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Photo for visual interest. Two women examine the back of a child safety seat. In the background are other people and vehicles.

TTI employees Katie Womack and Sandra Schoeneman check the straps of a child safety seat.

Behavioral Research Group

Description

The mission of the Behavioral Research Group of the Center for Transportation Safety is to advance the inquiry and analysis of transportation-related issues using survey methodology. Studies by the Behavioral Research Group typically investigate or evaluate by assessing public opinion, knowledge, and preferences, or by observation of behavior. The staff excels in the application of an array of survey techniques including personal interviews, written questionnaires, telephone interviews, focus groups, and unobtrusive observation. Recent studies include measurements of compliance with safety inspection and vehicle registration requirements in Texas (using direct observation), a survey of Texas vehicle owners to assess a proposed new design of the vehicle registration sticker (using intercept interviews), an evaluation of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's standardized child passenger safety training program (using questionnaires, direct observation, telephone interviews, and focus groups), and multiple surveys of occupant restraint use focusing on various occupants (using direct observation).

Expertise

Researchers in the Behavioral Research Group have expertise in the following areas:

  • survey research,
  • traffic safety,
  • motorcycle safety,
  • alcohol-related safety issues,
  • fatal crashes, and
  • crash record systems.

Cooperative Relationships/Sponsors

The Behavioral Research Group maintains cooperative relationships with the following sponsors:

  • Federal Highway Administration,
  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
  • National Centers for Disease Control,
  • National Academy of Sciences,
  • AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety,
  • Texas Department of Transportation,
  • Texas Department of Public Safety,
  • Sam Houston State University,
  • Southwest University Transportation Center,
  • University of North Carolina,
  • Northport Associates,
  • SAFE, Inc.,
  • Houston-Galveston Area Council, and
  • Harris County Transit Authority.

For More Information

Katie Womack
Center for Transportation Safety
Texas Transportation Institute
Texas A&M University
3135 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-3135
ph. (979) 845-5153
kwomack@tamu.edu

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