From automated cruise control to Google self-driving cars to trucks platooning, the world of connected, automated and autonomous vehicles is rapidly evolving. A research project sponsored by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and conducted by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) is examining connected and automated vehicle applications to improve transit, bicyclist and pedestrian […]
safety
Encouraging Safe Interactions Between Teens and Large Trucks
In the past three years, commercial motor vehicle crashes have increased 29 percent in the Permian Basin and 55 percent in the Eagle Ford Shale regions of Texas. Between 2011 and 2012, such crashes involved an estimated 2,006 drivers under the age of 26. In response to the increase in crashes concurrent with the oil […]
TTI Awarded Major FHWA Safety Contract
The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) has been selected as a team leader for a major multiyear, multimillion dollar contract awarded recently by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Safety (HSA). The wide-ranging safety support contract, which could provide as much as $19 million in funding over a five-year period, will involve numerous efforts […]
TTI Organizes Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Conference
Held every other year, about 120 highway-rail grade crossing safety professionals attended the 2015 National Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Training Conference in Arlington, Texas, Nov. 1-4. Organized by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), the conference is attended by state agencies, railroad employees and vendors concerned with improving safety at railroad crossings. About 250 fatalities […]
Carlson One of Five Experts Asked to Contribute at FHWA Workshop on Visibility
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently published a summary report, Breakthroughs in Vision and Visibility for Highway Safety. The report documents the workshop, held August 13-14, 2014, at Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center in McLean, Virginia. Sponsored by FHWA’s Office of Safety Research and Development and the Office of Safety—with support from the Exploratory Advanced Research […]
National Safety Council Provides Safe Driving Tips This Busy Holiday Season
A hallmark of Thanksgiving is traveling to be with family and friends, but whether it involves a short drive or a long road trip, the same risks apply. According to Deborah A.P. Hersman, NSC president and CEO, sensible precautions can make the difference between a safe visit home or an unwelcome trip to the emergency room. […]
TTI Takes a Second Look at Rapid-Flash Beacons for Pedestrian Crossings
Researchers at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) are studying the effectiveness of rectangular rapid-flashing beacons (RRFB) in improving pedestrian crossing safety. Previous research has showed that the RRFBs increase the number of drivers yielding to crossing pedestrians, and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has asked TTI to investigate modifications to the RRFB before adding […]
Hudson Awarded NHTSA grant for The Unintended Highway Pedestrian
The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) has been selected by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to conduct a one-year project on reducing the number of motor vehicle–related pedestrian fatalities in Texas. Project manager and TTI Associate Researcher, Joan Hudson has been awarded $47,500 for the one-year project titled, The Unintended Highway Pedestrian – What […]
New Findings: More New Oil and Gas Wells, More Crashes and Injury Costs
A new study from TTI’s Transportation Policy Research Center shows a correlation between increased oil and gas drilling activity and crashes in energy-rich areas of the state. The findings are based on a comparison of two timeframes: 2006-2009 and 2010-2013 in the Permian Basin, Barnett Shale, and Eagle Ford Shale regions. In both the Permian […]
TTI Researcher Assists with Innovative Safety Program
MyCarDoesWhat, a national public education campaign launched by the University of Iowa (UI) and National Safety Council (NSC), kicks off this week. The one-of-a-kind campaign is dedicated to educating and demonstrating to drivers vehicle safety technologies designed to help prevent crashes. The foundation for the campaign was set by the National Consumer Survey of Driving […]
Interagency Cooperation: Working Together for Texans
Relieving Traffic Congestion, Facilitating Evacuations for Houston Thanks in part to a decades-long relationship developed and strengthened through an interagency agreement (IAC) between the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT’s) Houston District and Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) researchers, 1,000 miles of Houston roadways are monitored by a low-cost traffic data collection system. The system collects […]
“Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over”: Texas DPS Is Cracking Down on Drunk Driving This July Fourth
The Fourth of July holiday is a favorite time of year for many Americans. Backyard parties, good food, and fireworks. But the celebrating unfortunately turns deadly when people drive after drinking alcohol. Drunk driving is a preventable problem on Independence Day each year in the United States. In 2013, Forbes magazine named the Independence Day […]
Traffic Safety Conference Ignites Passions, Examines New Ways to Save Lives
During the 2015 Traffic Safety Conference, the Texas Division Administrator for the Federal Highway Administration revealed that his passion for pedestrian safety stems from the death of his sister in 1990. Al Alonzi was a speaker during the opening session of the 7th annual conference, sponsored and hosted by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) […]
Research Is Another Resource Texans Can Rely On
Texas is a resource-rich state. Blessed with oil and natural gas reserves, Texas has been a principal supplier of natural resources for the nation for more than a century. Although resource development is always welcome — and a boon to the state’s economy — planning for it can be challenging. New discoveries of oil and […]
Researchers Test Emergency Exit Signs for Tunnels
About 15 years ago, several catastrophic, deadly highway tunnel disasters occurred in Europe. As a result, researchers began to evaluate methods to more effectively help stranded motorists reach emergency exits. The green “running man” sign — an international symbol for “emergency exit” — was adopted to help communicate with motorists. The United States has yet […]
TTI, TxDOT Team Up to Test Connected-Vehicle Technology
Connected vehicles are coming. The transportation industry is already working on standards and prototypes. And part of developing them is testing to ensure the future of transportation is as safe, efficient and reliable as possible. A portion of I-35 could soon become a national test bed for connected-vehicle research, thanks in part to a four-year […]
Latest Issue of Safetynet Now Available
The newest issue of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s Center for Transportation Safety’s newsletter is available. View the newsletter.Sign up to receive Safetynet via email. In this issue: New TxDOT traffic safety projects Safety Center researchers look at improving low-bridge warning signs Circuit of the Americas, TxDOT partners for motor safety Researchers, medical professionals seek better […]
TTI Helps Texas Stay on Course for the Future
As Texas lawmakers prepare for the 84th Texas Legislative Session, one of the topics on their agenda is the Texas transportation system. How to maintain and enhance all modes of transportation in the state to benefit residents, business owners and travelers has been discussed in recent sessions. Given innovations in technology and a growing population, […]
Teens in the Driver Seat Aims at Promoting Safer Driving in 100 New High Schools Nationwide in 2015
The No. 1 killer of U.S. teenagers is automobile crashes, especially during their first — and most inexperienced — year of driving. The Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s Teens in the Driver Seat® (TDS) program and State Farm® are enhancing their longstanding and successful relationship to prevent these tragedies. State Farm recently provided $350,000 in grant […]
Keeping Texans Informed During Construction Projects
The I-35 Expansion Project in Central Texas For travelers and business owners, construction projects — whatever their long-term benefits — can be an annoying, frustrating experience. Exits closed, access limited, traffic slowed down in work zones — mitigating the effects of those necessary evils is what a mobility coordinator does on behalf of the Texas […]