United States Department of TransportationResearch & 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 | |
|---|---|
2012 National Survey of Bicyclist and Pedestrian Attitudes and Behavior (Vols 1, 2, 3)This three-volume report is a survey that addressed safety and mobility issues; obtained trip information; and explored perceptions and use of public facilities such as sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and bicycle paths. It was administered to a probability-based sample of randomly selected people 16 and older. |
DOT HS 811 841 A, DOT HS 811 841 B, DOT HS 811 841 C |
Licensing Procedures for Older DriversThis study examined the driver licensing procedures in all 50 States as they apply to the older (65+) driver. A literature review examined reports of possible declines in older driver capabilities and the ability of a driver licensing agency to screen for them. The review also covered studies of licensing policies and procedures that had the potential ability to reduce older driver crash rates. |
DOT HS 811 833 |
Alcohol and Highway Safety: Screening and Brief Intervention for Alcohol Problems as a Community Approach to Improving Traffic SafetyThis report provides an overview of the use of Screening and Brief Intervention (SBI) as a countermeasure for those who have displayed, or could potentially display, harmful/hazardous drinking behaviors, including drinking and driving. |
DOT HS 811 836 |
Characterizing Local EMS SystemsAlthough some information exists about the organization, financing, and delivery of EMS in the Nation's 200 largest cities, there is less information available about how services are organized outside large urban areas, in which 75 percent of the nation's population resides. There is little evidence to support alternative system designs and configurations in terms of their impact on the effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery. To this end, there is a need to document the variation in system configurations so they may be evaluated on a common basis. |
DOT HS 811 824 |
High-Visibility Enforcement on Driver Compliance With Pedestrian Right-of-Way LawsGainesville, Florida increases pedestrian safety by implementing year-long program. This study developed and evaluated strategies to increase driver yielding to pedestrians on a citywide basis using high-visibility pedestrian right-of-way enforcement. The Gainesville Police Department took the lead for the city and became a full partner in project development and research. |
DOT HS 811 786 |
Identifying Countermeasure Strategies to Increase Safety of Older PedestriansThe objective of this project was to identify appropriate countermeasures that will reduce older pedestrians' exposure to injuries and fatal crashes. This involved exploring countermeasures within the area of transportation as well as in other fields such as public health and education with the intention of identifying strategies that can be implemented to increase older pedestrian safety. |
DOT HS 811 798 |
Click It or Ticket Evaluation, 2008-2009Statewide usage rates increased in 33 States (District of Columbia and Puerto Rico included) in 2008 and increased in 29 in 2009. The number of States increasing statewide belt use has decreased over time and the amount of annual increase was less than 1 percentage point for three of the last four years. It seems likely that more needs to be done to keep or extend gains made in seat belt awareness and belt use. |
DOT HS 811 536 |