Advancing MASH Roadside Safety Design Standards (Year 4)

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) provides guidelines for crash testing and evaluating highway safety features. However, these guidelines predominantly rely on research using 50th-percentile crash test dummies, potentially overlooking the safety needs of a broader group of motorists of various sizes and statures. This project aims to address this gap by investigating the suitability of the MASH impact safety requirements for a diverse range of motorists and recommending necessary adjustments. The proposed research will evaluate the existing criteria to identify potential shortcomings in representing 5th-percentile and 95th-percentile drivers and passengers. By conducting thorough assessments and performance evaluations of highway safety standards, the project seeks to identify areas requiring adjustments to ensure the safety of all road users. The project’s significance lies in its potential to enhance highway safety measures by considering the specific needs and characteristics of all motorists.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $133,200.00
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348307

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Mid-America Transportation Center

  University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  2200 Vine Street, PO Box 830851
  Lincoln, NE  United States  68583-0851
• Project Managers:

  Bruner, Britain

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Nebraska, Lincoln

  Midwest Roadside Safety Facility
  2200 Vine Street, Whittier Building
  Lincoln, NE  United States  68583-0853
• Principal Investigators:

  Perry, Brandon

  Stolle, Cody

  Faller, Ronald

• Start Date: 20260601
• Expected Completion Date: 20270531
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash tests; Drivers; Dummies; Highway safety; Human body size; Roadside; Safety equipment; Vehicle occupants
• Identifier Terms: AASHTO Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Policy; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01989354
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Mid-America Transportation Center
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348307
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: May 15 2026 2:30PM