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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>
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      <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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      <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
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    <item>
      <title>Integrating Large Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety into State Freight and Safety Planning




</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2558373</link>
      <description><![CDATA[According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts 2022, crash rates in the United States involving large trucks increased 25 percent from 2009 to 2021. Given their size and weight, large-truck crashes can result in closure of one or more lanes of a highway, particularly for rollovers or cargo spills. Large-truck crashes also have the potential to damage pavements, bridges, and other infrastructures. 

Large commercial motor vehicles include heavy-duty tractor-trailers and heavy equipment such as dump trucks. Data collection and reporting related to large commercial truck crashes and safety are the responsibility of federal and state agencies, diffusing the “ownership” of commercial truck safety among largely unrelated agencies. However, state department of transportation (DOT) officials often do not reach out to agencies with these responsibilities, such as the FMCSA or the state’s highway patrol agency, in their freight and highway safety planning processes. Plans developed from these planning processes are not informed by the data collected and managed by these agencies. The lack of agency coordination means that the infrastructure needed to support large commercial trucks are not fully considered in state highway and freight planning processes. Thus, infrastructure such as truck parking and emergency escape ramps may not be prioritized in highway safety and freight plans and funding programs. 

Research is needed to identify integrated approaches that consider large commercial motor vehicle safety in highway freight and safety planning processes and plans. 

The objective of this research is to develop a guide for the integration of commercial motor vehicle safety into state freight and safety planning processes. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 29 May 2025 12:59:45 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2558373</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Modeling Wolf Creek Pass Combination of Layers of Barriers</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2431164</link>
      <description><![CDATA[In the mountainous regions with rugged terrains like in Colorado and adjacent Rocky Mountain states, having sharp turns of roadways and passes to go around the terrain are common features with inherent extra safety concerns beyond ordinary consideration.  A prominent example is one of spots along Wolf Creek Pass where there were multiple severe or fatal vehicular accidents.   That spot features not only a small radius of turn but also a downward gradient which often leads to speeds higher than the posted speed limit and warning to the incoming vehicles and trucks.   
Despite the fact that numerous safety measures have been installed to warn drivers, in the past couple of years, Wolf Creek Pass has experienced a slight increase in vehicle accidents that have resulted in loss of lives and property damages in this area.  Additional safety measures are therefore required to mitigate the severity of future incidents.
The purpose of this research study is to examine one possible solution that may prevent future loss of lives in this area.  The expected outcomes of this study shall include a development of effective layers of barriers design to reduce the danger of roadway bend conditions such as those at Wolf Creek Pass where accidents can be fatal for heavy vehicles and trucks with a high center of gravity running into it at high speed.  These outcomes shall be achieved by using the advanced 3D nonlinear dynamic computer modeling and analysis of a combination of layers of barriers to absorb, redirect the kinetic energy and stop the momentum of heavy trucks as they approach at high speeds down the slopes toward the bend as well as prevent heavy freight vehicles from flipping over. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 16 Sep 2024 08:56:10 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2431164</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Runaway Truck Detection and Warning System</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2427745</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Despite the presence of properly signed and well-located runaway truck ramps, crashes involving trucks with overheated or otherwise failed brakes continue to occur downhill from the ramp locations. A recently deployed experimental truck warning system on Wolf Creek Pass on westbound SH160 shows some promise of effective crash reduction. The intent of this research project is to conduct observational before and after study at Wolf Creek truck escape ramps and evaluate feasibility of deployment of this system at all truck escape ramps in Colorado.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 13 Sep 2024 12:55:29 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2427745</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Enhancing Rural Roadway Safety through Geospatial Analysis and
2SFCA-Driven Rest Area Serviceability Optimization for Trucks</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2265842</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Truck-involved crashes within the rural network pose a distinctive and multifaceted challenge that necessitates a specialized approach for comprehensive analysis and effective mitigation. Data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) indicates that fatal truck crashes frequently occur between 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., deviating from patterns observed in other vehicle crashes. This peculiarity arises from the distinct routines of truck drivers, often commencing journeys early, which amplifies the risk of driver fatigue and contributes to crashes during the early hours. These observations underscore the imperative to address driver fatigue and enhance rest area serviceability and functionality in rural contexts. Recognizing the unique characteristics of rural areas necessitates acknowledging that truck-involved crashes within these regions can have varied effects on groups such as older adults. These disparities emphasize the crucial need for an all-encompassing approach to enhance safety. Leveraging the context of Florida, this project endeavors to formulate a robust methodology that incorporates geospatial, optimization, and machine learning techniques. By incorporating these multifaceted techniques, the methodology aims to holistically evaluate the resilience of these communities, thereby contributing to a comprehensive comprehension of the repercussions of truck-involved accidents in rural areas.
The objective of this proposal is to improve rural roadway safety by enhancing the accessibility and facilities of rest areas for trucks along rural highways in Florida. By applying the specialized Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (2SFCA) method, this proposal aims to bridge the gap between rest area provisions, truck driver behavior, and rural truck-involved crashes. The data-driven insights generated through this project have the potential to significantly elevate rural roadway safety in Florida. This initiative intends to establish a clear correlation between the availability of rest areas, particularly truck parking lots, and the frequency of truck-involved crashes on rural roadways. The objective is to offer data-driven insights that guide strategic rest area development, thereby contributing to the reduction of truck-related accidents and fostering safer rural highways across Florida.
To meet this research demand, Signal4Analytics (S4A) and the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) serve as optimal platforms for collecting truck-involved crash data. Furthermore, the 2SFCA analysis acknowledges the distinctive features of trucking operations. It encompasses the delineation of catchment areas surrounding each rest area, adapting to rural travel conditions and operational constraints. Calculating accessibility scores for each rural catchment area factors in elements such as the availability of truck parking lots and the population density within each region. These scores provide insights into the potential utilization of rest areas by truck drivers in rural environments. The integration and analysis of truck-involved accident data from Florida’s rural roadways hold pivotal importance. This process uncovers patterns and hotspot locations, linking these incidents with computed accessibility scores to unveil potential associations between rest area accessibility and rates of truck-involved accidents in rural settings.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 19 Oct 2023 16:40:51 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2265842</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Completing the Picture of Crashes: Understanding Data Needs and Opportunities for Road Safety</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2067969</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Since 2009, fatal crashes involving large trucks have steadily increased to 4,237 fatal crashes in 2017, a 46.5 percent increase when compared to 2009. Over that same time period, non-fatal crashes involving large trucks have increased by 57.6 percent to an estimated 446,000 such crashes. This study will leverage existing data sources external to the agency, to gain more insight into crashes involving large trucks and buses, including, but not limited to: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) roadway inventory data; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), CRSS and EDT; economic data (e.g. truck sales, employment trends, etc.). Once identified, the various data sets will be integrated and analyzed. The analysis will allow 
the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to identify areas of concern and develop countermeasures to drive new initiatives to reduce large truck and bus crashes on our nations roadways.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 21 Nov 2022 16:26:14 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2067969</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>ADAS Crash Safety Analyses via OBMS Data</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2067967</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Trucking Alliance, and other organizations have recommended the adoption of ADAS by motor carriers, touting the associated safety benefits. In September 2017, the American Automobile Association Traffic Safety Foundation (AAATSF) produced a series of reports titled “Leveraging Large-Truck Technology and Engineering to Realize Safety Gains.” These reports corroborate the benefits of installing automatic emergency braking, air disc brakes, lane departure warning systems, and video-based onboard safety monitoring systems on large trucks.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 21 Nov 2022 16:26:13 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2067967</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>ACE Program: Testing and Demonstration Activities</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2062465</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The object of this research is to explore and identify processes, communication methods, and inspection technologies to facilitate electronic safety inspections of ADS-equipped Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) operations on the roadway, at borders, and in other enforcement settings.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2022 16:18:03 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2062465</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Safety Impacts of Human-ADS Shared Driving Applications</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2062461</link>
      <description><![CDATA[As safety and automation technology advances, there are newly developing concepts of "team driving."  These combinations do not include two drivers. Examples include; driver and AV systems in 1 truck, driver in truck 1 and fully automated system in truck 2,  driver in truck 1 and remote operator in an office.  The safety implications of these new interactions (inter-operability) and effects of the automation needs to be quantified.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2022 16:18:01 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2062461</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>In Search of Simultaneous Benefits of Infrastructure Provisions on Freight and Bicycle Movements</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2023815</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The purpose of this project is to research rural roadway measures (e.g., wider shoulders, separated facilities) that could increase freight efficiency and safety (e.g., reduce run off the road incidents) while offering bicyclists simultaneous benefits (e.g., reduced traffic-related injuries and fatalities, reduced particulate matter inhalation). In addition to roadway measures, this project will also review vehicle characteristics (e.g., freight vehicle blind spot warnings) and related policy measures that could reduce freight-bicyclist conflicts on rural roadways. This project will primarily be comprised of a review of prior literature, including relevant federal, state, and local regulations, as well as a synthesis of case studies (e.g., implementation of new rural roadway standards in Boulder, Colorado after historic levels of flooding) to highlight practical solutions and best practices.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 15 Sep 2022 17:32:29 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2023815</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Investigation and Development of a MASH Test Level 6, Cost-Effective Barrier System for Containing Heavy Tractor Tank-Trailer Vehicles and Mitigating Catastrophic Crash Events – Phase V</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1942824</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Following the execution of a Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) TL-6 full-scale crash test during the fourth year of this study, a suite of implementation details will be performed to aid state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) to implement the MASH Test Level 6 vehicle containment system into state DOT standard plans. It is anticipated that this barrier will prevent and/or mitigate the consequences of errant heavy tanker-truck vehicles striking opposing traffic on heavily-congested urban freeways and interstates as well as crashes into high-risk facilities or highly-populated areas, such as schools, malls, sports venues, concert arenas, military bases, international airports, or critical government buildings. Further augmentation of the design will be performed including footings for varying soil conditions and to accommodate underground facilities, design for accommodation for bridge sections, and optimization for barrier use in median and single-sided impacts (i.e., median and roadside versions). Load considerations on bridges and for attachments to adjacent features will be identified. Recommendations will be provided to accommodate tapered heights, barrier widths, and changes in barrier geometry outside of the critical length needed for TL-6.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 27 Apr 2022 14:57:11 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1942824</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>
Investigation and Development of a MASH Test Level 6, Cost-Effective Barrier System for Containing Heavy Tractor Tank-Trailer Vehicles and Mitigating Catastrophic Crash Events – Phase IV</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1887296</link>
      <description><![CDATA[For this study, a new, cost-effective, Test Level 6 vehicle containment system will be developed to prevent and/or mitigate the consequences of errant heavy tanker-truck vehicles striking opposing traffic on heavily-congested urban freeways and interstates as well as crashes into high-risk facilities or highly-populated areas, such as schools, malls, sports venues, concert arenas, military bases, international airports, or critical government buildings. The new optimized barrier system will provide adequate structural strength, investigate reduced heights, consider visual appeal for communities, implement height transitions for barrier ends, incorporate options for expansion/contraction joints, and remain safe for errant motorists operating light to heavy passenger vehicles.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 22 Oct 2021 10:01:41 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1887296</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Y4R3 - Determination of Position and Operation Analysis of Emergency Freight Parking in Florida State</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1874082</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Florida is extremely vulnerable to many natural disasters such as flooding and hurricanes. Due to its several
miles of coastline, significant drainage systems, and relatively low elevations, the entire state is especially
susceptible to flooding at any time of the year. Extreme disruptions to the transportation networks and
communications is one of the impacts of flooding and any kind of natural disaster or emergency situation.
Hence, the importance of an integrated, comprehensive approach to disaster loss reduction is not
neglectable. The transportation system in Florida needs to overcome many disruptions during the hurricane
season caused by the heavy rains, strong storms, and many other local events. In these critical situations,
the safe, fast, and reliable shipment of cargo is vital to ensure the continuation of the demands for society.
Above that, the safety of truck drivers at all conditions remains the first priority.Therefore, this research focuses to support the design and operation of the emergency truck parking network
(ETPN) for freight operations in the State of Florida. The research team will focus on the opportunities and
challenges associated with the design and operation of the ETPN in Florida, and also, will focus on
developing decision-making support for and managerial insight into the design and operation of such
networks. Specifically, the two specific objectives of this project are:
(1). Conduct a statewide study to (i) assess the supply and demand for emergency truck parking, (ii)
develop metrics to assess the safety and economic impact of emergency truck parking network, and
(iii) build a prototype web-based tool or mobile app to guide truck drivers to emergency parking
locations in Florida.
(2). Develop simulation models to (i) analyze the performance of alternative emergency parking
networks and (ii) generate insight into the impact of truck driver behavior on the expected
performance of alternative emergency parking networks.
Consequently, this research can reduce travel time and improve safety which the cost saving can be spent
on building new infrastructure. Furthermore, by directing trucks out of the network in a shorter time and
preventing the illegal parking the mobility of other vehicles will be improved and the risk of accidents will
be reduced. The results of this project will be served for protecting, managing, and organizing the freight
movement in various critical/emergency situation.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 25 Aug 2021 11:26:34 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1874082</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Logistics Solutions in the Supply Chain: Economic Benefits of Safety and Environmental Impacts</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1868903</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The proposed study will investigate the contribution of logistics facilities (e.g. transload, intermodal, or freight consolidation facilities) to safety and health benefits in the transportation of hazardous materials and other freight. Logistics models have been developed, such as the Nebraska Supply Chain Optimization Model (NESCOM), that estimate changes in costs to manufacturing, wholesale and other firms which use logistics facilities to substitute rail trips for long-haul truck trips. From the perspective of benefit and cost analysis, these changes in costs primarily reflect internalized worker travel time and vehicle operating costs associated with travel. These models, however, do not measure and include external safety (e.g. accidents avoided) and health (e.g. pollution avoided) benefits of investments in logistics facilities. The proposed study would evaluate such safety and health benefits, creating a model which can be used to supplement existing models such as  NESCOM. A team of civil engineers and economists will examine the broad literature on truck and rail safety and health costs, and how those vary based on local traffic and socio-economic conditions, utilizing widely available socio-economic and traffic data maintained by state Departments of Transportation. The research team also will apply the model to a specific logistics facility example within the state of Nebraska.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 04 Aug 2021 12:24:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1868903</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Investigation and Development of a MASH Test Level 6, Cost-Effective Barrier System for Containing Heavy Tractor Tank-Trailer Vehicles and Mitigating Catastrophic Crash Events – Phase III</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1777949</link>
      <description><![CDATA[For this study, a new, cost-effective, Test Level 6 vehicle containment system will be developed to prevent and/or mitigate the consequences of errant heavy tanker-truck vehicles striking opposing traffic on heavily-congested urban freeways and interstates as well as crashes into high-risk facilities or highly-populated areas, such as schools, malls, sports venues, concert arenas, military bases, international airports, or critical government buildings. The new optimized barrier system will provide adequate structural strength, investigate reduced heights, consider visual appeal for communities, implement height transitions for barrier ends, incorporate options for expansion/contraction joints, and remain safe for errant motorists operating light to heavy passenger vehicles.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 26 Feb 2021 11:16:14 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1777949</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Assessing the Effectiveness of the Wyoming Connected Vehicle Pilot Program: New Traffic Safety Research Perspectives</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1601783</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Wyoming Connected Vehicle (CV) Pilot is developing several applications that utilize Dedicated Short-Range Communication technologies to support a flexible range of services for advisories, roadside alerts, parking notifications, and dynamic travel guidance. The main focus of the CV Pilot Program is to reduce the impact of adverse weather on trucks on Interstate 80 in Wyoming. One of the main tasks in this pilot is to evaluate the performance of the Wyoming CV system. Twenty-one specific performance measures and the target benefits as well as approaches to measure the benefits of the Wyoming CV Pilot were identified by the performance management team. The primary objective of this project is to quantify the safety benefits of the CV pilot using non-traditional approaches. To evaluate the safety benefits of the CV applications, safety performance and microsimulation modeling will be conducted to aid in the evaluation process. Various CV penetration rates and/or CV strategies will be considered when evaluating the system performance.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2019 14:52:33 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1601783</guid>
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