The Texas Motorcycle Safety Coalition (TMSC), composed of volunteer members dedicated to improving motorcycle safety, continued work on drafting the first ever Motorcycle Safety Strategic Plan (MSSP) at their July 15th meeting. The plan is a comprehensive approach to address motorcycle safety issues by identifying goals, strategies, action steps, and performance measures for key focus areas. The overall goal is to improve highway safety by … [Read more...] about TMSC works to make riding safer
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Vote YES on TDS
The Teens in the Driver Seat (TDS) program has the opportunity to win $50,000 through the Pepsi Refresh Project to maintain and grow the program. Winners are selected based strictly on votes – and we need yours! There are four ways you can help us! Below are 3 methods for voting – EVERY DAY – for the entire month of January. If possible, we encourage you to use all three methods – we need every single vote we can get! In addition, by sharing this … [Read more...] about Vote YES on TDS
Cypress Falls students launching new safety program after survey shows pattern of risky driving behaviors
A recent survey shows that Cypress Falls students are more likely to engage in risky driving habits than other Texas teens, prompting the school to launch Teens in the Driver Seat (TDS), the nation’s first peer-to-peer safety program for young drivers. More than 400 Texas teens die every year in traffic crashes, by far the number one killer of young people. Texas A&M Transportation Institute researchers attribute the crashes to … [Read more...] about Cypress Falls students launching new safety program after survey shows pattern of risky driving behaviors
Traffic deaths down, but many feel less safe
More than a third of Texas drivers feel less safe on the roadways than they did five years ago, and they see the source of the increased danger in other drivers who are more likely to be aggressive and either talk or text on cell phones. And although well over half believe that vehicle safety is better, only 20 percent say that they, themselves, feel safer than before, even though traffic deaths in Texas have generally declined in … [Read more...] about Traffic deaths down, but many feel less safe
CTS helps organize program to report impaired drivers
TTI’s Center for Transportation Safety (CTS) is playing a vital role in Texas’ first effort to urge the public to report drivers suspected of being alcohol-impaired. The campaign, called Report Impaired Drivers, was kicked off with a news conference June 22 in Deer Park, Texas, located near Houston. “Harris County leads the nation in alcohol-related driving fatalities — 46 percent compared to 32 percent nationally,” says Associate Research … [Read more...] about CTS helps organize program to report impaired drivers
Nov. 21 World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
November 21 is the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. An estimated 1.3 million people world-wide die each year from traffic crashes. Awareness is growing about the critical development and public health challenge posed by road traffic deaths and injuries. This greater awareness has prompted governments and their partners to step up their response. Earlier this year, the UN General Assembly declared the first-ever “Decade … [Read more...] about Nov. 21 World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
Enforcement begins for new booster seat law
Members of TTI’s Center for Transportation Safety helped educate parents about the enforcement of a new booster seat law, which began June 1. As part of her work with Safe Communities, Assistant Research Specialist Irene Rodriguez took part in a Safe Kids Austin Booster Seat Tour event in May. The Booster Seat Tour is an effort to make sure parents know that the September 2009 Texas law requires children younger than eight years of age be … [Read more...] about Enforcement begins for new booster seat law
Bush School summer interns investigate safety issues for CTS
Three students from the Bush School of Government and Public Service researched three critical transportation safety issues as part of their internship at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s Center for Transportation Safety (CTS) this summer. They studied sobriety checkpoints, ignition interlock systems and traffic safety culture, in preparation for the upcoming legislative session. This was the first time the CTS internship program … [Read more...] about Bush School summer interns investigate safety issues for CTS
Center expands expertise in two key areas
Distracted driving A specialist in distracted driving issues has joined the CTS staff, supporting a broader effort to build knowledge in a rapidly growing area of national interest and concern. Joel Cooper earned his Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from the University of Utah, where he studied with Dr. David Strayer, one of the world’s foremost experts in the area. While a student, he led projects investigating the impact of cell phone use on … [Read more...] about Center expands expertise in two key areas
CTS assisting Legislative safety review
State lawmakers are taking a close look at roadway safety, and the Center for Transportation Safety is serving as a resource in that process. CTS Director John Mounce and Senior Research Scientist Quinn Brackett testified before the House Subcommittee on Vulnerable Road User Safety at the panel’s public hearing in Irving on August 10. The two addressed the big picture of traffic safety in Texas, and then reviewed conditions for each of the … [Read more...] about CTS assisting Legislative safety review