Featured Research

A new study shows a correlation between increased oil and gas drilling activity and crashes in energy-rich areas of the state. Continue Reading. … [Read more...] about 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 and Eagle Ford regions, the number of new wells increased significantly, as did the number of rural … [Read more...] about New Findings: More New Oil and Gas Wells, More Crashes and Injury Costs

Researcher: Katie Womack Sponsor: Texas Department of Transportation The objective of this project is to conduct surveys on the use of occupant restraint, motorcycle helmet and child restraint devices statewide and in selected urban areas of Texas. The statewide survey and sampling protocol meet the uniform survey criteria adopted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and therefore the results from this survey are … [Read more...] about Tracking changes in seat belt use across Texas

End-of-queue warning systems alert drivers about slowing or stopped vehicles ahead What’s the Problem? For decades, transportation agencies across the country have sought ways to reduce rear-end crashes in and around construction zones. TTI researchers are supporting the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT’s) $2.1 billion I-35 Expansion Project with a first-of-its-kind traveler information system. The construction project covers 96 … [Read more...] about Facilitating Deployment Decisions of Highly Portable End-of-Queue Warning Systems

Researcher: Lee Ann Bell Sponsor: Texas Department of Transportation What’s the Problem? In Texas, alcohol has been a contributing factor in 33 percent of fatal crashes. Texas statutes require the use of ignition interlock devices for repeat driving-while-intoxicated (DWI) offenses; however, the decision of whether or not the device is ordered to be installed in a vehicle remains at the discretion of the courts. While most traffic safety … [Read more...] about Examining attitudes about ignition interlock devices for first and subsequent offenders

When you drive at night and your headlights illuminate a lane marking, it makes you feel safer, right? After all, bright pavement markings are designed to help you stay in your lane and prevent you from running off the roadway. Called retroreflectivity, special materials in edge lines and lane lines create the brightness. With age and wear that brightness deteriorates. Although we assume there’s a correlation between pavement marking … [Read more...] about New Study Shines Light on Pavement Markings and Safety

Planning for the 2013 Traffic Safety Conference, sponsored by the Center for Transportation Safety (CTS) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), is currently underway. This year’s conference will be held June 3-5 in Fort Worth, Texas, and will also include a pre-conference workshop – Improving the Safety of Your Highway Workers with the “Roadway Safety+" Work Zone Training Program. Our preliminary program is now available online. … [Read more...] about 2013 Traffic Safety Conference

Texas A&M Transportation Institute Research Engineer Paul Carlson was recently featured in the January issue of Traffic Technology International. The article is related to senior drivers and has a section on visibility, which Carlson is noted throughout the country for his research.  Carlson is the division head for the Operations and Design Division and also leads TTI’s Visibility Research Laboratory. Read the article … [Read more...] about Carlson Featured in Traffic Technology International

Researcher: Troy Walden, Ph.D. Sponsor: Texas Department of Transportation  CTS researchers performed an analysis of crash data in CRIS to determine drivers who were involved in alcohol-related crashes across all 254 counties in Texas. The data were used to identify which medical examiners and/or county coroners/justices of the peace are responsible for reporting blood alcohol concentration (BAC) results to TxDOT crash records. Researchers … [Read more...] about Improving BAC testing and reporting in Texas