Additional Information and Data Specifications for FHWA Docket No. FHWA-2024-0006: Enhanced Driver Licensing and Vehicle Registration Data Reporting Specifications

This web page is intended to serve as supplemental information to the Federal Register Notice (FHWA Docket No. FHWA-2024-0006) on Enhanced Driver Licensing and Vehicle Registration Data Reporting Specifications for 500-Series Program Purposes: Federal Register Notice

Discussion of Changes

Through the development and implementation of enhanced data reporting specifications, FHWA will transition to the collection of non-Personally Identifiable Information (PII), raw/unprocessed registered vehicle and licensed driver data annually from its partnering State agencies (e.g., Departments of Transportation (DOTs), Motor Vehicle Agencies, Departments of Public Safety, etc.). This is a departure from the current aggregate collection method in which States employ individual and varying processes to query, assemble, and compile their data. This expanded effort seeks to ensure consistency in the data nationwide and will also allow for the collection of additional data attributes (e.g., location information, operating characteristics, demographics, and temporality) needed to support various regulatory activities and research initiatives.

Because this data serves as input to determine highway system usage, which informs and supports highway policy development, safety studies, and research initiatives, it is critical to account for vehicles and drivers that would otherwise be omitted by the point-in-time or snap-shot data capture approach currently prescribed by FHWA to State agencies. This will be accomplished by acquiring, via these enhanced reporting specifications, a temporal component, i.e., the number of days a vehicle registration or licensed driver was active or valid for during a reporting year. This will allow FHWA the ability to observe trends associated with active drivers and vehicles over time and assess how closely they align or correlate with other highway system usage indicators, such as motor fuel consumption, and determine the extent to which vehicles and drivers operating in an active status has an impact on those indicators.

Data Elements

Vehicle Registration

Data Element Name	Description
VIN	Vehicle Identification Number: A unique identifier for the vehicle
Make	A name that a manufacturer applies to a group of vehicles
Model	A name that a manufacturer applies to a family of vehicles of the same type, make, line, series and body type
Body Type	The body type for the vehicle as defined by the registering agency
State	The State the vehicle is garaged for the majority of the reporting period
County	The county the vehicle is garaged for the majority of the reporting period
Active Status Duration	The number of days the vehicle’s registration was in an “active” status
Optional Vehicle Registration Data Reporting Elements
Zip Code	A five-digit Zone Improvement Plan Code the vehicle is garaged for the majority of the reporting period
Registration Type	Indicates whether the vehicle is owned by a government entity or is privately owned

Driver Licenses

Data Element Name	Description
Driver License Class	A driver’s specified privilege type for a majority of the reporting period
Endorsements	Indicates whether a driver has the privilege to operate a motorcycle or not
State	The State a driver resided in for a majority of the reporting period
County	The county a driver resided in for a majority of the reporting period
Date of Birth	The month and year of a driver’s birth
Sex	The sex marker of the driver on the license document
Active Status Duration	The number of days the driver’s license was in an “active” status
Optional Vehicle Registration Data Reporting Elements
Race	The classification of the driver on the basis of a common history, nationality, geographical distribution, or social group of common religious linguistics, ancestral or physical characteristics
Zip Code	A five-digit Zone Improvement Plan Code that indicates where the driver resided for the majority of the reporting period

Data Storage and Security

The data transmitted will be encrypted using FIPS-104-2 compliant standards to maintain security in transit. FHWA will follow various National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) security controls to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data at rest. FHWA maintains the security standards and will be assessing these controls periodically.

It is possible to derive PII from the collected data. However, deriving PII from the submitted data would require that someone either purposely or accidently access the data in transit or at rest. As stewards of the data, FHWA will use the prescribed methods to receive the data and FHWA will follow government standards for the handling and protecting of PII data.

Federal Information Processing System (FIPS) (104-2) compliant standards, to secure data in transit, using a FHWA-approved application.

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) (800-53 Revision 5) security and privacy controls and President Biden’s Executive Order 14028 “Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity” to control access to Federal systems. FHWA access control management involves policies, technologies, and methodologies that ensure only verified users have permission to access Federal systems and data.

Information Management

FHWA will comply with all applicable Federal records management laws and regulations, as well as National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) records policies, including but not limited to the Federal Records Act (44 U.S.C. chs. 21, 29, 31, 33), NARA regulations at 36 CFR Chapter XII Subchapter B, and those policies associated with the safeguarding of records covered by the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a). These policies include the preservation of all records, regardless of form or characteristics, mode of transmission, or state of completion.

In accordance with 36 CFR 1222.32, all data created for Government use and delivered to, or falling under the legal control of, the Government are Federal records subject to the provisions of 44 U.S.C. chapters 21, 29, 31, and 33, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), as amended, and the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended and must be managed and scheduled for disposition only as permitted by statute or regulation.

FHWA will apply and implement NARA-approved General Records Schedule (GRS) 3.1, item 011, for the data that FHWA receives and maintains.

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