Behavioral Research Program

For More Information
Katie Womack, Program Manager
Center for Transportation Safety
Texas A&M Transportation Institute
3135 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-3135
(979) 317-2532
[email protected]
The mission of the Behavioral Research Program is to advance the expert and public understanding of social and behavioral issues important to transportation through the use of social science research methods.

The program addresses a wide range of safety issues that contribute significantly to the unacceptably high death and injury rates on our highways, including misuse and the lack of use of safety belts and child safety seats. Studies typically investigate or evaluate by assessing public opinion, knowledge, and preferences, or by observation of behavior.

Researchers excel in the application of an array of survey techniques including personal interviews, written questionnaires, telephone interviews, focus groups, and unobtrusive observation. Recent studies include measurements of compliance with safety inspection and vehicle registration requirements in Texas (using direct observation), a survey of Texas vehicle owners to assess a proposed new design of the vehicle registration sticker (using intercept interviews), an evaluation of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s standardized child passenger safety training program (using questionnaires, direct observation, telephone interviews, and focus groups), and multiple surveys of occupant restraint use and motorcycle helmet use focusing on various occupants (using direct observation).

The program is committed to making its research findings accessible, applicable, and available to a wide range of organizations and individuals.