National Teen Driver Safety Week, scheduled for Oct. 20–26, 2024, is an initiative dedicated to educating parents and teen drivers about the dangers of distracted driving and other critical risk factors. Vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of death for youth under 25 in Texas and the U.S., and young drivers have a higher crash rate than older, more experienced drivers, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The goal of this week is to raise awareness of the challenges teens face behind the wheel, but also highlight the positive behaviors of our youngest road users.
safety
TTI Awarded $1.9M in Federal Grants to Advance CMV Safety Initiatives
The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) has been awarded $1.9 million by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) in Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) grants for fiscal year 2024.
TTI Research on Electric Vehicle Safety Featured on KBTX News
Electric vehicles have been gaining popularity, but when it comes to a crash, researchers have suggested that current infrastructure may not make the cut to save lives. A recent crash test conducted at the RELLIS Campus resulted in a Tesla Model 3 electric vehicle smashing through a guardrail. “We know that these initial tests for […]
Viral Video Draws Attention to Pedestrian Safety
A video highlighting pedestrian safety while walking your dog recently has gone viral on Walk. Bike. Safe.’s (WBS’s) Instagram! With over 10 million views, the goal of the video is to draw attention to safe practices on National Dog Day in an entertaining and relatable way.
Electric Vehicle Crash Test Featured on CBS Mornings
Footage from a recent electric vehicle crash test performed at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute was featured in a news segment on CBS Mornings. “Electric vehicles raise safety concerns as to whether guardrails can handle car’s excess weight” highlights how guardrails on U.S. roads are typically tested against vehicles weighing up to 5,000 lbs. and […]
New Website Streamlines Motorcycle Licensing and Training Information for Texans
Navigating the complex web of resources for motorcycle licensing and safety training just got easier for Texans. The Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s (TTI’s) has launched a new website designed to be a resource for riders and instructors.
Recognizing Excellence in Impaired Driving Prevention
The Texas Impaired Driving Task Force (TxIDTF) is dedicated to eliminating impaired driving across the state. Comprised of law enforcement, prosecution, prevention, advocacy, media development/communications and more, the task force works diligently to combat one of the leading causes of traffic fatalities in Texas. To honor those making significant contributions to this mission, TxIDTF, in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation, annually presents the Texas Impaired Driving Safety Awards.
Revolutionizing Data Collection in Road Safety Research: The You in the Driver Seat App
Since its launch in October 2020, the You in the Driver Seat (YDS) app has revolutionized data collection efforts in combating distracted driving among young drivers. Developed by Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s (TTI’s) Youth Transportation Safety (YTS) program — which seeks to save lives and prevent injury among youth through education, empowerment, and peer-led outreach — the YDS app promotes safe, distraction-free driving to individuals aged 16 – 25.
Navigating the Future: TTI’s Driving Simulator Presents New Research Opportunities
Revolutionary advancements in vehicle technology and the changing dynamics of the modern roadway system have propelled the act of driving into uncharted territories, demanding a profound transformation in the driving experience. The current technological landscape — with its manifold innovations and tantalizing prospects on the horizon — holds the potential to revolutionize road safety and […]
TTI’s Roadside Safety and Physical Security Division Spearheads Safety and Security Transportation Advancements
The Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s (TTI’s) Roadside Safety and Physical Security Division has been protecting occupants from roadside hazards since the 1960s. From the early days, this facility — located on the Texas A&M-RELLIS campus — has served as a test site for countless research projects improving both safety on the roadways and security of […]
Seeing the Road — TTI’s Visibility Research Laboratory Built for Visibility Testing
Seeing the road and everything around it while driving is not a preferred option; rather, it’s an essential component of safe driving. Driving is a visual activity, and as we make our way down a road, we all look at a wide range of visual inputs — the roadway, the surrounding terrain, other vehicles, roadside […]
TTI’s Connected Transportation Facilities
Connected transportation is a major evolution in how vehicles and infrastructure will interact in the future, affecting every facet of transportation safety and mobility. Vehicles and the infrastructure will be able to talk to each other and communicate their real-time conditions. The lifespan of this research is expected to be decades as communication and message […]
Rain or Shine: TTI’s SEC Lab Pioneers Roadside Environmental Management
As the wear and tear of time puts a toll on our roads and our environment, it’s imperative to have measures in place to combat potential issues that may arise. With the ever-changing climate and increasing environmental regulations, now more than ever it’s essential that the best products are being used on our roadways — […]
Youth Transportation Safety Summit Steers Tomorrow’s Drivers
On Friday, Nov. 10, Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s (TTI’s) Youth Transportation Safety (YTS) Program hosted a one-day safety summit that brought together young traffic safety ambassadors, ranging from junior high to college students and highway safety professionals. The theme for this year’s summit was “Moving Forward Together,” and participants did just that by exploring the […]
Taking Steps Towards Safer Streets: 2023 Texas Pedestrian Safety Forum Recap
On Aug. 24, 2023, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) hosted the fifth annual Texas Pedestrian Safety Forum at the Norris Center in San Antonio, Texas. Supported by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and TTI’s Center for Transportation Safety (CTS), this in-person forum helped more than 200 people learn about how to make roadways safer for pedestrians in Texas.
TTI’s Manser Promoted to Director of the Center for Transportation Safety
Effective Sept. 1, TTI Senior Research Scientist Michael Manser was promoted to the role of director of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s (TTI’s) Center for Transportation Safety (CTS), succeeding Robert Wunderlich after his decade-long leadership as CTS director.
Researchers Find Hidden Micro-Stressors in Routine Driving
Commuters around the world dream of ideal driving conditions every day, but they rarely get them. The traffic is often heavy and gets worse when the weather turns sour. Light traffic and good weather are usually perceived as factors for a stress-free commute. Alas, researchers from the University of Houston and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute found that even under such ideal conditions, daily driving is stressful to many people, and for intriguing reasons.
IH 35 Waco Project Wins WASHTO Award for Operations Excellence
The Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT’s) My35 Waco Construction project was recently named a winner in Operations Excellence, Large Category (i.e., projects costing more than $200 million) by the Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
Youth Transportation Safety Summit Combines All Generations of Highway Safety Leaders
The Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s (TTI’s) Youth Transportation Safety (YTS) Program held the first of its kind Youth Transportation Safety Summit May 15–17. This year’s event brought together young traffic safety ambassadors from junior high to college students alongside highway safety professionals for the first time in the program’s history. The summit provided a national […]
Teen Safety Advocates from Texas, Ohio and Nebraska Win Big in Annual Driving the Message Contest
Car crashes are a leading cause of death for teens 15 to 18 years old in the United States, second only to teen suicide. Teen drivers are at a higher risk of being in a car crash due to driver inexperience. That lack of expertise — coupled with speeding, distracted driving or other risky behaviors […]