February 6, 2012 Brazos County Expo 5827 Leonard Road Bryan, Texas 77807 The 2012 Texas Motorcycle Safety Forum brings together riders, researchers, motorcycle training instructors, educators, and representatives from state and local law enforcement, public health, and government agencies to identify current motorcycle safety issues, discuss the impact of existing programs, and formulate new strategies for reducing the likelihood of … [Read more...]
Launching a campaign to educate the public on alcohol impaired driving
Researcher: Lee Ann Bell Sponsor: Texas Department of Transportation This campaign was launched to increase the public’s awareness on the actions to take when they suspect that they have encountered an impaired driver. The project uses several forms of educational materials such as brochures, posters, and a video public service announcement to inform citizens about how to recognize impaired driving, make the call to 9-1-1 and report the … [Read more...]
January 6, 2012 -
CTS investigates: disproportionate crash rates involving military personnel
The Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s Center for Transportation Safety (CTS) is investigating the reasons why two distinct population groups — Hispanics and U.S. military personnel — are experiencing above-average crash rates. Each is a separate research initiative, and both projects are just getting underway as researchers gather crash data and begin looking for clues. “We have seen significant reductions in crashes and … [Read more...]
December 28, 2011 -
Disproportionate crash rates involving Hispanics and military personnel: CTS investigates
The Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s Center for Transportation Safety (CTS) is investigating the reasons why two distinct population groups — Hispanics and U.S. military personnel — are experiencing above-average crash rates. Each is a separate research initiative, and both projects are just getting underway as researchers gather crash data and begin looking for clues. “We have seen significant reductions in crashes and … [Read more...]
December 20, 2011 -
NTSB calls for nationwide ban of all electronic devices while driving
Following the December 13 Board meeting on the 2010 multi-vehicle highway accident in Gray Summit, Missouri, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) called for the first-ever nationwide ban on driver use of personal electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle. The safety recommendation specifically calls for the 50 states and the District of Columbia to ban the nonemergency use of portable electronic devices (other than those … [Read more...]
December 14, 2011 -
TTI focuses on continuing momentum for improving motorcycle safety
Motorcycle fatalities in Texas declined in 2009, halting an 11-year trend of steady increases, but there is no complacency among state officials. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Traffic Safety Program funded several projects to keep the momentum going and continue statewide efforts to improve motorcycle safety. Center for Transportation Safety (CTS) Research Scientist Patricia Turner leads the projects, which range from … [Read more...]
December 8, 2011 -
Assessing underage drinking through community action team training
Researcher: Melissa Walden, Ph.D., P.E. Sponsor: Texas Department of Transportation This project employs a community based approach to address underage drinking through team assessment in the community and localized strategic planning. The approach was originally developed as a rapid response approach so that states and local communities could deploy a team to address the underage drinking problem in the wake of a specific incident. This … [Read more...]
November 9, 2011 -
Improving understanding of pavement markings
Researcher: Alicia Nelson Sponsor: Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County This study sought to determine if drivers noticed and understood the intended meanings of three new types of pavement markings used along the Bellaire Quickline bus route in Houston operated by the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO). CTS researchers surveyed a sample of drivers in the Texas Medical Center area by showing pictures of the … [Read more...]
November 4, 2011 -
AAA study finds crashes more costly than congestion
According to a new report, vehicle crashes cost the United States $299.5 billion in 2009, more than three times the cost of traffic congestion in the same year. The AAA study compared the costs of crashes per person in the same urban areas used in the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s (TTI’s) 2010 Urban Mobility Report. According to AAA, “The study, along with recommendations for improvements, was designed to raise awareness among … [Read more...]
November 3, 2011 -
Analyzing nationwide nighttime fatal crash trends
Researchers: Russell Henk, P.E., Val Pezoldt and Bernie Fette Sponsor: Center for Transportation Safety The number of drivers involved in nighttime fatal crashes nationwide has increased over the past decade, even as crash fatalities overall have declined during the same period. While the number has been climbing for drivers of all ages, the increase has been sharper for teenage drivers than for those age 20 and older. Findings from this … [Read more...]
November 1, 2011 -
