Researchers at Purdue University found that raising the speed limit from 65 to 70 on Interstate 65 in Indiana does not increase the probability of fatalities or severe injuries. The study used mathematical equations to calculate accident probabilities based on motor vehicle accident data, showing no significant effect.
A $2.5 million NIH grant will fund a study of four communities, including Boston's Chinatown and Somerville, to examine the health effects of pollution exposure in neighborhoods adjacent to major highways. The study aims to better define the most serious impacts of highway pollution on local residents.
The Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation has been awarded a five-year, $25.5 million contract by the Federal Highway Administration to conduct a 20-year research study on bridge performance. The study aims to collect uniform data on bridge performance nationwide to inform bridge management decisions.
A new study suggests that toll road privatization could result in more crashes and increased costs associated with the use of other roads. The study found that higher tolls on privatized roads would divert trucks to local roads, potentially increasing safety risks and maintenance costs.
A new study by Brown University economist Nathaniel Baum-Snow reveals that the American highway system played a significant role in causing population declines in central cities. The research, published in the Quarterly Journal of Economics, suggests that one new highway passing through a city reduces its population by about 18 percent.
Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia are designing a protective wall to shield bridges from terrorist attacks, focusing on materials like concrete and steel. The goal is to create a barrier that can withstand explosions and resulting debris, with easy installation and removal capabilities.
Researchers at University at Buffalo developed a seismic design methodology for bridge towers that allow them to rock during earthquakes, reducing construction and retrofitting costs. The new approach uses devices to control the tower's uplift and absorption of earthquake energy.
The Ohio State University software analyzes crash data to pinpoint traffic accident hotspots, revealing surprising patterns such as increased speeding accidents during weekday rush hours. The tool also indicates that drunk-driving accidents tend to occur on specific interstates and routes near major cities.
A new animal-detection system, tested in Yellowstone National Park, shows promise in reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions. The system detected elk with high accuracy and could be cost-effective in areas with frequent large animal-vehicle collisions.
Following 9/11, American consumers reduced air travel by 12-20% and increased highway travel, leading to a substantial increase in miles-driven and traffic deaths. This behavioral change is attributed to strong emotional forces like fear and anxiety, highlighting the potential for indirect damage from terrorism.
Researchers found that computer animations can heighten a person's confidence but not necessarily accuracy when it comes to making fair decisions. The study suggests that animations can introduce additional bias, leading to harsher penalties.
Researchers suggest that productive kelp forests in the Pacific Rim may have facilitated human coastal migrations around 35,000 to 15,000 years ago. This theory is supported by findings of kelp forests near earliest coastal archaeological sites in the Americas.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has designed preliminary test procedures to measure the performance of the Integrated Vehicle-Based Safety System (IVBSS). The IVBSS aims to detect and warn drivers of potential crashes at different speeds and in various driving situations. NIST will observe contractor tests and...
C. Richard Liu's innovative GPR device measures concrete thickness non-destructively, reducing drilling costs and providing more data than traditional methods. The device is affordable and will be used in everyday operations to ensure highways meet proper construction standards.
Researchers discovered a hidden unity between celestial mechanics and atomic physics, revealing similarities in the mathematics governing both. This connection enables new ways to design space missions with minimal fuel usage.
A study published in Review of Policy Research questions the role of speed limits in improving highway safety. Research by Dr. Robert O. Yowell suggests that technical progress, seat belt use, and increased road maintenance contribute more to declining fatality rates.
Researchers at Northwestern University discovered that brain regions involved in information integration shift depending on cognitive task. Dynamic Causal Modeling revealed that specific regions, like the lateral temporal cortex and intraparietal sulcus, act as convergence zones integrating information from other parts of the brain.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a novel fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) grid system for bridges, boasting advantages over traditional steel rebars. The FRP grid system boasts durability that can last at least 75 years and eliminates weeks of labor-intensive work.
A study by USC researchers found that children living within 75 meters of a major road had a nearly 50% greater risk of having asthma symptoms. The study included over 5,000 5- and 6-year-old children living in Southern California.
A new study published by the American Thoracic Society found that children living within 75 meters of a major road are at a higher risk of having asthma symptoms. The research, which included over 5,000 children in Southern California, suggests that local traffic may be causing an increase in asthma cases.
A K-State engineering professor studied rural highway crashes in Kansas, finding four key factors that consistently contribute to fatalities: driving under the influence, speeding, not using a seat belt, and being ejected from the vehicle. The study's findings have practical implications for introducing a primary seat belt law and emph...
The Southeast's rural two-lane highways are the deadliest roads in the nation, according to a recent Georgia Institute of Technology study. The most frequent crashes occurred on these highways, especially in wooded areas where drivers ran off the road and hit trees.
A new typeface called Clearview has been approved by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for use on public roads in the US and Canada. The Clearview typeface offers a 20% improvement in legibility and recognition with the same size sign as currently used, reducing driver confusion and increasing safety.
Pigeons with homing experience were significantly attracted to highways and a railway track, especially during early and middle sections of their homeward journeys. The researchers found that the birds may use cognitive strategies to locate their loft by relying on topographical points and road features.
Deforestation has risen by nearly 50% in Brazil's southern and eastern Amazon since 2002, threatening indigenous plant and wildlife species. The expansion of new highways and infrastructure projects is a key driver of this destruction.
Researchers investigated how small mammals use crossing structures built across the Trans-Canada Highway, finding that small covered culverts offer protection from other animals and are a cost-effective mitigation strategy. The study's findings have already influenced road construction plans, highlighting the importance of conservation...
A study conducted by NC State University researchers found that while there is no systemic racial profiling by the North Carolina Highway Patrol, individual troopers and patrol patterns contribute to disparities in traffic citations. The study suggests that factors such as accident rates, demographic composition, and driving behavior p...
Researchers found that viewers of a scenic parkway video scored lower on a test of frustration and worked almost a minute longer on an unsolvable anagram puzzle compared to those who watched videos of urban driving experiences. The study suggests nature can have a calming effect on drivers.
A recent study by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that drivers using cell phones are twice as likely to cause rear-end collisions. The study, which analyzed data from over 500 cell phone users and 452 crash incidents, estimates that cell phones are responsible for at least 1,500 motor vehicle crashes per year.
A new web-based system is being tested to improve winter road treatment. The Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS) uses computer models to project hour-by-hour weather and road conditions up to two days in advance. This allows users to make informed decisions about road treatments, potentially saving lives and reducing costs.
Researchers have developed a web-based project to familiarize drivers with Boston's new Big Dig routes. The Web Big Dig Drive provides detailed information on signage, pavement markers, and side barriers, helping commuters and travelers adjust to the changes ahead of time.
A 7.9 magnitude earthquake on Alaska's Denali fault system created a 145-mile scar across the landscape, with measurable offsets of up to 22 feet. The earthquake revealed new surface ruptures, clearly developed scarps and cracks where faults pass beneath glaciers.
A study of 818 fatally injured drivers found a strong association between blood alcohol content (BAC) and problem drinking. Despite this, over 40% of drivers with high BACs were not reported as problem drinkers by their spouses, highlighting the need for targeted countermeasures.
Researchers have developed a new technique to improve earthquake resistance in highway structures using epoxy and flexible materials like glass or carbon fibres. This method can strengthen concrete structures up to five times and extends their lifespan, providing crucial seconds for evacuation during earthquakes.
Deforestation rates in Brazilian Amazonia averaged seven football fields per minute, with highway proximity being a significant predictor. Current policy initiatives to expand infrastructure networks will likely increase deforestation activity, particularly in south-easterly areas.
The record winter weather led to a significant boost in the US economy, with estimated benefits of $21 billion. The mild conditions resulted in lower heating costs, reduced snow-removal expenses, and an increase in construction income.
Researchers from Agere Systems transmitted 3.2 terabits of information per second over a 1000km long fiber optic line using DWDM technology. A separate team from Mitsubishi Japan has made progress on transoceanic class transmissions, aiming to establish longer connections between countries.
Penn State meteorologists have combined weather data from airports, weather stations and sensors to create a more detailed picture of weather conditions in the state. The project aims to provide real-time displays of observations and user-specific products for various industries, including agribusiness and the power industry.
A research team led by William Laurance found that Amazonian forest destruction rates have risen sharply since 1995, contrary to the Brazilian government's claims. Deforestation has increased due to infrastructure projects and expanding logging and mining industries.
Researchers Levitt and Porter studied fatal two-car crashes to determine the percentage of people estimated to be driving drunk. Their findings show that drivers who had been drinking were seven times more likely to cause a fatal crash than sober drivers.
A recent study by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that boating deaths are more closely tied to alcohol consumption than previously thought. The research, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, analyzed data from over 3,900 boaters and 221 boat-related deaths between 1990 and 1998.
Archaeologists have found a fragment of a French wine bottle made around the time of the American Revolution, confirming the existence of an old French site in Peoria, Illinois. The discovery resolves a decades-long debate over the village's location and sheds light on the life of Louis Chatellereau, a French farmer and fur trader.
A new study by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that only 3.1 percent of North Carolinians are talking on cell phones while driving at any given time. The prevalence rate varied by region, with higher rates in the Piedmont and lower rates in the mountains and coastal plain.
The E-Screening Pilot Program uses electronic screening to check a moving vehicle's weight, height, safety history and tax/registration status. Cleared vehicles bypass weigh stations while those flagged 'at risk' are directed in for closer inspection.
A University of North Carolina study found a significant decline in fatal and single-vehicle crashes involving 16-year-old drivers after the introduction of graduated driver licensing (GDL) in North Carolina, with nighttime crashes decreasing by 43% and daytime crashes down by 20%. The GDL system requires young beginning drivers to pas...
Researchers at UC Davis's Advanced Highway Maintenance and Construction Technology (AHMCT) center are developing high-tech machines to improve safety in highway construction zones. The center has created innovative solutions such as automated debris removal vehicles, crack sealers, and traffic cone-laying robots.
Researchers at Purdue University have created a mathematical model to analyze tire vibrations and identify the components that produce the most noise. The model, which creates a visual representation of the tire's vibration pattern like a fingerprint, will help engineers design quieter tires and reduce highway noise.
The US-funded Mag-train propulsion prototype, Seraphim, uses magnetic repulsion to push a vehicle forward and provide braking. It is expected to decrease environmental degradations and enable high-speed connections between cities in the western suburbs.
A new study by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill finds that drinking drivers are responsible for a significant number of child passenger deaths in the US. Between 1991 and 1996, approximately 550 U.S. children died each year in crashes involving drinking drivers, with about one in five deaths involving alcohol.
Researchers created a virtual crash test dummy to predict head and chest injuries during accidents. The simulation shows that multiple impacts result in more severe injuries, regardless of the vehicle model involved.
Researchers developed smart concrete that changes electrical resistance in response to strain or stress, allowing for real-time vehicle weighing. The technology has the potential to reduce costs and increase efficiency in highway monitoring.
A study found 10-year syphilis rates in counties bordering I-95 were 2.38 times higher than those not bordering the highway. Drug trafficking significantly contributed to the contagion.
A new University of Washington cable television channel, Traffic TV, will broadcast real-time rush-hour traffic updates starting June 1. The service provides live video footage of traffic choke points and estimated travel speeds along area highways.
Researchers from UNC Highway Safety Research Center found that only 2.1% of boaters tested showed blood alcohol above 0.08%, with 18% reporting consumption and 14% having elevated levels. The study aims to determine alcohol's role in boating fatalities and injuries.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have automated two buses, a pair of cars and an Oldsmobile minivan for an automated highway system demonstration. The vehicles will exhibit various aspects of highway and vehicle automation, including lanekeeping and obstacle detection.
A new system called PET traps heavy metals in stormwater runoff, using a bed of oxide-coated sand and porous pavement concrete block. The system can virtually eliminate nickel, cadmium, lead and zinc from stormwater runoff for up to ten years.