SAN ANTONIO —Impaired driving is a persistent problem in Texas, particularly among college students. A new peer-based program aims to change that — Texas A&M University-San Antonio and the University of the Incarnate Word have started the U in the Driver Seat (UDS) program, which organizers hope to eventually spread statewide. Car crashes are the number-one killer of Americans under the age of 25, and alcohol use stands out as one of … [Read more...]
California High School Students Join Teens in the Driver Seat
In the first public event announcing the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI)-developed Teens in the Driver Seat (TDS) program in California, Franklin High School students in Elk Grove conducted a news conference for Sacramento-area media Sept. 19. The students outlined their efforts in combating teen car crashes, which is the number one killer of teens across the country. In California, teen drivers were responsible for 1,744 fatal … [Read more...]
September 25, 2012 -
National Seat Check Saturday
Bev Kellner has a daunting task: teaching parents how to properly buckle up their children in a child safety seat. Sounds easy enough, but considering that most of the more than 19,000 kids in car seats she’s checked over the last 14 years have been buckled improperly or not at all, she won’t be out of a job anytime soon. “Every year, there are new parents, and we will continue to teach them,” says Kellner, the manager of the … [Read more...]
September 19, 2012 -
A closer look: Examining the effects of one license plate versus two
Center for Transportation Safety (CTS) researchers were tasked with evaluating the effects one rear license plate versus two license plates on vehicles have on the ability of law enforcement, tolling agencies and border patrol to identify vehicles and monitor traffic safety activities. Researchers examined multiple states — two states that require one license plate and three states that require two license plates — through interviews with … [Read more...]
September 11, 2012 -
A closer look: Evaluation of Administrative License Revocation process in Texas
In this effort, Center for Transportation Safety (CTS) staff worked to identify the strengths and opportunities for improvement within the current Texas Administrative License Revocation system (ALR). Researchers determined the effect of ALR on deterrence of impaired driving; the deployment of the program is intended to change the behavior of the public based on the expectation that they will lose their driver license if caught for driving … [Read more...]
September 4, 2012 -
Changes in CTS leadership — Mounce retires, Wunderlich takes reins
Robert Wunderlich has been named the acting director for the Center for Transportation Safety (CTS) at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI). Wunderlich is taking over for John Mounce who retired in August. Mounce’s career in transportation engineering spans more than three decades. In that time he authored numerous research studies, served as a lecturer at Texas A&M University and a professor at Montana State University, and … [Read more...]
August 30, 2012 -
Safe Summer Driving Tips
As Texans take off across our roadways over the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) would like to pass along a few helpful tips to ensure safe travels. Prevention and planning are much easier than dealing with the consequences of a breakdown or, worse yet, a highway crash. Review a Vehicle Safety Checklist Regular maintenance such as tune-ups, oil … [Read more...]
July 6, 2012 -
United Arab Emirates project addresses crash investigation and reporting
Despite the vastly different cultures between the United Arab Emirates and the United States, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is finalizing a nine-month contract agreement with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s Center for Transportation Safety (CTS). The project will center on crash investigation and post-crash site inspection and analysis. “The United Arab Emirates, and especially the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, has an extremely high … [Read more...]
June 28, 2012 -
“Senator Safety” Honored at Annual TTI Safety Conference
State Senator Steve Ogden was recently honored jointly by the three state agencies most involved in realizing his vision for enhancing roadway safety in Texas. The recognition came in response to Ogden’s keynote address at the annual Texas Traffic Safety Conference in San Antonio on June 5. “Mention the name ‘Senator Safety’ to just about anyone in or around the state capitol, and chances are, they’ll know exactly who you’re … [Read more...]
June 18, 2012 -
Safer Roads, More Work Highlighted at 2012 Traffic Safety Conference
With the theme of improving safety on highways in Texas and across the nation, the leader of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the retiring state legislator known as “Senator Safety” were featured speakers for the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s (TTI’s) 4th annual Statewide Traffic Safety Conference, June 4-6, in San Antonio. David Strickland, NHTSA Administrator, told the group of more than 200 … [Read more...]
June 12, 2012 -
