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Electric cars have soared in popularity in the wake of high gasoline prices. While improvements in vehicle battery technology have led to increased battery range, consumers are still left wondering how long they can expect their vehicle battery to last. After all, the battery pack is the most expensive part of an electric car, with […]
Behavioral traffic safety messaging aims to inform, persuade, and motivate specific groups of road users to modify risky behaviors, with the goal of improving road safety and reducing traffic-related injuries and fatalities. These campaigns address numerous behaviors among both motor vehicle drivers and vulnerable road users across a wide range of demographics. Regardless of the […]
An active transportation network includes trails, sidewalks, bike lanes, and roads designed for walking, bicycling, or rolling. They are not only important for recreation, but for short trips as well. In many U.S. communities, these networks are fragmented or have gaps, making active travel less appealing or safe. To encourage more active travel, communities are […]
Automated Traffic Signal Performance Measures (ATSPMs) use high-resolution signal and detector data to enable continuous, proactive monitoring of traffic operations and maintenance. Although they have proven benefits, their adoption among state departments of transportation (DOTs) varies widely due to challenges such as funding, equipment upgrades, and staffing. Understanding the factors behind successful implementations and the […]
The Safe System Approach,(1) the guiding paradigm of the United States Department of Transportation National Road Safety Strategy,(2) recognizes that system redundancy is crucial to reducing deaths and serious injuries on our Nation’s roads. Where pavements are concerned, this paradigm involves providing adequate levels of friction supply to meet the friction demand (i.e., the level […]
A variety of approaches and methods have been used by state departments of transportation (DOTs) and others for assessing the safety effectiveness of treatments and technologies at highway-rail grade crossings. These approaches and methods are based on early data and do not consider all operational aspects of highway-rail grade crossings or recently developed technologies, and […]
Work-related traffic crashes remain particularly challenging to address. However, recent research and practice have shown that instilling an awareness of safety and fostering a corporate safety culture supportive of safety may prevent traffic crashes, reduce their frequency, and reduce their severity. Developing Employer-Based Behavioral Traffic Safety Programs for Drivers in the Workplace
Travelers who are blind or visually impaired use a variety of cues and strategies to orient themselves within their surroundings and move through space to where they want to go. This wayfinding process can be particularly challenging in complex urban environments where some cues, such as detectable edge treatments, the sound of surging parallel traffic, […]
For decades, public safety has been a priority for state departments of transportation (DOTs) as they strive to reduce traffic crashes. To support these efforts, the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Office of Safety developed a list of proven safety countermeasures that include brief descriptions, information sheets, and additional references. These measures have been field-tested and […]
The U.S. maritime industry operates more than 10,500 vessels that transport essential energy, food, and goods across inland and ocean routes. Yet the sector faces a shrinking skilled workforce, declining academy enrollment, and a series of high-profile misconduct incidents that have exposed systemic issues of culture, supervision, and accountability. Strengthening Alcohol Policies and Supporting Safety […]