Dr. Susan Chrysler is a Senior Research Scientist in the Center for Transportation Safety and the Manager of the Human Factors Program. Her areas of expertise include human factors, driver behavior, older driver issues, visual attention, traffic control devices, and photometry. Sue received her Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology, with a minor in Cognitive Science, from the University of Minnesota in 1993. Her bachelor¿s degree is also in Psychology from the University of Minnesota.
Since joining TTI in 2001, Dr. Chrysler has led projects on pavement marking and sign design, comprehension, and visibility. She has assisted in handbook development for urban guide signing, managed lanes signing, and pavement markings. She is a recognized expert in the area of traveler information systems for toll and managed lane facilities. She has also led projects on driver distraction due to cell phones and in-vehicle entertainment devices. Her research methods include focus groups, surveys, laboratory comprehension testing, and assessment of driving behavior on the open road and closed-courses. In addition to her research duties, Dr. Chrysler manages the human factors program, the instrumented vehicle, eye-tracker, and the driving simulation laboratory.
Before joining TTI, Dr. Chrysler was a Human Factors Specialist in the Traffic Control Materials Division Laboratory of the 3M Company. Her work at 3M involved product development, conducting original visibility research, developing sales tools, and overseeing outside research contracts with universities and consulting firms.
Dr. Chrysler is the past chairperson of the Surface Transportation Technical Group of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. She is also an active member of three Transportation Research Board committees and serves as the secretary for ANDD10 Vehicle User Characteristics. Her past contributions to the Transportation Research Board include leading two Human Factors Workshops, chairing the 1996 Visibility Symposium, and participating on an NCHRP Panel. She is also chairperson of Human Factors Resources, a sponsor group for the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
Ph.D., Experimental Psychology, University of Minnesota, 1993.
B.A., Psychology, University of Minnesota, 1986, summa cum laude.
Senior Research Scientist, Human Factors Group, Texas Transportation Institute, September 2007 - Present.
Research Scientist, Human Factors Group, Texas Transportation Institute, September 2003 - August 2007.
Associate Research Scientist, Human Factors Group, Texas Transportation Institute, September 2002 - August 2003.
Associate Research Scientist, Traffic Operations Program, Texas Transportation Institute, August 2001 - August 2002.
Human Factors Specialist, Traffic Control Materials Division Laboratory, 3M Company, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1993 - 2001.
Research Associate, Human Factors Research Laboratory, University of Minnesota, 1991 - 1993.
Teaching Assistant/Instructor, Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, 1987 - 1993.
Member, Commission Intrenationale D'eclaraige (CIE), Technical Committee 4-38 (Road Signs).
Member, Transportation Research Board (TRB), Vehicle User Characteristics (A3B02).
Member, Transportation Research Board (TRB), Traffic Control Devices (A3A02).
Member, Transportation Research Board (TRB), User Information Systems (A3B08).
Friend, Transportation Research Board (TRB), Visibility (A3A04).
Friend, Transportation Research Board (TRB), Mobility of Older Persons (A3B13).
Friend, Transportation Research Board (TRB), Simulation and Measurement of Vehicle and Operator Performance (A3B06).
Member, Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE).
Member, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Technical Groups on Aging, Safety.
Chairperson, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Surface Transportation Technical Group, 2001 - 2003.
Past Chair, Transportation Research Board (TRB), Human Factors Workshops on Photometry, 2000.
Past Chair, Transportation Research Board (TRB), Human Factors Workshops on Visual Perception, 1999.
Former Member, Transportation Research Board (TRB), Information Services (B001), 1998 - 2000.
Former Member, Transportation Research Board (TRB), Planning Committee for Highway Safety and Human Factors Conference (A3B55), 1996 - 1997.
Fluorescent red article and retroreflective article made therefrom, Patent No. 6312132, November 2001.
S.T. Chrysler, A.A. Nelson. Driver Comprehension of Managed Lane Signing. 0-5446-3. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. 2009.
B.T. Kuhn, V.D. Goodin, S.T. Chrysler. Managed Lanes Handbook Training Materials. 5-4160-01-P1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. October 2009.
S.T. Chrysler, J.M. Re, K.K. Knapp, D.S. Funkhouser, B.T. Kuhn. Driver Response to Delineation Treatments on Horizontal Curves on Two-Lane Roads. 0-5772-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. May 2009.
S.T. Chrysler, A.A. Nelson, K. Fitzpatrick. Driver Comprehension of Signing and Markings for Toll Facilities. Research Report. 0-5446-2. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. February 2008.
D. Lord, I.V. Schalkwyk, S.T. Chrysler, L. Staplin. A Strategy to Reduce Older Driver Injuries at Intersections Using More Accommodating Roundabout Design Practices. Accident Analysis and Prevention, Vol. 39, No. 3, 2007, pp. 427-432.
S.T. Chrysler, A.A. Nelson, K. Fitzpatrick. Preliminary Guidelines for Signing on Toll Facilities. Research Report. 0-5446-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. March 2007.
K. Fitzpatrick, K.H. Zimmerman, R.P. Bligh, S.T. Chrysler, B.C. Blaschke. Criteria for High Design Speed Facilities. Research Report. 0-5544-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. March 2007.
D.S. Funkhouser, S.T. Chrysler. Assessing Driver Distraction Due to In-Vehicle Video Systems through Field Testing at the Pecos Research Center. SWUTC. SWUTC/07/473700-00082-1. Southwest Region University Transportation Center, College Station, TX. March 2007.
S.T. Chrysler, A.A. Nelson, D.S. Funkhouser, A.J. Holick, M.A. Brewer. Driver Comprehension of Diagrammatic Freeway Guide Signs. Research Report. 0-5147-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. February 2007.
A.J. Holick, S.T. Chrysler, P.J. Carlson. Clearview Font on Negative Contrast Traffic Signs: Summary Report. PSR. 0-4984-S. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. May 2006.
S.T. Chrysler, S.D. Schrock, T.J. Gates. Durability of Preformed Thermoplastic Pavement Markings for Horizontal Signing Applications. Technical Report. 0-4471-3. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. April 2006.
S.T. Chrysler, S.D. Schrock, A.A. Nelson. Research Recommendations for Pavement Marking Words and Symbols. PSR. 0-4471-S. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. April 2006.
A.J. Holick, S.T. Chrysler, E. Park, P.J. Carlson. Evaluation of the Clearview Font for Negative Contrast Traffic Signs. Technical Report. 0-4984-1. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. April 2006.
B.T. Kuhn, V.D. Goodin, A.J. Ballard, M.A. Brewer, R.E. Brydia, J.L. Carson, S.T. Chrysler, T.S. Collier, K. Fitzpatrick, D.L. Jasek, C.M. Dusza, G.L. Ullman. Managed Lanes Handbook. Technical Report. 0-4160-24. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. October 2005.
B.T. Kuhn, V.D. Goodin, A.J. Ballard, M.A. Brewer, R.E. Brydia, J.L. Carson, S.T. Chrysler, T.S. Collier, W.L. Eisele, D.W. Fenno, K. Fitzpatrick, G.L. Ullman, S.P. Venglar. Findings from Texas: Five Years of Research on Managed Lanes. Technical Report. 0-4160-25. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. September 2005.
S.T. Chrysler, S.D. Schrock. Field Evaluations and Driver Comprehension Studies of Horizontal Signing. Technical Report. 0-4471-2. Texas Transportation Institute, College Station, TX. February 2005.