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E-Newsletter, Issue 9


I'm pleased to report that the development of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety's 2005 research agenda is off to a great start! In September 2004, the Foundation received a record 194 research pre-proposals for its 2005 research agenda, up from 141 in 2004! We were very pleased with the scope and quality of the submissions. Major pre-proposal topics included: driver behavior, child safety, driver distraction, impaired driving, multi-cultural issues, road safety, senior drivers, and teen drivers.

After careful review, research and deliberations, we asked for full proposals from 23 organizations, which we are currently reviewing. In February, the Foundation's Research and Development Advisory Committee will select those to fund in 2005. I look forward to reporting the full slate of selected projects to you at that time.

Details of our 15 projects currently underway are presented throughout this newsletter.

Best wishes for a safe and fun-filled holiday.

Very truly yours,

J. Peter Kissinger
President & CEO

This Holiday Season, You Can Give a Gift To Help Teens Avoid Crashes…You've seen the twisted wreckage on the local news. You've read the tragic headlines in the papers. But did you know that vehicle crashes are the leading cause of teen fatalities in the United States and Canada?

Foundation Now Takes Donations Online!

A “Crash Course” in Traffic Safety Now Available… Designed to educate drivers and potential car crash victims on what to do before a crash occurs, “ Crash Course” DVD/VHS provides tips and advice on how to avoid a crash.

AAA Foundation Supports Future Traffic Safety Researchers … The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety covered the student registration fees for five graduate students allowing them to attend the international Conference Research on Women's Transportation Issues , of which one of its major themes is safety. A number of papers on the causes of changing crash rates by gender as well as the impact of crashes on pregnant women are expected to develop from the conference. Three of the students attend the University of Maryland and the other two attend University of California at Davis.

 
DRUNK or DROWSY? AAA Foundation finds many police officers mistake tired drivers for drunk drivers… Nearly nine out of every ten police officers responding to the AAA Foundation's Internet survey reported they had stopped a driver who they believed was drunk, but turned out to be drowsy.

Foundation Report Highlights Senior Transportation Options… The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released a report in July identifying various transportation options for seniors who can no longer drive.

Direct Links to Research Project Updates:

New in 2004…

Safety Impacts of Pavement Edge Drop-offs - Iowa State University, Center for Transportation Research and Education and Midwest Research Institute

Interventions to Increase Booster Seat Use for Children Aged 4-8 Years: A Cochrane Systematic Review - University of Alabama at Birmingham

Nationwide Evaluation of GDL Systems: What Works and How - Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Center for Injury Research and Policy

Adapting Pedestrian Signals to Meet the Needs of Older Pedestrians - Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)

Getting Around: Alternatives for Seniors Who No Longer Drive – Center for Healthy Aging

Screening Motor Vehicle Crash Patients in the Emergency Department - Injury Prevention Center, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown Medical School

U.S. Road Assessment Program (USRAP) – Midwest Research Institute

Guidelines for Evaluating Driver Education Programs - Northport Associates and Traffic Injury Research Foundation

Research Started in 2003 …

Evaluation of Short-Term License Suspensions for Drinking-Driving - Traffic Injury Research Foundation

Reducing the Crash Risk for Young Drivers - Traffic Injury Research Foundation

Educación de seguridad en el tránsito/Education/Education in Traffic Safety - Educational Development Center

Enhancing Senior Driver's Performance - Yale University

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