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    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
    <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
    <atom:link href="https://rip.trb.org/Record/RSS?s=PHNlYXJjaD48cGFyYW1zPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJkYXRlaW4iIHZhbHVlPSJhbGwiIC8+PHBhcmFtIG5hbWU9InN1YmplY3Rsb2dpYyIgdmFsdWU9Im9yIiAvPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJ0ZXJtc2xvZ2ljIiB2YWx1ZT0ib3IiIC8+PHBhcmFtIG5hbWU9ImxvY2F0aW9uIiB2YWx1ZT0iMTYiIC8+PC9wYXJhbXM+PGZpbHRlcnM+PGZpbHRlciBmaWVsZD0iaW5kZXh0ZXJtcyIgdmFsdWU9IiZxdW90O0FnZSZxdW90OyIgb3JpZ2luYWxfdmFsdWU9IiZxdW90O0FnZSZxdW90OyIgLz48L2ZpbHRlcnM+PHJhbmdlcyAvPjxzb3J0cz48c29ydCBmaWVsZD0icHVibGlzaGVkIiBvcmRlcj0iZGVzYyIgLz48L3NvcnRzPjxwZXJzaXN0cz48cGVyc2lzdCBuYW1lPSJyYW5nZXR5cGUiIHZhbHVlPSJwdWJsaXNoZWRkYXRlIiAvPjwvcGVyc2lzdHM+PC9zZWFyY2g+" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
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    <language>en-us</language>
    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
    <docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs>
    <managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
    <image>
      <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
      <url>https://rip.trb.org/Images/PageHeader-wTitle-RIP.jpg</url>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
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    <item>
      <title>Investing in Talent for Next-Generation Transportation Engineering
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2627155</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Recent federal investments in infrastructure necessitate a surge in transportation engineering graduates, yet recruitment and retention pose challenges due to mismatches between job supply and degree pursuits, compensation, benefits, and work-life balance. Research by the Northeast Transportation Workforce Center and National Transportation Career Pathways Initiative highlights these issues, but gaps remain in state department of transportation (DOT) strategies. Moreover, there is a pressing need for diversity in the engineering workforce to reflect the United States demographics. This research aligns with the Mid-America Transportation Center (MATC) focus on education and workforce development, aiming to enhance workforce diversity, which is crucial for inclusive transportation planning and safety. The purpose of this study is to explore the age gap within state transportation engineering jobs. The following research question will be addressed: In what ways do state departments of transportation in the midwestern United States attract or detract new engineers to state transportation engineering jobs based on current policy structures?
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 19 Nov 2025 14:58:25 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2627155</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Telematics Technology and Distracted Driving </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2447243</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The current project aims to develop an understanding of how smartphone-based telematics technologies can be used to measure information on individual driver behavior and performance in general and in terms of distracted driving.  This study will help the 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) understand the limitations of this kind of data for research data collection in comparison to other kinds of data collection such as vehicle-based systems.  This study will also look at age and sex differences in a group of drivers in terms of distracted driving and other risky driving behaviors, with a particular view of how the data collection systems differ.  This project will involve a literature review and scan of technologies that can be used for studying data collection of driver behavior and distracted driving engagement.  Next, the project will focus on different forms of data collection, e.g., focusing on NDS DAS and smartphone-based telematic apps in terms of accuracy at providing information, resources required for utilizing each technology, and ease of use and distribution (Study 1). Last, the project will involve data collection and analyses using these kinds of technologies in terms of general driving and distracted driving engagement according to the identified forms of technology (Study 1) and according to participant sex and age, which will be analyzed using the current project’s data sets (Study 2).  The intent of this project is to create two (2) final reports, one for each study, a journal article, and data sets from each study and the raw data sets that can be analyzed in the future. This project will support NHTSA’s efforts to study distracted driving engagement, giving the agency information regarding what measurement techniques are effective for different forms of distracted driving, and behavior, in general, as well as providing the agency with prevalence estimates for distracted driving engagement.

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 01 Nov 2024 12:24:26 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2447243</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Attribution Theory and Collisions at Intersections</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2353430</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Description: An automobile driver (D) is seldom alone on the road. Whenever there is another vehicle – even only one – on or approaching the road on which D is travelling, the future behaviors of the driver of the other car (O) must be guessed, and the probabilities of the possible maneuvers estimated. Understanding driver expectations of other drivers is essential in understanding how and why accidents happen which in-turn leads to better counter measures.

Intellectual Merit: This research will provide an outline for a range of driver expectations at intersections including, driver indications, stop or go decisions, performance and design of intersection traffic control devices, and turn maneuvers.

Broader Impacts: The research findings will help improve driver behavior models in traffic simulation software and in the design of mental behavior of automated vehicles.

Technology Transfer Plan: The research team will share research findings through participation in regional, national and international conferences.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 25 Mar 2024 15:36:53 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2353430</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluating the Impacts of Age and Health on Different Aspects of Mobility and Driving Behaviors</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2325917</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This research project conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) AgeLab is set against the backdrop of an aging American population, with an increasing emphasis on maintaining driving ability and mobility in older age. This study aims to explore two main questions: the dynamics surrounding older adults' decisions to retire from driving and their subsequent mobility transitions, and how older adults' self-reported driving behaviors are influenced by their age, health, and access to vehicle technologies. Utilizing existing data sets, including a nationally representative survey on driving habits and the MIT AgeLab’s Lifestyle Leaders Panel data from individuals aged 85 or older, the study will analyze patterns of self-regulation in driving, the use of advanced vehicle technologies, and the effects of health and age on driving behaviors including distracted driving. The project also plans to integrate findings from annual surveys on attitudes towards automation, encompassing a variety of transportation modes and technologies. Key goals include generating insights for public outreach materials, enhancing support for older adults in driving retirement decisions, and contributing to academic and professional discourse through conferences and peer-reviewed publications. Involving young researchers and undergraduate interns, this study aims to deepen our understanding of mobility and driving behavior among older adults and to inform interventions for safer and more supportive transportation options for this demographic.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 23 Jan 2024 14:11:48 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2325917</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SMS – Determining if there is a medical vs. human factors/experience risk tradeoff in pilots operating under Basic Med 17.6</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2114825</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This research project will compare pilot human factors vs. medically caused mishap rates across age deciles between pilots operating under BasicMed vs. a 3rd class medical certificate.  The purpose of this comparison is to determine whether the likely experience gained by age for older pilots can serve as a tradeoff for the likely increased risk due to medical factors associated with increased age.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Feb 2023 15:59:58 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2114825</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SMS – Determining the acceptable pilot incapacitation rate for FAA class 1 medical certificates 17.5</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2114823</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This research project will review the published literature on the derivation of the 1% rule as used by ICAO, validate/update assumptions, identify current U.S. sources for needed data, and recalculate the acceptable incapacitation rate for class 1 medical certificates assuming 2 pilot crews. The project will recommend: (1) follow up studies addressing important weaknesses in either assumptions or data, (2) alternative methods for determining an acceptable pilot incapacitation rate. Additionally, the project will compare combined part 121 and part 135 pilot human factors and medically caused mishap rates (combined fatal and nonfatal) across age deciles and recommend age adjustments to the acceptable incapacitation rate to minimize overall mishap rates.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Feb 2023 15:46:43 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2114823</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Building a KYTC Mentoring Program</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2039852</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has lost considerable institutional knowledge over the past 10 years due to retirements and attrition. This has negatively affected the agency’s capacity to fulfill its mission. As KYTC continues to diversify and becomes increasingly made up of post-Gen X staff, it must devise and implement strategies to facilitate the professional development of young employees and strengthen knowledge management. Agencies in the public sector have found that formal and informal mentoring programs can help attract talented new staff, improve responsiveness to emerging stakeholder and customer needs, and equip staff with the knowledge they need to build sound leadership and decision-making skills. The project will identify mentoring best practices tailored to (1) transportation/public agencies and (2) Millennial and Gen Z staff, identify educational assets and tools which can help staff effectively mentor young professionals from diverse backgrounds, and establish programmatic approaches KYTC can use to institute and update mentoring programs.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2022 12:57:53 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2039852</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Barriers and Facilitators of People with Disabilities in Accepting and Adopting Autonomous Shared Mobility Services (Project A5)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1861659</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Transportation is a critical mediator in providing people with disabilities (PwDs) with access to health care, services, jobs, goods, community involvement, and societal participation. Yet, the current transportation system has not provided ubiquitous accessible, affordable, available, acceptable, and adaptable (the 5As) transportation opportunities to these particular groups. With the integration of automated shared mobility services into the transportation system—including autonomous shuttles (AS)—cities and states have a renewed opportunity to provide PwDs with enhanced quality of life—often curtailed due to inadequate transportation. Although the benefits of automated shared mobility services are numerous, the ultimate litmus test for their full integration will be to successfully afford PwDs with equal opportunities to independently use such services. This challenge will need to be examined from a multifaceted systems perspective (state, city, researchers, industry, stakeholders of those who are disabled, and PwDs). Objectives: This study is an extension of STRIDE A3 and D2 projects to examine the perceptions of 50 PwDs before and after being exposed to an autonomous shuttle. The research team's earlier work will provide comparison data on the perceptions of 104 older adults, as well as 106 younger and middle-aged adults. Such data are used to analyze their safety, trust, and intention to use automated vehicles  —precursors of acceptance and adoption practices— for the eventual use of such automated services  . Methodology: The team will make meaningful comparisons of the acceptance and adoption preferences between abled-bodied persons (N=210) and people with disabilities (N=50) via within and between-group pre-post-test comparisons and qualitative analysis among age cohorts (i.e., older, middle age and younger adults). Results. The team will identify barriers or facilitators of accepting and adopting automated shared mobility services – and make recommendations to engineers, city planners, industry, and the disability community pertaining to accessible use of automated shared mobility services. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 25 Jun 2021 21:46:54 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1861659</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A Comparison of Vehicle Miles of Travel Between Two Generations: Millennials versus Generation X</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1746068</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project is motivated by a desire to understand and quantify the extent to which millennials are truly different in their activity-travel behavior when compared with Generation X that preceded them. In order to conduct the inter-generational comparison and control for a number of confounding factors in determining the “millennial difference”, data from the 2001 and 2017 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) is utilized. In computing the sizes of various effects in explaining differences in vehicle miles of travel (VMT) between the two cohorts, it is found that the socio-economic and demographic effect size is the largest.  All other effect sizes are very small; the millennial effect, although statistically significant, is tiny in comparison to the socio-economic and demographic effect size. The isolation of the millennial effect size is, however, not straightforward because the other effects may themselves be influenced by the cohort effect.  Nevertheless, the millennial effect appears very small, suggesting that there is no substantial fundamental difference in attitudes, values, and preferences between generations.  Changes in the transportation landscape are likely to be driven largely by technological innovation, economics, and public policy rather than by any inter-generational differences.  ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2020 18:10:41 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1746068</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Assessing and Improving the Cognitive and Visual Driving Fitness of Older Long Haul Truck Drivers - Phase I</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1502454</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Driving is a highly dynamic task that requires intact cognitive and visual skills to perform safely. Driving trucks that are loaded with hazardous materials require even more careful planning and consideration to avoid unanticipated shifts in the center of gravity associated with sharp turns while speeding (slushing) or liquid surge associated with sharp braking. Such planning and consideration are highly dependent on cognitive and visual skills for accuracy. In the first year of this proposal, the research team will develop a driving fitness assessment battery that consists of tests that have been shown in the geriatric literature to be reliable and valid measures of driving-related cognitive and visual skills. These tests consist of the Snellen Maze Test, Trails A and B, Range of Motion and Gait Speed. Cognitively, the Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) has had significant limitations in driving fitness; therefore, alternative cognitive tools such as the Saint Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) exam will be used. Drivers over age 60 licensed to engage in the hauling of hazardous materials over long distances will be recruited and given this battery of tests to: 1. Assess their cognitive and visual fitness, 2. Establish the usefulness and effectiveness of these tests to drivers before embarking on the journey, and 3. Identify potential risk factors that contribute to unsafe driving. The team anticipates that this part of the study will be helpful in identifying drivers who have cognitive and/or visual impairments that may make driving a truck carrying hazardous materials unsafe. A unique aspect of this part of the study is the possibility of improving driving fitness by offering drivers with demonstrated cognitive and visual deficits the opportunity to retrain and improve such skills in a technologically advanced high fidelity simulator. The Kansas Department of Transportation will collaborate for recruitment of subjects. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 16 Feb 2018 16:46:22 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1502454</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Impact of Residential Location, Lifestyles and Emerging Technologies on the Travel Behavior and Vehicle Ownership of Young Adults (“Millennials”) in California </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1441930</link>
      <description><![CDATA[To investigate this topic, this study builds on an existing National Center for Sustainable Transportation/California Department of Transportation (NCST/Caltrans) research project which funded an ambitious data collection on Millennials’ personal preferences, lifestyles, residential location, adoption of technology, car ownership, travel behavior (by different transportation modes) and future aspirations to purchase a vehicle, from a sample representative of the population of young adults (aged 18-34) and a control group comprising members of the previous Generation X (aged 35-50) in California. As part of this study, the project will analyze the collected data, integrate additional information available from other sources (e.g. the land use characteristics of where Millennials live), and develop statistical analyses of Millennials’ travel behavior, car ownership and future propensity towards mobility.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 04 Jan 2017 10:57:03 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1441930</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Driver Behavioral Situational Awareness System (DB-SAM)
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1370016</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The research will attempt to automatically classify certain aspects of driver state (such as fatigue) or distraction due to a conversation using a handheld device (such as a cell phone). This will be done in part by continuously estimating the facial head pose of a driver to see if the driver is paying attention to the road and his/her surroundings. Other facial cues, such as mouth movement and eye movement, as well as whether the driver has both hands on the steering wheel, will be used to determine driver attentiveness. The proposed system will automatically detect “soft” biometric information about the driver, such as age, gender, ethnicity, glasses, etc.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 23 Sep 2015 09:44:51 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1370016</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Research for the AASHTO Standing Committee on Planning. Task 50. What is the Impact of an Aging Population on System Planning and Investment Policies?</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1346901</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The aging of our population is one of the defining characteristics of the United States that will have dramatic effects in the coming years. While this is a phenomenon of which transportation professionals have been for some time, more insight is needed regarding its implications. For example, what does it mean with respect to driving? What types of transportation services will best serve an aging population in rural and urban areas? What are the locations of elderly-oriented activities that an effective transportation system should serve? There is a need for an analysis of the implications of an aging population on transportation systems planning.

The objective of this study is to provide an overview of aging-population issues and to identify implications to transportation systems planning. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2015 01:01:38 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1346901</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Removing Obstacles for Pavement Cost Reduction by Examining Early Age Opening Requirements</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1342931</link>
      <description><![CDATA[No summary provided.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 07 Feb 2015 01:00:51 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1342931</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Impact of Red Light Running Camera Flashes on Younger and Older Driver Brake Response Times</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1316852</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Initial evidence suggests that Red Light running Camera (RLRC) flashes attract both attention and the eyes away from safety-relevant driving information. Older adults are likely to be even more susceptible to the distracting effects of RLRC flashes as this age group often exhibits poorer attentional and eye movement control compared to younger adults. In addition, older adults' increased susceptibility to glare and altered dark adaptation processes may increase the distracting effects of RLRC flashes even further in nighttime scenes in which the flare is more salient. The proposed research will utilize simulated driving scenes to determine if older adults are differentially distracted by RLRC flashes, and whether this increased distractibility is more pronounced for nighttime scenes. Results of the proposed research will be informative regarding whether situational and individual difference factors modulate the degree to which RLRC flashes are distracting. In addition, results of the research will have implications for the design of future driving simulator studies to investigate what the perceptual and attentional effects of RLRC flashes mean for the driving performance and safety of both younger and older adults.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 2014 01:01:12 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1316852</guid>
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