Research & Evaluation
Behavioral Research
Behaviors and Attitudes
NHTSA studies behaviors and attitudes in highway safety, focusing on drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and motorcyclists. We identify and measure behaviors involved in crashes or associated with injuries, and develop and refine countermeasures to deter unsafe behaviors and promote safe alternatives.
Our recently published reports and research notes are listed chronologically below. To the right are additional resources including Traffic Techs.
| Title | |
|---|---|
Functional Conditions: Driving-Related Fact Sheet for Medical ProfessionalsThis medical fact sheet discusses functional conditions and their impact on driving. It further provides recommendations for clinicians regarding their role in counseling patients about driving safety. For more information go to www.medscape.com. |
DOT HS 812 888d |
Sleep Disorders: Driving-Related Fact Sheet for Medical ProfessionalsThis medical fact sheet discusses sleep disorders and their impact on driving. It further provides recommendations for clinicians regarding their role in counseling patients about driving safety. For more information go to www.medscape.com. |
DOT HS 812 888c |
Cardiovascular Disease: Driving-Related Fact Sheet for Medical ProfessionalsThis medical fact sheet discusses cardiovascular disease and its impact on driving. It further provides recommendations for clinicians regarding their role in counseling patients about driving safety. For more information go to www.medscape.com. |
DOT HS 812 888b |
Cognitive Conditions: Driving-Related Fact Sheet for Medical ProfessionalsThis medical fact sheet discusses cognitive conditions and their impact on driving. It further provides recommendations for clinicians regarding their role in counseling patients about driving safety. For more information go to www.medscape.com. |
DOT HS 812 888a |
COVID-19 and Prehospital Post-Crash Care, TSF, Research NotePost-crash care relies on a safe and healthy emergency medical services (EMS) workforce and is a crucial component of the Safe System Approach and traffic safety. This literature review revealed that EMS professionals were significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic with impacts to the emergency response environment and the mental health of first responders. This research note briefly describes how the EMS environment and the health of first responders are affected by COVID-19-pandemic-related changes that in turn may affect prehospital post-crash care and motor vehicle crash outcomes. EMS personnel, researchers, traffic safety specialists, and others involved with highway safety programs will find this research note useful regarding motor vehicle crash survivability and pre-hospital post-crash care. |
DOT HS 813 485 |
Impact of Access Management on Driver BehaviorsThis project analyzed data from the Second Strategic Highway Research Program’s Naturalistic Driving Study (SHRP2-NDS) to investigate the effects of roadway designs and access management techniques on driver behavior. The project included a literature review, interviews with subject matter experts, variable selection, data sampling, coding of driving behavior, and analysis. Selecting hesitation and uncertainty at circular intersections as the driving behavior of interest, the project team used traditional statistics and machine-learning to understand 1) when hesitation and uncertainty is most likely, and 2) what contextual variables predict the incidence of hesitation and uncertainty. The team found hesitation or uncertainty most common during entry at circular intersections, and that driver age and engagement in secondary tasks (e.g., eating, cell phone usage) the most important predictors of hesitation or uncertainty. These findings suggest further development and dissemination of educational or informational materials could mitigate drivers’ hesitation or uncertainty in circular intersections and thereby improve traffic safety. |
DOT HS 813 440 |
Analysis of Ground Ambulance Crash Data From 2012 to 2018This study reviewed ground ambulance crashes that occurred from 2012 to 2018 in the United States. The study queried several national crash databases and reviewed NHTSA’s Special Crash Investigation reports for ambulance-involved crashes. The objective of the study was to review ambulance crashes that occurred from 2012 to 2018 to identify factors contributing to ambulance-involved crashes and injuries and identify priority countermeasures to increase ambulance safety. Findings suggest several priority countermeasures to improve ground ambulance safety: (1) Strengthen organizational safety polices; (2) Reduce operator error through training; (3) Create a culture of safety; and (4) Adopt new vehicle safety designs or technologies. |
DOT HS 813 480 |
Comparative Study of Communities With High Rates of Pedestrian InjuriesA challenge for many communities is understanding, developing, and deploying effective strategies to address pedestrian deaths and injuries. The University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center and 2M Research conducted a comparative analysis of 12 communities successfully addressing pedestrian issues to other communities with similar populations, density, incomes, geographic regions, and other factors. Their research resulted in a discrete set of strategies and best practices that may help to explain the communities’ successes. This guidebook describes the study, the results, specific strategy, countermeasures, and solutions. |
DOT HS 813 463 |
Low-Cost Pedestrian Safety Zones: Countermeasure Selection ResourceThis project consists of two reports, this one and Low-Cost Pedestrian Safety Zones: Countermeasure Selection Resource. They were developed for State Highway Safety Offices and transportation professionals seeking to support and implement low-cost, quick countermeasures to address pedestrian safety. The handbook describes the process of developing and using low-cost pedestrian safety zones. The resource report details low-cost countermeasures as part of pedestrian safety zone efforts. Pedestrian safety zones target a specifically identified area using a complex combination of countermeasures, typically education, enforcement, and engineering. When done correctly, significant improvements are made. |
DOT HS 813 479 |
Low-Cost Pedestrian Safety Zones: An Eight-Step HandbookThis project consists of two reports, this one and Low-Cost Pedestrian Safety Zones: Countermeasure Selection Resource. They were developed for State Highway Safety Offices and transportation professionals seeking to support and implement low-cost, quick countermeasures to address pedestrian safety. The handbook describes the process of developing and using low-cost pedestrian safety zones. The resource report details low-cost countermeasures as part of pedestrian safety zone efforts. Pedestrian safety zones target a specifically identified area using a complex combination of countermeasures, typically education, enforcement, and engineering. When done correctly, significant improvements are made. |
DOT HS 813 478 |