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Read the latest news and announcements from traffic safety interest groups and about traffic safety topics here.
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
Understanding how to effectively influence electric vehicle (EV) charging behavior is critical for managing electricity grids powered by high levels of variable renewable generation. We present results from a large-scale natural field experiment conducted in the United Kingdom, involving approximately 110,000 EV customers and 60% of the country’s public charging infrastructure. Within this network, we […]
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 […]
The United States faces a road safety crisis: the fatal crash rate per mile traveled has been climbing for the past decade, and crashes involving vulnerable road users—pedestrians, bicyclists, and others who share the roads with motor vehicles—have grown the fastest. Furthermore, motor vehicle death rates in the United States are three to four times […]