Lifesavers 2017
Conference

Lifesavers National Conference on Highway Safety Priorities
The largest gathering of highway safety professionals in the United States
March 26-28, 2017
Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte, North Carolina
The Lifesavers Conference brings together a unique combination of public health and safety professionals, researchers, advocates, practitioners and students committed to sharing best practices, research, and policy initiatives that are proven to work.
On the Web

- Driving While Impaired Arrest Process Improvement
(PDF 1.46 MB) August 2016; DOT HS 812 308
This final report on the Driving While Impaired Arrest Process project includes six case studies of strategies used by law enforcement to reduce the cost and time associated with processing DWI arrests. The objectives are to identify law enforcement agencies that have made improvements to their DWI arrest procedures resulting in time and/or cost savings, and to gather data from these jurisdictions to describe these savings. The improvements, time and cost savings, and implementation are described to develop a roadmap that agencies can use to implement these solutions.
- Drug and Alcohol Crash Risk: A Case-Control Study
(PDF 1.46 MB) December 2016; DOT HS 812 355
This study used a “case-control” design to estimate the risk of crashes involving drivers who used drugs, alcohol or both, obtaining 10,221 breath samples, 9,285 oral fluid samples, and 1,764 blood samples from more than 3,000 crash drivers and 6,000 control drivers. Crash risk estimates for alcohol indicated drivers with BrACs of .08 g/210L is 3.98 times that of drivers with no alcohol.
- Marijuana, Other Drugs, and Alcohol Use by Drivers in Washington State
(PDF 1.91 MB) July 2016; DOT HS 812 299
In Washington State, legal sale of marijuana began July 8, 2014. A voluntary, anonymous roadside study was conducted to assess the prevalence of drivers testing positive for alcohol and other drugs—including marijuana—on Washington’s roads. Data was collected in three waves: before implementation of legal sales, about six months after implementation, and one year after implementation. Out of almost 2,500 participants, 14.6 percent of drivers, 19.4 percent of drivers, and 21.8 percent of drivers were THC-positive in Waves 1, 2, and 3, respectively.
- Marijuana, Other Drugs, and Alcohol Use by Drivers in Washington State Appendices
(PDF 1.53 MB) July 2016; DOT HS 812 299A
Appendices for “Marijuana, Other Drugs, and Alcohol Use by Drivers in Washington State” report above.
- 2013–2014 National Roadside Study of Alcohol and Drug Use by Drivers
(PDF 5.6 MB) July 2016; DOT HS 812 294
This is the first of three reports on our 2013-2104 National Roadside Survey (NRS). This report describes the methodology for the NRS, a national field study to estimate the prevalence of alcohol-, drug-, and alcohol-plus-drug-involved driving primarily among nighttime weekend drivers, but also daytime Friday drivers. This study involved randomly stopping drivers at 300 locations across the continental United States. The locations were selected through a stratified random sampling procedure. Researchers collected the data during a two-hour Friday daytime session (either 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.) at 60 locations, and during four two-hour nighttime periods (10 p.m. to midnight and 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights) at 240 locations, for a total of 300 locations. Data included both self-report and biological measures. Self-report portions were funded by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). An objective was to obtain at least 7,500 oral fluid samples for analysis. Oral fluid and blood samples were subjected to laboratory screening and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS; the term MS/MS is the combination of two mass analyzers in one mass spec instrument) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) confirmation respectively for alcohol and six classes of drugs, allowing researchers to estimate a national prevalence of alcohol and other drugs in drivers. This report describes the field methods used to conduct this study, including data collection procedures. The report also details overall response rates. All drivers’ responses were completely voluntary and anonymous.
- 2013-2014 National Roadside Study of Alcohol and Drug Use by Drivers: Alcohol Results
(PDF 5.6 MB) December 2016; DOT HS 812 362
This is the second of three reports on our 2013-2104 National Roadside Survey. This report focuses on the Alcohol Results. The results showed a continuing reduction in alcohol-positive drivers on weekend nights – to 8.3% during our study. The results were announced during an event in early 2015.
- Survey of DWI Courts
(PDF 1.74 MB) June 2016; DOT HS 812 283
NHTSA conducted a web-based survey of DWI Courts and DWI/Drug Courts (court programs that handle both DWI and drug offenders) in April and May of 2015 in order to obtain detailed information on how DWI Courts were operating. NHTSA conducted the survey in collaboration with the National Center for DWI Courts, who alerted State Drug Court Coordinators to the survey, supported NHTSA webinars that described the survey, and provided NHTSA with contact information for the court programs. A total of 156 courts responded to the survey from a contact list of 473.
- NHTSA Drowsy Driving Research and Program Plan
(PDF613 KB
) March 2016; DOT HS 812 252
- Fatality Reduction by Seat Belts in the Center Rear Seat and Comparison of Occupants’ Relative Fatality Risk at Various Seating Positions
(PDF 1.57 MB) February 2017; DOT HS 812 369
- Motor Vehicle Occupant Protection Facts: Children, Youth and Young Adults
(PDF 1.58 MB) March 2016; DOT HS 812 251
- The 2015 National Survey of the Use of Booster Seats
(PDF 2.13 MB) September 2016; DOT HS 812 309
- Occupant Restraint Use in 2015: Results from the NOPUS Controlled Intersection Study
(PDF 613 KB) September 2016; DOT HS 812 330
- Effectiveness of CPS Info. for the Safe Transportation of Children – Final Report
(PDF 8.22 MB) February 2016; DOT HS 812 245
- Evaluation of Kansas and Missouri Rural Seat Belt Demos
(PDF 1.27 MB) April 2016; DOT HS 812 268
Research has shown that seat belt use is lower in rural areas of the United States, which may be one reason fatalities are higher in these areas than in urban area. NHTSA sponsored two State-level demonstration projects intended to increase seat belt use in rural areas of Kansas and Missouri. During the study, Kansas and Missouri had secondary seat belt laws. Kansas used multiple media and enforcement waves, and Missouri employed a month-long media and enforcement campaign. Evaluations demonstrated increases in seat belt usage in many of the rural counties participating in the project, but some counties showed no change, or even a decrease, in seat belt use. Kansas showed an overall increase in seat belt use, from 61- to 70-percent use after the second intervention. Missouri showed increases in belt use in some of the 10 counties, though offset by decreases or no change in the other counties. Results support the conclusion that supplemental efforts of the demonstration projects produced positive results in the target counties and also benefited the total occupant protection programs in the State.
- Evaluation of a Rural Seat Belt Demonstration Program in Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee
(PDF 1.62 MB) September 2016; DOT HS 812 328
Three southeastern States initiated high-visibility enforcement campaigns to address lower seat belt use in rural areas versus non-rural areas. Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee conducted four waves of intensified enforcement and media from November 2008 to May 2010. The May campaigns were conducted just prior to the national Click It or Ticket campaigns. Combining activity, awareness, and usage data from all three States, there was a significant positive correlation between media expenditures and awareness of rural seat belt messages. Two awareness indices correlated highly with usage and achieved statistical significance: awareness of rural seat belt messages and perceived risk of a ticket for not buckling up. While the significant correlations between awareness measures and belt usage suggest that the message got through to drivers, comparison of changes in belt use in the RDP versus the control areas produced mixed results. Seat belt use increased significantly in the targeted rural areas of all three States, but it also increased at about the same rate in the control areas in two of the States. Only Georgia provided evidence of a rate of increase in rural usage greater than experienced in the control area, which may have been partially due to the use and public awareness of checkpoints.
- Expanding the Seat Belt Program Strategies Toolbox: A Starter Kit for Trying New Program Ideas
(PDF 1.52 MB) October 2016; DOT HS 812 341
Researchers examined behavioral-change strategies proven effective in education, healthcare, advertising as possible approaches to increase seat belt use. This report is the result, a “starter kit” of ideas of varying levels of readiness so occupant protection programmers can use in seat belt programming across the country. Five strategies include high school service-learning programs, hospital discharge programs, targeted online advertising, online learning and e-learning, and product/message placement.
- Functional Outcomes for Older Adults Injured in a Crash
(PDF 330 KB) May 2016; DOT HS 812 288
This report explores health and quality-of-life impacts of crashes among older (65+) and middle-aged (40-55) occupants. Analyses indicated the injured people had long-term health decrements following the crashes, and that older and middle-age injured occupants showed continuing health decrements approximately 15 months following the crashes. Although both groups showed similar physical effects, middle-age people showed greater quality-of-life decrements. These findings demonstrate the long-term implications of injury crashes and, therefore, highlight the need for crash avoidance and mitigation countermeasures.
- Medical Review Practices for Driver Licensing Volume 1: A Case Study of Guidelines and Processes in Seven U.S. States
(PDF 14.4 MB) October 2016; DOT HS 812 331
This is the first of three reports examining driver medical review practices in the United States and how they fulfilled the basic functions of identifying, assessing, and rendering licensing decisions on medically at-risk drivers, documenting strengths and weaknesses of a variety of approaches. This report presents the methods used to group the diverse medical review practices across the 51 driver licensing agencies into four broad medical review structures, describes selection of States for case study, and identifies strengths and weaknesses associated with each of the four medical review structures. The seven States were Maine, North Carolina, Texas, Wisconsin, Ohio, Washington, and Oregon.
- Advancing Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety: A Primer for Highway Safety Professionals
(PDF 2.23 MB) April 2016; DOT HS 812 258
Communities across the country are encouraging walking and biking to meet safety, health, livability, equity, and mobility goals. This primer is intended for highway safety professionals, including State Highway Safety Officials, as well as their partners and grantees, as a reference for an integrated and comprehensive effort to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety and support broader transportation-related goals. The primer summarizes the most promising infrastructure treatments and behavioral programs available for addressing specific safety problems and highlights how these approaches can be combined and implemented. It identifies opportunities for various agencies to collaborate and combine their respective approaches and funding for a more comprehensive program. It also offers real-world examples of what States and local jurisdictions are doing to address pedestrian and bicycle issues in a comprehensive manner. Finally, the primer includes descriptions of key concepts and definitions of common terms and acronyms to help readers understand the essentials of pedestrian and bicycle safety issues when discussing and collaborating with diverse partners to develop comprehensive programs.
- Effect of Electronic Device Use on Pedestrian Safety: A Literature Review
(PDF 2.85 MB) April 2016; DOT HS 812 256
This literature review on the effect of electronic device use on pedestrian safety is part of a research project sponsored by the Office of Behavioral Safety Research in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). An extensive literature review was conducted and summarized in three sections: pedestrian distraction, driver distraction, and pedestrian-vehicle interactions. Within each section, the findings were further divided into several subsections based on the study methodologies, such as naturalistic observations, simulation, laboratory, and crash database analysis. It was discovered that a very limited number of studies have investigated the effect of electronic device use by pedestrians and drivers on pedestrian safety. Even fewer naturalistic observation studies have been performed. Furthermore, most previous studies focus primarily on cell phone use, but the discussion regarding other types of electronic devices is missing. In conclusion, the review illustrates that there is a need to conduct naturalistic observations of the effect of electronic device use on pedestrian distraction and safety.
- The Effect of High-Visibility Enforcement on Driver Compliance With Pedestrian Right-of-Way Laws: Four-Year Follow-Up
(PDF 655 KB) January 2017; DOT HS 812 364
This study is a follow-up to a previous study entitled High-Visibility Enforcement on Driver Compliance With Pedestrian Right-of-Way Laws. The objective was to determine the extent to which the observed increases in driver yielding obtained in the previous study persisted over a follow-up period of nearly four years after the high-visibility enforcement intervention program ended.
- System Analysis of Automated Speed Enforcement Implementation
(PDF 1.42MB) April 2016; DOT HS 812 257
Speeding is a major factor in a large proportion of traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities in the United States. Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) is one of many approaches shown to be effective in reducing speeding violations and crashes. However, despite the effectiveness of ASE, opposition to automated enforcement can make it difficult to establish and maintain these programs. In 2008, NHTSA and the Federal Highway Administration published the Speed Enforcement Camera Systems Operational Guidelines to assist State and local agencies in planning and operating ASE systems as a component of comprehensive speed management programs. Data on currently operating and recently discontinued ASE programs in the United States were collected over a six-month period through questionnaires, phone calls, e-mails, and site visits. The programs were compared to critical elements of the NHTSA Guidelines. Although 63 percent of the respondents were not aware of the NHTSA Guidelines, the programs were consistent with the guidelines on many specific issues. Enabling legislation and technologies varied greatly by State and by agency, and appeared to have large effects on how programs were operated. There were also striking differences in ASE program administration between States implementing ASE prior to 2008, when the NHTSA Guidelines were published, and those beginning more recently.
- Motivations for Speeding – Additional Data Analysis
(PDF 11.4 MB) April 2016; DOT HS 812 255
Speeding-related crashes continue to be a serious problem in the United States. A recently completed NHTSA project, Motivations for Speeding, collected data to address questions about driver speeding behavior. This naturalistic driving study used 1-Hz GPS units to collect data from 88 drivers in Seattle and 76 drivers in rural Texas to record how fast vehicles traveled on different roadways. Analysis identified four basic patterns of speeding behavior. The project developed this data set to redefine speeding in terms of speeding episodes and to create a new data set for analyses in terms of individual speeding episodes, and examined the influence of situational factors on the different types of speeding. Analyses of the speeding episodes identified types of speeding: speeding that occurs around speed-zone transitions, incidental speeding, casual speeding, cruising speeding, and aggressive speeding. Analyses also identified driver types: unintentional speeders, situational speeders, typical speeders, and deliberate speeders. Both types of speeding and driver types occurred across all demographic groups. Data analyses on the relationships between situational factors and speeding was conducted at a high level due to the lack of available situational data, yielding the following conclusions: (1) general riskiness of different types of speeding was corroborated by the involvement of riskier elements in speeding episodes, (2) anecdotal evidence of location-specific characteristics affecting both the occurrence and non-occurrence of speeding was found, (3) there were indirect indicators that certain aspects of the driving environment affect speeding behavior, and (4) there were clear similarities between types of speeding at both the rural and urban data collection sites.
- National Travel Speed Survey
(PDF 3.24 MB)NHTSA’s Office of Behavioral Safety Research (OBSR) has conducted national telephone surveys focusing on different program areas since 1991. The results have been disseminated through published and posted reports. Beginning in 2009, OBSR began to post its survey databases with accompanying explanatory material for use by the public. OBSR recently posted a database regarding the National Travel Speed Survey (conducted in 2011).
- Video and Non-Video Feedback Interventions for Teen Drivers
(PDF 297 KB) July 2016; DOT HS 812 291
In-vehicle feedback technologies help parents teach their adolescent drivers. While feedback technologies have been shown to reduce some risky driving behavior, teens and parents’ privacy concerns deter some families from using them, especially technologies that include video. This study evaluated two similar technology-based systems, one with and one without video, to determine how much they reduced unsafe driving behavior in newly licensed teen drivers.
- Comparison of 2013 VMT Fatality Rates in U.S. States and in High-Income Countries
(PDF 867 KB) October 2016; DOT HS 812 340
- Cost of Motor Vehicle Crashes to Employers - 2015
(PDF 1.1 MB)
March 2016; Network of Employers for Traffic Safety
- More Cops, More Stops: Evaluation of a Combined HVE Program in Oklahoma and Tennessee
(PDF 1.87 MB) October 2016; DOT HS 812 337
This report evaluates the “More Cops, More Stops” combined enforcement program in Oklahoma and Tennessee, letting the traffic safety community make better informed programming decisions. This evaluation provides little evidence to support the continued use of More Cops, More Stops to enhance the effect of Click It or Ticket and Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
New Web Products

- African-American Seat Belt Toolkit (April 2016)
NHTSA updated the web-based toolkit to educate African-Americans about the importance of seat belt use in reducing the large injury disparity between them and other American motorists. NHTSA’s African-American seat belt toolkit serves as a resource for State and community organizations and is both user-friendly and population-specific.
- Project Ignition Teen Driver Safety Best Practices Toolkit
This toolkit provides a step-by-step guide for carrying out a campaign to address teen seat belt usage. The toolkit can be found on the National Youth Leadership Council’s website.
- 2017 Distraction Communication Material – Products for Law Enforcement Action Kit (PEAK)
- Take a Break. Drive Awake. (Drowsy Driving Campaign)
The campaign includes fact sheets, infographics, banner ads, and web videos on the dangers of driving drowsy.
- New Training Opportunity
New Distracted-Driving Enforcement Strategies Course Now Available
NHTSA recently developed a new course for law enforcement officers designed to strengthen their efforts to support State distracted-driving laws. The course is conducted by the U.S. DOT’s Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) using the “Virtual Live” online format. For details on how to participate in an upcoming virtual live session, or to discuss possibly arranging a session dedicated to law enforcement agencies in your area, please contact your NHTSA Regional Office training coordinator. Information for this course is also available on TSI’s Learning Management System at http://tsi-dot.csod.com.
- Last Call 360
NHTSA is delivering a cautionary message to the public about the power of human choices through its new interactive experience, Last Call 360. Launched in 2016 in support of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over impaired-driving campaign, this new virtual experience creates a bar scene through an interactive 360° website environment that uses photospheres, cinema graphs, videos, and a gaming environment. With help from popular YouTube influencer MatPat as the narrator, visitors are able to interact with bar patrons, play games, watch videos, order virtual alcoholic drinks and most importantly, understand the consequences of drinking and driving. Accessible via mobile phone or computer, visit the free Last Call 360 experience and tell us what you think.
- Move Over Campaign Material on TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov
- New Rail Grade Crossing Campaign on TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov
Developed in conjunction with the Federal Railroad Administration, this campaign warns people about the dangers of trying to beat a train. Campaign material includes sample earned media templates in English and Spanish, banner ads, infographics, social media tools, and paid radio, digital and social media in English and Spanish. Media flight runs in March 2017 for 6 weeks.
- Recalls Safety Campaign Material on TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov
- Redesigned TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov
Look for new and refreshed traffic safety campaigns and the most up-to-date NHTSA campaign material available.
Traffic Safety Facts

Fact Sheets
- Seat Belt Use in 2016—Overall Results (PDF 716 KB) November 2016; DOT HS 812 351
- 2015 Motor Vehicle Crashes: Overview (PDF 459 KB) August 2016; DOT HS 812 318
- Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities for the First Nine Months of… (PDF 267 KB) January 2017; DOT HS 812 358
- Young Drivers 2015 Data (PDF 370 KB) February 2017; DOT HS 812 363
- Occupant Protection 2015 Data (PDF 508 KB) February 2017; DOT HS 812 374
- Lives Saved in 2015 by Restraint Use and Minimum-Drinking-Age Laws (PDF 535 KB) August 2016; DOT HS 812 319
- Distracted Driving 2014 (PDF 571 KB) April 2016; DOT HS 812 260
- Driver Electronic Device Use in 2015 (PDF 809 KB) September 2016; DOT HS 812 326
- Teen Distracted Driver 2015 Data (PDF 160 KB) October 2016; DOT HS 812 335
- Children 2015 Data (PDF 855 KB) March 2017; DOT HS 812 383
- School-Transportation-Related Crashes 2015 Data (PDF 343 KB) January 2017; DOT HS 812 366
- Summary of Motor Vehicle Crashes (Early Edition) 2015 Data (PDF 439 KB) February 2017; DOT HS 812 376
- Pedestrians 2015 Data (PDF 476 KB) February 2017; DOT HS 812 375
- Older Population 2015 Data (PDF 477 KB) February 2017; DOT HS 812 372
- Motorcycles 2015 Data (PDF 386 KB) December 2016; DOT HS 812 353
Traffic Techs
- The Effect of High-Visibility Enforcement on Driver Compliance With Pedestrian … (PDF 577 KB) January 2017; DOT HS 812 365
- Expanding the Seat Belt Program Strategies Toolbox: A Starter Kit for Trying Ne… (PDF 545 KB) January 2017; DOT HS 812 342
- More Cops More Stops: Evaluation of a Combined HVE Program in Oklahoma and Tenn… (PDF 127 KB) January 2017; DOT HS 812 338
- Drivers’ Use of Marijuana in Washington State (PDF 504 KB) August 2016; DOT HS 812 307
- Survey of DWI Courts (PDF 573 KB) June 2016 ; DOT HS 812 287
- Older Occupants’ Recovery From Crash Injuries (PDF 549 KB) May 2016; DOT HS 812 281
- System Analysis of Automated Speed Enforcement Implementation (PDF 521 KB) April 2016; DOT HS 812 259
- Motivations for Speeding — Additional Data Analysis (PDF 715 KB) March 2016; DOT HS 812 250
Coming Soon
- Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign Material on TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov
The campaign will launch a new TV ad in fall 2017. Campaign material will include the Products for Enforcement Action Kit, sample earned media templates in English and Spanish, banner ads, infographics, a new national paid TV and radio ad, and social media tools.
- New Drug-Impaired Driving Campaign Material on TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov
New drug-impaired driving material for State use. Material will include sample earned media templates in English and Spanish, banner ads, infographics, and social media tools for State use.
- 2013-2014 National Roadside Survey
This study involved randomly stopping drivers at 300 locations across the continental United States. The locations were selected through a stratified random sampling procedure. Researchers collected the data during a two-hour Friday daytime session (either 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.) at 60 locations and during four two-hour nighttime periods (10 p.m. to midnight and 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday nights) at 240 locations, for a total of 300 locations. Data included both self-reported and biological measures. An objective was to obtain at least 7,500 oral fluid samples for analysis. Oral fluid and blood samples were subjected to laboratory screening and LC/MS/MS and GC/MS confirmation, respectively, for alcohol and six classes of drugs, allowing researchers to estimate a national prevalence of alcohol and other drugs in drivers. This study will report the first trend data on on-road, drug-positive driving in the United States. All drivers’ responses were completely voluntary and anonymous. A Research Note was published in 2015. Two volumes of a three-volume final report (regarding Methodology and Alcohol Results) were published in 2017. The remaining volume, which will cover Drug Results, is expected to be published in 2017.
- Field Test of Oral Fluid Drug Screening Devices
This study examined the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of two on-site oral fluid drug screening devices, the Alere DDS2 Mobile Test System and the Dräger DrugTest 5000. Two anonymous and voluntary oral fluid samples were obtained from each of 1,104 drivers arrested for impaired driving in California, one with the on-site Alere or Dräger device, and the other from a Quantisal oral fluid collection device. The Quantisal sample was sent to a laboratory for screening and confirmation testing. The results from the on-site devices were compared to the Quantisal sample. Each device tested the samples for the presence of six to seven drug classes: amphetamines, benzodiazepines, cocaine, methamphetamines, opiates, and cannabis (specifically, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol [THC] – the active component of marijuana). The Dräger also tested for methadone.
- Examination of Legalization & Decriminalization of Marijuana on DWI System — Highlights From Expert Panel Meeting
This report contains highlights from an Expert Panel Meeting that was convened by NHTSA and the Governor’s Highway Safety Association (GHSA), to examine the impacts of legalization and decriminalization of marijuana on the DWI system. The meeting of the expert panel sought to identify changes to the DWI system following enactment of laws legalizing and/or decriminalizing marijuana for medical and/or recreational purposes; lessons learned by these States; and measures that should be used to evaluate the effects of enacting recreational and/or medical marijuana laws, and their impact on traffic safety and the DWI system. The expert panel was convened under the National Cooperative Research and Evaluation Program (NCREP), which is administered by NHTSA, and managed jointly by NHTSA and GHSA, in accordance with the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) and the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.
- Determine the Effectiveness of Flexible Checkpoints
This project studied the use of “flexible” checkpoints to potentially expand the reach of general deterrence in combatting DWI.
- Child Passenger Safety Week Earned Media Material
NEW Child Passenger Safety and Tween Seat Belt Safety Radio Campaign
- Updated Parent’s Guide to Playing It Safe With Kids and Cars Brochure
(Coming Spring 2017)
- Investigation and Prosecution of Distracted Driving Cases
(Coming Spring 2017)
This is a prosecutor’s monograph about distracted driving. This monograph provides guidance and training material to assist State and local attorneys, and other members of the judiciary, in prosecuting distracted-driving cases that involve a serious injury or fatality.
- Distracted-Driving Demonstration Projects: Lessons Learned
(Coming Summer 2017)
This is a summary document of all the enforcement, information, education, and outreach work conducted at six different demonstrations sites across the country, the activities conducted and what insights and challenges the participating police agencies garnered from the project.
- NEW Distracted-Driving Awareness Campaign Material on TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov
- “Funeral” – New national enforcement television and radio ads to support 2017 national distracted-driving awareness enforcement campaign (English and Spanish)
- National social norming digital ads to support 2017 national Distracted-Driving Awareness Month
- National Telephone Survey Database
NHTSA’s Office of Behavioral Safety Research (OBSR) has conducted national telephone surveys focusing on different program areas since 1991. The results have been disseminated through published and posted reports. Beginning in 2009, OBSR began to post its telephone survey databases with accompanying explanatory material for use by the public. Databases will be posted soon regarding two National Surveys on Distracted Driving Attitudes and Behavior (conducted in 2010 and 2012).
- Evaluating the Enforceability of Texting Laws: Strategies Tested in Connecticut and Massachusetts
Distracted driving laws vary across the States in how they are written and how they can be enforced. Some laws specify particular behaviors, such as reading, writing, and sending a text message, but don’t include the many other actions that could be executed on a hand-held device, such as dialing a phone number, searching the internet, or emailing. Laws like this require enforcement to differentiate between particular actions, a requirement identified as challenging by States in the Governors Highway Safety Association’s 2013 Distracted Driving Survey. NHTSA is working with Massachusetts and Connecticut to develop and test tactics for enforcing texting laws. This evaluation describes the tactics used by law enforcement in these States and summarizes first-hand experiences shared by the participating law enforcement on the strengths and weaknesses of the enforcement tactics tested.
- New Drug-Impaired Driving Campaign Material on TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov
New drug-impaired driving material for State use. Material will include sample earned media templates in English and Spanish, banner ads, infographics, and social media tools for State use.
- Updated Implementation Guide for National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety (NAMS)
This updated NAMS Implementation Guide correlates to the eleven components contained within NHTSA’s Highway Safety Program Guideline Number 3: Motorcycle Safety. These components include recommendations on topics such as operator licensing, rider education and training, law enforcement, and personal protective equipment, including universal motorcycle helmet laws. This NAMS Implementation Guide represents a survey of strategies that states are implementing to increase motorcyclist safety. They are provided in order to give the reader a basic understanding of motorcycle safety programs and the ability to contact those who are successfully implementing them.
- Examination of Changes to Puerto Rico’s Law for Motorcycle Riders
This project examined the degree to which provisions of a motorcycle law in Puerto Rico was enforced, assess motorcycle riders’ reactions to the law, and estimate the law’s impact on motorcycle crashes, fatalities, and arrests; the law required motorcycle riders and passengers to wear reflective vests at night and protective gear at all times of day, maintain daytime running headlights and taillights while operating the motorcycle at all times, stay in the same lane as other vehicles, and lowered the illegal per se level for motorcycle riders from .08 g/dL to .02 g/dL.
- Identifying Opportunities to Decrease Occupant Fatalities
(Coming Spring 2017)
This study focused on identifying opportunities to decrease vehicle occupant fatalities by comparing selected States with observed seat belt use rates above and below the 2013 national average as well as low and high percentages of statewide unbuckled fatalities. The goal was to determine if the higher seat belt use States implemented policies, procedures, and practices that could be suggested for use in the States with lower seat belt use to improve their seat belt use rates.
- Medical Review Practices for Driver Licensing
In many States physicians, family members or others may report concerns regarding an older driver’s competency to the licensing agency. In other cases, law enforcement officers or licensing agency staff members may have concerns about a driver’s abilities, so refer the driver for evaluation. Many States rely on a Medical Review process to examine medical histories of individuals flagged as potentially risky drivers to identify medical conditions that could undermine driving performance. Medical Reviewers can generally recommend the State revoke a driver’s license, impose driving restrictions, or continue full, unrestricted licensure. Volume 1: A Case Study of Guidelines and Processes in Seven U.S. States was published in 2016. Volume 2: Case Studies of Medical Referrals and Licensing Outcomes in Maine, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin and Volume 3: Guidelines and Processes in the United States will be published in 2017. This information will be useful in developing or updating training programs.
- NEW Speed Prevention Enforcement and Social Norming Campaign Material on TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov
Updated speed enforcement and social norming campaign material will include sample earned media material in English and Spanish, banner ads, infographics, social media tools, and a new TV ad for year-round State use.
- NEW Teen Driving campaign material on TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov
- Evaluation of an Updated Version of the Risk Awareness and Perception Training Program for Young Drivers
Previous research suggests newly licensed teen drivers often fail to anticipate where unexpected hazards might materialize. One training program designed to address these apparent deficiencies in knowledge and skills that has shown promise in previous tests is the Risk Awareness and Perception Training (RAPT) program. This project updated RAPT using high definition video and computer simulations to create a more interactive and realistic program. Researchers evaluated the modified program’s impact on the behaviors of novice and experienced drivers through the use of a computer-based test and during on-road drives in live traffic on a pre-defined route.
- Updated Purchasing With Safety In Mind Brochure
(Coming Fall 2017)
- A Comparative Analysis of State Traffic Safety Countermeasures and Implications for Progress “Toward Zero Deaths” in the United States (Research Note)
This Research Note is an examination of proven countermeasures (based on the NHTSA publication, Countermeasures That Work) to consider how their adoption might help States achieve progress “Toward Zero Deaths.”