On Sept. 26, 2012, at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s (TTI’s) Riverside Campus crash facility, a fully loaded 18-wheeler traveling at 50 mph slammed into a concrete barrier placed on top of a retaining wall. The data from the unique crash test will prove vital for increasing safety and decreasing construction costs for this type of barrier application. The test was broadcast across the country via the Internet as a first-ever … [Read more...]
Study suggests using two license plates saves resources for states, enforcement agencies
A recent study by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) suggests that states that require vehicles to have two license plates save valuable time and resources in the areas of enforcement, tolling, parking and homeland security. The study also found that the use of two license plates for vehicle identification purposes increases the efficiency and accuracy when evaluated by an individual or using automatic license plate reader (ALPR) … [Read more...]
January 17, 2013 -
A closer look: alcohol ignition interlock training program
The Texas Legislature has enacted a number of laws requiring alcohol ignition interlock devices for drivers convicted of alcohol-related offenses. Adult probation officers are charged with implementing and monitoring use of these devices by drivers, but often have not had formal training related to ignition interlock devices. Adult probation officers also deal with other aspects of illegal alcohol use, primarily driving while intoxicated (DWI) … [Read more...]
January 11, 2013 -
Improving BAC testing and reporting in Texas
Researcher: Troy Walden, Ph.D. Sponsor: Texas Department of Transportation CTS researchers performed an analysis of crash data in CRIS to determine drivers who were involved in alcohol-related crashes across all 254 counties in Texas. The data were used to identify which medical examiners and/or county coroners/justices of the peace are responsible for reporting blood alcohol concentration (BAC) results to TxDOT crash records. Researchers … [Read more...]
January 2, 2013 -
Researchers Study Motivations for Speeding
Researchers at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) and Battelle have found that while reasons for speeding are based on a wide variety of factors, previous ideas about speeder demographics and personality types were confirmed. This information can be used to identify improved speeding countermeasures. The reasons vary based on a variety of situational, demographic and personality factors. Researchers found that men are more likely … [Read more...]
December 21, 2012 -
TDS Part of Publication That Takes In-Depth Look at Improving Teen Driver Safety
The Teens in the Driver Seat® (TDS) program is one of a few selected initiatives to be a part of a national best practice guide by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). Developed with a grant from State Farm®, Curbing Teen Driver Crashes: An In-Depth Look at State Novice Driver Initiatives comes on the heels of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), the newly enacted federal transportation funding law, which … [Read more...]
December 7, 2012 -
Texas Safety Belt Use at All Time High, Other Restraint Surveys Indicate Need for Improvement
Texas motorists are once again buckling up in large numbers, especially compared to years past. Despite the improving numbers, the Center for Transportation Safety (CTS) — part of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) — has documented some areas that need still more improvement. TTI has been conducting these surveys since 1984. Among the surveys conducted this year are daytime and nighttime safety belt use, child restraint use, … [Read more...]
November 29, 2012 -
TTI Researcher Presents at Human Factors Annual Meeting
Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) Associate Transportation Researcher Christine Yager gave a presentation, “The Effects of Reading and Writing Text-Based Messages While Driving,” at the 56th Annual Meeting of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. The meeting was held in Boston, MA, October 22–26 and was attended by more than 1,450 participants from the United States and around the world. According to Yager, the meeting … [Read more...]
November 8, 2012 -
TxDOT’s Renewed Focus on Safety Emphasized at 86th Annual Short Course
Change was the dominant theme for the 86th Annual Short Course, which took place at Texas A&M University, October 16-17. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) event, which is hosted by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) each year, provides a unique opportunity for the two agencies to collaborate on a common goal: improving the transportation system in Texas. About 2,000 people attended Short Course, which began … [Read more...]
October 22, 2012 -
Oct. 14-20 National Teen Driver Safety Week
October 14-20 is National Teen Driver Safety Week. Since 2007, the nation has dedicated a week in October to bring awareness to the number one cause of teen deaths in America – car crashes. More than 3,000 teens die each year in car crashes. Education, awareness, stronger laws and law enforcement are all necessary to combat the problem, and National Teen Driver Safety Week is a great place to start. For Teens in the Driver Seat® (TDS) … [Read more...]
October 15, 2012 -
