Is this dissemination likely to be:

(check one)

  

Highly influential scientific information
X

Influential scientific information

5.  Peer Review Plan:

1) What is the schedule for peer review?

Peer review is scheduled for FY 2006 or FY 2007.

2)  Will the review be conducted through a panel, individual letters, or will an alternative procedure be exercised?

Peer review expected to be conducted through panel review.

3)  Will there be opportunities for the public to comment on the work product to be peer reviewed, and if so, how and when will these opportunities be provided?

No public comment planned.

4) Will the FMCSA provide significant and relevant public comments to the peer reviewers before conducting their review?

There are no plans to provide public comments to reviewers.

5)  What is the anticipated number of reviewers (3 or fewer; 4-10; or more than 10)?

There will be 3 or fewer.

6)  What are the primary disciplines or expertise needed to conduct the peer review?

Motor carrier safety/highway safety & related methodology expertise.

7)  Will reviewers be selected from within DOT or from an outside organization?  And will reviewers be selected by an outside organization?

It is possible that reviewers will be from both inside and outside DOT.

8)  Will the public, including scientific or professional societies, be asked to nominate potential peer reviewers?

No

6.  Contact person:

Richard Gruberg

E-mail:

Richard.gruberg@fmcsa.dot.gov

Phone:

202-366-2959