Side roads, main roads and highways have seemingly transformed into race tracks or obstacle courses during the last couple of years. Drivers slowing down, wearing seatbelts and not being under the influence can help reduce the number of deaths on roads; however, Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) researchers are also working on other ways to make roads safer. TTI Senior Research Engineers Robert Wunderlich and Roger Bligh were … [Read more...] about How a More Forgiving Roadside Could Impact Severity of Crashes
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Texas Just Saw its Second-Deadliest Year on Record for Road Fatalities. Here’s Why.
Robert Wunderlich, CTS director, was recently interviewed by Texas Standard to discuss the factors that contributed to 2021 being the second-deadliest year on Texas roadways on record. New data from the Texas Department of Transportation reports 4,480 people died in car wrecks in 2021. The only year with more vehicle fatalities was 1981. … [Read more...] about Texas Just Saw its Second-Deadliest Year on Record for Road Fatalities. Here’s Why.
What’s to Blame for the Increase in Texas Traffic-Related Deaths?
CTS Director Robert Wunderlich joins Texas Public Radio on "The Source" to talk traffic safety, and address concerns over the rise in Texas roadway deaths during the pandemic. … [Read more...] about What’s to Blame for the Increase in Texas Traffic-Related Deaths?
The Federal Government Plan to Reduce Roadway Deaths—With Smarter Road Design
Robert Wunderlich, CTS director, is featured in a WIRED story discussing the U.S. Department of Transportation’s desire to shift the focus from the actions of individual drivers to the role of street layouts and local policies to reduce roadway deaths. … [Read more...] about The Federal Government Plan to Reduce Roadway Deaths—With Smarter Road Design
TTI, TxDOT Win National Safety Award
The Roadway Safety Foundation has honored the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) with a 2021 National Roadway Safety Award. The foundation lauded the TxDOT-sponsored, TTI-developed “Safer by Design” tool, a user-friendly innovation roadway designers can use to assess the safety characteristics of rural highway design. … [Read more...] about TTI, TxDOT Win National Safety Award
Deadly Crashes on Rural Roads Prompt New Safety Efforts
Robert Wunderlich, CTS director, is featured in a USA Today story (source: Stateline) discussing built-in safety to prevent traffic crashes. Simple engineering changes such as rumble strips, median barriers, pavement markings, better lighting and wider shoulders could make a big difference in rural road safety. … [Read more...] about Deadly Crashes on Rural Roads Prompt New Safety Efforts
Did We Forget How to Drive During the Pandemic?
CTS Director Robert Wunderlich joins CBS News Radio Los Angeles to talk traffic safety, and addresses concerns over the number of traffic fatalities reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wunderlich is featured in the final segment (at the 39:35-minute mark in the episode). … [Read more...] about Did We Forget How to Drive During the Pandemic?
The Year of Driving Less—but More Dangerously
CTS Director and TTI Senior Research Engineer Robert Wunderlich is featured in a story in WIRED highlighting the downturn in traffic volume and the overall number of crashes during COVID-19 quarantine while pointing out the lack of a commensurate reduction in fatal crashes. … [Read more...] about The Year of Driving Less—but More Dangerously
I-Team: Despite Less Traffic, There Have Been More Deadly Crashes In North Texas During Pandemic
CTS Director Robert Wunderlich talks to CBS affiliate KTVT in Dallas-Fort Worth regarding the phenomenon of more deadly crashes despite few overall crashes on Texas roadways during the height of the COVID-19 lockdown in April 2020. … [Read more...] about I-Team: Despite Less Traffic, There Have Been More Deadly Crashes In North Texas During Pandemic
Holiday Traffic Might Decrease in San Antonio and across Texas, but Auto Deaths, Not So Much
Center Director Robert Wunderlich is interviewed regarding traffic trends during the height of stay-at-home orders in April 2020, where crashes decreased but fatal crashes didn't decrease commensurately. The article also discusses safety interventions aimed at reducing fatal crashes. … [Read more...] about Holiday Traffic Might Decrease in San Antonio and across Texas, but Auto Deaths, Not So Much