Category: Safety Topics

Leveraging Existing Traffic Signal Assets to Obtain Quality Traffic Counts

  • June 9th, 2026

Traffic volume data are used by state departments of transportation (DOTs), metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), and other local agencies in various analyses and functions related to transportation planning, design, traffic operations, safety, pavement design and maintenance, enforcement, environmental analysis, and construction, among others. Leveraging Existing Traffic Signal Assets to Obtain Quality Traffic Counts

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Practices for Transportation Agency Procurement and Management of Advanced Technologies 2025

  • June 9th, 2026

State departments of transportation (DOTs) have effective procurement processes for highway construction but lag in acquiring new business technologies. As they invest in advanced solutions for communications, asset management, and human resources, they aim to leverage artificial intelligence and cloud-based big data tools. However, traditional procurement methods typically relied on by state DOTs focus on […]

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Digital Model–Based Project Development and Delivery: A Guide for Quality Management

  • June 9th, 2026

State departments of transportation (DOTs) have begun changing the medium of construction contract documents from paper or 2D plans to 3D models that are contractually binding. The driver of this major change is the ability for contractors and inspectors to use 3D models directly to support project activities and communicate the design intent. However, changing […]

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Trends in U.S. Drivers’ Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Vehicle Automation, 2019–2025

  • June 9th, 2026

Advances in automotive technology aim to enhance traffic safety beyond the capabilities of earlier vehicles. Vehicle technologies have progressed from basic assistance systems to higher levels of automation. As these technologies continue to develop, it is essential to understand how drivers’ perceptions and attitudes toward these systems are evolving. Examining these trends can help us […]

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Strategies to Improve State Traffic Citation and Adjudication Outcomes

  • June 9th, 2026

The ability of state agencies to track citation, adjudication, and disposition data accurately and effectively is essential for the identification and appropriate adjudication of problem drivers and habitual offenders. Efficient data tracking can provide benefits at all steps of the citation-adjudication process, from providing real-time information and safer roadside stops for law enforcement officers to […]

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Street Racing: Prevalence, Participation, and Public Concern

  • June 9th, 2026

Street racing on public roads presents significant risks to community safety. It includes behaviors such as excessive speeding, drag racing, street takeovers, and weaving through traffic, all of which endanger drivers, pedestrians, and emergency responders. In addition to immediate safety concerns, these activities can disrupt traffic and undermine community safety and confidence.  Street Racing: Prevalence, […]

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Transportation Planning in Non-Metropolitan/Rural Areas 2026

  • June 9th, 2026

Before the 1960s, rural communities had little influence over transportation planning, despite substantial state and federal investment in rural infrastructure. Over time, federal policy emphasized greater rural participation, encouraging state departments of transportation (DOTs) to adopt planning approaches in nonmetropolitan areas that engaged communities and local officials. Early efforts focused on consultation with rural officials […]

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Coordination of Highway Safety Improvement Program and Highway Safety Office Activities 2026

  • June 9th, 2026

The Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and the State Highway Safety Program are federal initiatives designed to improve highway safety and reduce fatal and serious injuries on the nation’s roadways. HSIPs are typically administered by state departments of transportation (DOTs) and may be structured differently across states. The State Highway Safety Program is managed by […]

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Tariffs, Global Value Chains, and the Incidence of Protection: Evidence from US Automobiles

  • May 22nd, 2026

In many modern industries, firms compete in differentiated-product markets while relying on complex global value chains for intermediate inputs. In such settings, trade policies such as tariffs on vehicles and parts operate not only through consumer substitution and firm pricing, but also through firms’ cost structures and sourcing decisions. We develop a structural model of […]

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Implementing Machine Learning at State Departments of Transportation: A Guide 2024

  • May 22nd, 2026

Within the last two decades, Machine Learning (ML), the main subfield of Artificial Intelligence (AI), has gained significant momentum across all sectors, driven by a confluence of factors: exponential growth in data generation, advancements in data storage and computing, and innovations in algorithmic techniques. Most notably and recently, the proliferation of deep learning (DL) methods […]

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