<rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="https://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
  <channel>
    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
    <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
    <atom:link href="https://rip.trb.org/Record/RSS?s=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" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
    <description></description>
    <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>
    </image>
    <item>
      <title>Colorado Traffic and Animal Detection (COTAD) Model - Training the YOLO algorithm to Reliably Detect Colorado Wildlife, Pedestrians, and Vehicles</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2643439</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Reliable, automated detection of wildlife in real-time from optical and thermal camera images, and using detection to alert drivers by using dynamic wildlife warning signs (DWW), can save lives and protect property, as well as protect wildlife. This research will develop and train COTAD to detect Colorado large wildlife and test the algorithm near highways. If successful and paired with DWW, this project could become a highly used and cost effective tool to continue Colorado Department of Transportation's (CDOT’s) progress and leadership in reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2025 13:50:23 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2643439</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Size of Regulatory and Warning Signs







</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2558385</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD) defines the standards used by road managers nationwide to install and maintain traffic control devices on all streets, highways, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and site roadways open to public travel. Regulatory and warning signs are covered in MUTCD Chapters 2A (Dimensions), 2B (Size of Regulatory Signs), 2C (Size of Warning Signs and Plaques), 6G (Regulatory Sign Design and Size), 6H (Warning Sign Function, Design, and Application), 7B (Design of School Signs), 8B (Sizes of Grade Crossing Signs), 9A (General), 9B (Regulatory Signs), and 9C (Warning Signs and Object Markers). Transportation agencies face challenges with the size of regulatory and warning signs because real-world roadway features do not always clearly match the categories (e.g., conventional, expressway) in the MUTCD tables (e.g., Table 2C-1, Warning Sign and Plaque Sizes). For example, some high-speed roads pass through urban areas without a reduction in speed, which can lead to sign clutter and sign sizes that do not match roadway conditions. These issues can increase costs, create maintenance difficulties, and result in the overuse of larger signs.

Human factors is an applied scientific discipline that tries to enhance the relationship between devices and systems and the people who are meant to use them. As a discipline, human factors approaches system design with the user as its focal point. Human factors research can help address transportation agencies’ challenges with the size of regulatory and warning signs by focusing on how drivers and other road users see and respond to signs. This user-centered approach can provide transportation agencies evidence-based guidance on choosing optimum sign sizes. With this kind of support, states can reduce costs, improve consistency, and make sure regulatory and warning signs are both effective and easy to understand.

Research is needed to incorporate human factors into regulatory and warning signs to help transportation agencies select optimum sign sizes.

The objective of this research is to provide guidance for selecting sizes of regulatory and warning signs based on traffic speed and highway context, considering human factors. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 28 May 2025 14:05:40 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2558385</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluation of Post Mounted Delineators and Curve Warning Message Markings</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2219413</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The purpose of this study is to evaluate post-mounted delineators and curve warning message markings by deploying them on a sample of VDOT roads based on a statistically robust sampling plan. This will be accomplished in three phases. This project will conduct the first phase of this study.  Tasks in the first phase include conducting a literature review and outreach to determine best design and maintenance practices, identifying the specifications for modification, and designing a sampling plan. A second phase will deploy and monitor the two treatments in the field following the plan developed in the Phase 1 study. A phase 3 study would conduct the before and after crash analysis, crash modification factor (CMF) development and benefit-cost analysis. This study fits well into current VDOT safety programs, policies, and initiatives for reducing roadway departure crashes (RDCs).  Positive research results would provide additional countermeasures statewide for RDCs that will benefit the ongoing systemic safety program.  VDOT will benefit from the development of CMFs specific to Virginia by determining the expected return on investment in phase 3. This Phase 1 study is critical in that it provides the foundation for development of credible CMFs.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 26 Jul 2023 08:38:49 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2219413</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Watch Out for CityLYNX! Be Streetcar Smart</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2096560</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The project will execute a campaign to include bold signage and pavement markings in the streetcar corridor areas along the CityLYNX Gold Line. CATS will be installing creative marketing strategies to educate the public that streetcar safety is important and to prevent fatalities from pedestrians and bicyclists being hit by the streetcar (26 incidents in 3 yrs) due to improper crossing and trespassing.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2023 14:49:10 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2096560</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Improve the effectiveness of safety countermeasures as well as tools that promote operational efficiency</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2071569</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This research involves enhancements to lane reduction transitions through signing and lane markings and working with over 25 states through Traffic Control Device Pooled Fund Study.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 28 Nov 2022 14:20:07 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2071569</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>LED Applications on Traffic Control Devices</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1957081</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Since the introduction of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in traffic control systems, LEDs have been gaining in prominence to enhance attention and conspicuity of signs, create dynamic sign legends, and provide basic traffic control. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has limited LED provisions to guide the LED applications, creating some indecision among public agencies relative to the appropriate application of LEDs in their traffic control applications.

The National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (NCUTCD) has submitted LED recommendations to FHWA that maintain basic traffic control concepts, recognize the adaptability of LED technology, and provide guidance for LED use. The development of those MUTCD recommendations identified a number of issues where research was not available to support the recommendations. There continues to be growing use of LED signs without clear understanding of possible safety advantages or impacts to machine vision, road users, and adjacent residents. To guide transportation agencies on basic traffic control concepts that warrant the life cycle of significant asset investments and safety to road users, research is needed to provide clarification on the LED applications in traffic control devices.

The objective of this research is to evaluate various LED sign applications and provide a guide to the effective use of LED applications in traffic control devices for the road user and current generation automotive machine vision systems.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 27 May 2022 11:23:28 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1957081</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Prototyping and Field Testing of a Demand-responsive Rumble Strip Mechanism</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1464482</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project includes the design, prototyping and field testing of a Demand Responsive Rumble Strip (DRRS) mechanism, which becomes active (lowers) only when needed. This mechanism is to be installed on travel lanes upstream of locations with safety concerns. Making the rumble strips active only when needed prevents drivers from becoming accustomed to the effects of the rumble strips while minimizing the nose as compared to permanent rumble strips. Hence, drivers’ attention will be regained making them aware of the presence of pedestrians in the roadway. In addition, in the context of autonomous vehicles, the proposed mechanism provides redundancy so as to minimize the likelihood of a crash as a consequence of system failures and/or malfunction. In the context of connected vehicles, the proposed mechanism can be activated through communication with vehicles and pedestrians.   ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 13 Apr 2017 16:41:34 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1464482</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Understanding Contributing Factors to Wrong-way Crashes and Evaluating the Effectiveness of Countermeasures in Reducing Wrong-way Crash Risk of Older Drivers</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1414801</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Although relatively infrequent, when Wrong Way Crashes (WWCs) occur they are much more likely to be fatal, and to involve multiple fatalities, compared to other types of highway crashes. Impairment as a result of drug and/or alcohol consumption is a major contributing factor to WWCs. However, older drivers are also at greater risk of being involved in WWCs. The focus of the current project was assess the effectiveness of different countermeasures in preventing Wrong Way Entries (WWEs), a frequent precursor to WWCs, and reducing confusion regarding highway entry points. A driving simulator study asked older drivers (65+) to enter a highway using an entrance ramp on the left while passing an exit ramp on the left that featured various levels of wrong way countermeasures (minimum required signs and pavement markings defined by the MUTCD, minimum plus the addition of a No Left Turn (R3-2) sign before the lip of the exit ramp, and an enhanced countermeasure condition that included additional signs, larger signs, and enhanced pavement markers. The number of WWEs did not statistically differ as a function of countermeasure level, nor did pre-planned analyses of behavioral driving data reveal differences in uncertainty regarding which ramp (entrance or exit) to enter. Exploratory analyses found that a measure of confusion/uncertainty (speed before the exit ramp) did differ significantly between the minimum and enhanced countermeasure conditions, in line with previous simulator findings that enhanced countermeasures can reduce confusion (Boot, Charness, Mitchum, Roque, Stothart, & Barajas, 2015). While providing some support for the benefit of enhanced countermeasures, results also suggest that WWEs are particularly difficult to prevent. Even in the minimum plus and enhanced conditions featuring multiple redundant cues, some older drivers (2) still entered the exit ramp. This research highlights the need to understand not only the best set of cues to prevent WWEs, but the most effective cues to provide further down the exit ramp (e.g., flashing Wrong Way signs, flashing in pavement LED markers) to encourage retreat once a WWE has occurred.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 01 Jul 2016 11:54:10 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1414801</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Warning Sign Legends for Emergency Incidents
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1370724</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will conduct simulation and field evaluations using motorists and first responders to the effectiveness of various text and symbol sign designs deployed by first responders such a fire, ems, and police for the purpose of Traffic Incident management and in the prevention of secondary crashes.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2015 15:29:20 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1370724</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Improving Highway Work Zone Safety</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1228380</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This proposal describes a multi-discipline approach for conducting research on the improvement of highway work zone safety, which is a pressing issue face the nation. Researchers with diversified expertise from Kansas, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Texas will collaborate to study drivers' behavior and develop an intelligent warning sign system, the best safety practice for contractors, and work zone safety education and training programs. Field experiments will be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the developed intelligent warning sign system. To broaden the impact of this research project, the research team will distribute research results through journal publications, conference proceedings, conference presentations, workshops, professional meetings, and community gatherings. In addition, a website will be created to report on the project's progress and results in a timely fashion as well as to promote research collaboration and outreach to other researchers, students, industries, government agencies, and the general public.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 03 Jan 2013 13:19:57 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1228380</guid>
    </item>
  </channel>
</rss>