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    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
    <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
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    <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>Leveraging Telematics Data for Enhanced Traffic Safety: Unveiling Crash-Prone Hotspots and Mitigating Incidents - Phase 2</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2727388</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Cutting-edge connected-vehicle (CV) telematics now stream billions of instantaneous speed, heading, and hard-maneuver records across Texas roadways—an untapped resource for proactive safety management. Phase I of Project 0-7200 capitalized on this opportunity by (1) surveying and vetting statewide CV data sources, (2) building rigorous preprocessing pipelines and a strategic data-archiving scheme with the Receiving Agency, (3) defining data-driven “near-crash” events, and (4) creating proof-of-concept analytics that locate and rank high-risk corridors. Two single-user prototype web tools—Performing Agency 1’s near-crash explorer and Performing Agency 2’s multi-criteria hotspot-ranking dashboard—proved the approach valid, with results aligning closely with the Crash Records Information System (CRIS). Phase II will transform those prototypes into a secure, cloud-based, multi-user platform capable of statewide, high-volume ingestion and real-time analytics—advancing the solution to TRL 8 (actual system completed and “Receiving Agency-pilot ready”). The Performing Agency shall, optimize the data-processing engine for scalability, integrate interactive visualizations with enterprise authentication, automate continuous data refresh and long-term archiving, and embed crash-prediction models that fuse telematics with CRIS and roadway inventory. The Performing Agencies shall develop a decision-support tool that lets the Receiving Agency’s districts quickly pinpoint emerging crash-prone hotspots and deploy targeted countermeasures.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 17:07:46 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2727388</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Examination of Light-Based Directed Vehicle to Everything Communications Systems for Bridge Strike Detection (Using ImpLi-Fi)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2727317</link>
      <description><![CDATA[In this proposed project, the ImpLi-Fi team - consisting of the University of Michigan-Dearborn and SpectraLux, LLC - will deploy a reliable and directed light-based wireless infrastructure-to-vehicle communication technology to warn at-risk trucks of imminent bridge strikes. Once shown to be feasible, the same concept can also be extended to flash flood warning, wrong-way driving, etc. Unlike wireless communications using radio-frequency (RF), which are always omni-directional, ImpLi-Fi uses light, allowing transmissions to be focused so that they only target specific impacted vehicles, thereby avoiding the risk of annoying/desensitizing other parallel road users.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 15:22:08 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2727317</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Enhancing Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety and Compliance: Evaluating The Aries Pilot and Illegal Bypass Behavior in Oregon</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2726122</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Illegal bypass of weigh stations and roadside inspection facilities poses a measurable safety and compliance risk within Oregon’s commercial motor vehicle (CMV) system. When vehicles evade inspection, potential violations such as overweight operations, equipment deficiencies, and hours-of-service noncompliance may go undetected, increasing crash exposure and infrastructure damage risk. Oregon Department of Transportation's (ODOT’s) Commerce and Compliance Division (CCD) currently lacks a standardized, integrated methodology to quantify illegal bypass behavior or link bypass events to inspection outcomes, crash involvement, and carrier safety history.
OBJECTIVES: This research will deliver to ODOT: (1) A standardized and replicable data integration framework linking ARIES pilot data with CCD inspection, violation, crash, and carrier safety records. (2) Measurable and trackable performance indicators to support ongoing internal monitoring of illegal bypass activity and automated enforcement effectiveness. (3) Quantitative analysis of the magnitude, characteristics, and safety implications of illegal bypass behavior in Oregon. (4) Evaluation of ARIES pilot impacts on compliance rates, inspection targeting efficiency, enforcement productivity, and CMV safety outcomes. (5) Implementation guidance and best-practice recommendations to inform strategic investment decisions, future site deployments, and FMCSA Innovative Technology Deployment (ITD) funding applications.
This research will strengthen ODOT’s ability to detect and deter illegal bypass behavior, directly advancing Oregon’s transportation safety goals. By integrating ARIES data with inspection and crash records, CCD will be able to target high-risk vehicles more effectively, reduce unnecessary inspections of compliant carriers, and improve enforcement productivity. The project supports ODOT priorities related to Safety, Innovative Technologies, Process Improvement, and Stewardship of Public Resources by providing measurable evidence to guide enforcement modernization.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:24:07 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2726122</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Systemic Safety Analysis and Assessment of Bicycle and Pedestrian Crash Risk: Developing Risk Factors using the Multimodal Inventory Project Data</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2725665</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Inconsistent and incomplete data on multimodal infrastructure and operations limits 
Oregon Department of Transportation's (ODOT’s) ability to develop data-driven risk factors. Accurate and up-to-date bicycle and pedestrian risk factors are necessary inputs for ODOT programs aiming to proactively address active transportation safety, as they can help identify locations with geometric and operational characteristics that lead to increased crash risk for active transportation users. The Multimodal Inventory Project offers new data and a unique opportunity to develop more rigorous, data-driven bicycle and pedestrian risk factors. Leveraging these new data and methodologies, in addition to crash data and exposure data, will enable analysis that can identify roadway and operational characteristics most strongly associated with bicycle and pedestrian crash risk.
OBJECTIVES: This research will provide ODOT with up-to-date, high-quality bicycle and pedestrian risk factors to be used for proactive safety analysis. The anticipated outcome of this research is to develop these new bicycle and pedestrian risk factors by leveraging new multimodal data from the Multimodal Inventory Project and by applying more rigorous risk factor methodologies. The latter will be accomplished by developing a Risk Factor Tool that relies on data inputs and analysis results to provide site-specific bicycle and pedestrian risk assessments. Objectives of this research include: (1) A comprehensive review of studies that develop bicycle and pedestrian risk factors and/or apply them, methods used to derive bicycle and pedestrian risk factors, and current policies and practices implemented through Active Transportation Safety Plans and Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessments; (2) A data collection and fusion process that combines existing and new Multimodal Inventory Project data; and (3) Development of bicycle and pedestrian risk factors using an integrated approach that leverages descriptive statistics and safety modeling techniques, resulting in a Risk Factor Tool to conduct site-specific risk assessments.
This research will provide ODOT with up-to-date data and risk factors to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety, addressing Transportation Plan Safety Objectives, Social Equity Objectives, and Mobility Objectives.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 16:52:17 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2725665</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Merged Crash Data and DMV Intervention Programs</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2725248</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Risky behaviors are recognized by the Oregon Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) Transportation Safety Action Plan as a contributor to fatal and severe traffic injury. It is the objective of the DMV’s risky driver diversion program to reduce the frequency of crashes caused by repeat traffic offenders by removing them from the roadway until they are deemed safe to return. Until recently, based on research performed by ODOT’s research office and the Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services supported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it was not possible to robustly evaluate how ODOT’s risky driver diversion program strategies such as the habitual traffic offender (HTO) program, the Oregon driver improvement program (DIP), the driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII) program, and the at-risk driver program perform in making Oregon streets safely. There is a need to evaluate the effectiveness of these programs to maximize  efforts to improve the safety of road users in Oregon.

This evaluation will confirm which programs are producing positive safety improvements. Policy recommendations for shifting the triggering thresholds for certain diversion programs or modifying their delivery in other ways based on the risk profiles of Oregon drivers, specifically the relationships between citations and crashes experienced in Oregon, will be developed.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 16:03:29 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2725248</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Developing Guidance on the Safety Performance of Edge Line Pavement Markers and Guardrail Delineations on Rural Oregon Roads</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2724855</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Despite Oregon's efforts to reduce fatalities and serious injuries, crashes along curves (statewide) continue to be high-risk locations, particularly those involving roadway departures.  Contributing factors such as speed, visibility, pavement quality, limited delineation, and adverse weather conditions exacerbate these risks.  While Oregon incorporates edge line pavement markers and guardrail delineations, there is limited research on their safety performance on Oregon specific rural roads. It will also investigate whether combining edge line pavement markers with guardrail and barrier delineations as part of a systemic safety countermeasure strategy provides greater safety benefits than applying treatments individually.

This research will produce a guidance document outlining recommendations for the use of edge line pavement markers and guardrail delineations on rural curves.  The document will provide: (1) criteria for identifying high-risk curves where these treatments will be most effective, considering factors such as crash history, speed, curve geometry, and environmental conditions; (2) guidance on combining edge line pavement markers with guardrail and barrier delineations as a systemic safety countermeasure strategy to achieve greater safety benefits; (3) scalable solutions tailored to rural curves that address Oregon’s unique roadway environments and crash patterns; and (4) performance evaluation framework for ongoing assessment and monitoring of these countermeasures.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:06:03 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2724855</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Intelligent Speed Assistance Guide for State Highway Safety Offices</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2720300</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Speeding remains one of the most persistent and deadly threats on U.S. roadways, accounting for more than 11,000 deaths in 2024, and 125,000 fatalities over the last decade. One promising countermeasure to help address speeding behavior is Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology, which uses real-time Global Positioning System (GPS) data to detect the speed limit and proactively alert (or limit) the driver if they are speeding, can reduce speeding and help promote long-term safe driving behaviors.
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) recently documented a growing number of examples of ISA’s effectiveness at the local level. In New York City, a pilot program involving 500 fleet vehicles saw a 64% reduction in speeds substantially above speed limits. A District of Columbia school bus pilot logged 10,000 miles with zero speeding events.
European research has shown that ISA can reduce crash risk and lessen the severity of injuries, particularly in areas with changing speed limits or heavy pedestrian activity. A 2019 policy report from the European Transport Safety Council estimated that ISA could cut road deaths across Europe by approximately 20%. Another study projected that equipping all vehicles with mandatory active ISA could reduce injury and fatal crashes by 20% and 37%, respectively.
Given the potential for wide adoption of ISA to substantially reduce speeding-related fatalities and serious injuries, research is needed to identify ways for state highway safety offices (SHSOs) to advance the use of this technology.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to develop a guide that supports efforts by SHSOs to: 1) Conduct comprehensive stakeholder assessment to identify which groups have the greatest need for education and which hold the most influence over its adoption. 2) Develop a core set of educational active ISA materials or leveraging materials available from other sources. 3) Ensure that SHSO staff have a strong foundational understanding of active ISA. Staff training should cover how active ISA works, its effectiveness as demonstrated in peer-reviewed research, relevant policy considerations and communication strategies tailored to different audiences. 4) Establish clear metrics and evaluation processes allows SHSOs to measure the effectiveness of educational initiatives and outreach efforts. 5) Engage with key stakeholders to advance pilot programs. 6.) Develop guidelines and implementation frameworks for pilot projects that help SHSOs evaluate and demonstrate effective strategies for modifying speeding behavior through ISA technologies, including  recommendations on target driver populations, stakeholder coordination, public communication, data collection, performance measures, privacy considerations, and evaluation methodologies to support broad adoption.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 20:16:13 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2720300</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Applying Telematics Data to Support Traffic Enforcement</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2720301</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Telematics is increasingly used to help traffic enforcement shift toward data-driven, risk-based, and preventive safety interventions. Telematics systems collect data such as vehicle speed, acceleration, braking, cornering, location, time of day, and sometimes phone distraction indicators. In a traffic enforcement context, this data can support hotspot identification and targeted enforcement deployment. Relevant traffic enforcement applications include: 1. Speed management - telematics can reveal where speeding is routine, not just where crashes have already occurred. This is especially useful on arterials, rural roads, school zones, and work zones. 2. Distracted driving risk - mobile-device telematics can indicate patterns of phone interaction while driving. This is better suited for network-level risk mapping than individual citation issuance. 3. Commercial fleet compliance - fleet telematics can support internal safety management, identify repeat risky driving behavior, and guide employer-based interventions. 4. Work-zone safety - telematics can help detect excessive speeds near work zones and support placement of speed safety cameras or police presence.

The Governors Highway Safety Association has recently promoted a shift toward using anonymized, aggregate telematics insights to identify risky conditions before crashes occur, such as repeated high-speed driving through school zones or distraction on rural roads.

Research is needed to develop a better understanding of the application of telematics data to support traffic enforcement.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this research are to: Document the existing state of knowledge regarding the application of telematics data to support traffic enforcement; Assess pilot projects underway in various states; Assess primary issues and unintended consequences, and propose measures states can take to manage risks; Develop a guide for state highway safety and other state agencies indicating (1) how they can use this technology to promote traffic safety and (2) recommendations for standardizing the use of telematics data to meet user needs; Propose a study design for use in potential future BTSCRP research to address knowledge gaps.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 20:00:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2720301</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Assessing Traffic Flow and Motorcyclist Safety Outcomes Associated with Lane Filtering</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2720302</link>
      <description><![CDATA[There is a significant gap in research examining how motorcyclists and drivers behave when motorcyclists lane split and/or lane filter in live traffic environments, and safety outcomes associated with lane splitting and lane filtering.

Motorcycle lane splitting involves riding between lanes of slow-moving or stopped traffic.

Lane filtering is the practice of a motorcyclist moving between lanes of stopped or slow-moving traffic to move to the front of the queue, typically at intersections or during heavy congestion.

These practices are legal in some states, prohibited in others, and ambiguously defined in others. Motorcycle safety advocates and motorcyclist rights groups frequently cite safety benefits associated with lane splitting and lane filtering, while law enforcement agencies and traffic safety organizations raise concerns regarding increased risk and operational conflicts. These discussions often rely on limited domestic research, most notably a single observational study conducted in California, as well as studies conducted outside the United States. International research provides useful context but is limited in its applicability to U.S. traffic environments.

U.S. decision-makers are often required to extrapolate from non-comparable data sources, contributing to inconsistent definitions and interpretations of these practices. Developing a better understanding of real-world interactions between motorists and motorcyclists, and safety outcomes associated with motorcycle lane splitting and lane filtering is critical for the development of effective driver training curricula and public education campaigns.

The objectives of this research are to: 1. Document the existing state of knowledge regarding the impact safety outcomes associated with motorcycle lane splitting and lane filtering; 2. To support development of standardized, behaviorally grounded definitions to reduce ambiguity and improve consistency in policy and practice, conduct a multi-state observational study to understand interactions between motorists and motorcyclists during lane-splitting and lane-filtering; 3. Develop an evidence-based toolkit for use by state highway safety offices, state driver licensing agencies, and state motorcycle safety programs to manage the behavioral and safety complexities of motorcycle lane splitting and filtering.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 19:30:01 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2720302</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SPR 782 Improving Worker Safety in Work Zones with Effective Proximity Sensing Technology</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2719302</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The project will synthesize SWZ technologies and analyze their benefits and challenges —specifically focusing on intrusion alert and motorist alert systems—based on their use by other highway agencies and the construction industry. These findings will then be tailored to fit the needs of the South Carolina Department of Transportation's (SCDOT’s) internal and contract workforce. To meet the research goals, the team will focus on three key objectives: (1) Investigate various intrusion alert technologies to identify those best suited for highway worker safety, motorist alert systems effective in work zones, and solutions that can reduce unsafe driving behaviors in South Carolina. (2) Assess at least three intrusion alert and three motorist alert technologies for suitability to the SCDOT, evaluating their capabilities, feasibility, and providing cost estimates for initial implementation and life cycle comparisons against current practices.
(3) Evaluate compliance by workers in using these technologies and assess motorist response and behavioral changes prompted by driver-facing alert devices.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 08:57:43 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2719302</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Assessing the Value of LiDAR in Detecting Conflicts at Intersections to Enhance Safety
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2717656</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The goal of this research is to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of camera-based and LiDAR-based systems for detecting traffic conflicts.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:33:26 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2717656</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Leveraging Connected Vehicle Data for Enhanced Highway Safety Modeling and Decision-Making
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2717527</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The primary objective of this project is to assess the utility and reliability of connected vehicle data (CVD) in safety modeling and analysis, either as a supplement to or a substitute for traditional crash data where appropriate. This assessment will be conducted across a range of roadway designs and traffic control settings, dependent on the geospatial availability of CVD.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:10:49 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2717527</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluating Cross-Slope Safety Impacts on Freeways in Georgia</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2717526</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The main objective of this proposed project is to quantify the relationship between freeway cross-slopes and grades and crashes during wet-weather conditions. Given the study’s focus on evaluating the safety impacts of cross-slopes, the analysis will concentrate on tangent freeway segments, as these are more representative of basic freeway sections and are subject to consistent cross-slope design guidance. 
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:02:14 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2717526</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Predictive Analytics for Target Zero Initiative Recommendations
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2717344</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Target Zero is a transformative initiative working to develop a plan of recommendations for 
New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) to improve its practices and build a transportation safety culture in New Mexico. The initiative will coordinate safety-aligned programs across NMDOT to elevate their impact statewide. The recommendations in the plan have been developed based on transportation professionals’ insights and literature reviews. However, there is a gap in our understanding of what to expect from these recommendations. To plan how and when we will reach the goal of zero traffic fatalities, we need to conduct predictive analytics research to anticipate the impact of our recommendations on transportation in New Mexico. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:34:32 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2717344</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Speed Management Countermeasure Selection and Process Guidance</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2716606</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Higher speed increases the risk of a fatal or serious crash and reduces the likelihood of survival. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) seeks to enhance its design and process guidance to help municipalities achieve speed management objectives. This project aims to develop methods and guidance in three areas: 1. Develop a method to systemically identify current and future areas of speed concern; 2. Create guidance for the selection of speed management countermeasures given particular roadway and context conditions; 3. Create guidance about how to execute a municipal speed management program and implement speed management countermeasures.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 09:44:46 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2716606</guid>
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