HSRC News Briefs

UNC Highway Safety Research Center seeking applications for $1,000 scholarship

CHAPEL HILL — The UNC Highway Safety Research Center (HSRC) has issued a call for applications for its annual scholarship for graduate students interested in pursuing a career in highway safety.

The $1,000 scholarship is available to a full-time graduate student with a career goal emphasis on transportation safety and who will be enrolled in 2007 at any of the 16 University of North Carolina system campuses.

Candidates will be evaluated on academic performance, career goals, extracurricular and professional activities, work experience and a 1,000-word essay on a current highway safety issue.

The deadline for applying is April 1, and the application can be downloaded at www.hsrc.unc.edu/scholarship/.

Highway Safety Research Center Has Presence at TRB Annual Meeting

CHAPEL HILL — Six researchers from the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center were among the presenters or moderators at the 86th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board (TRB), January 21-25, in Washington, D.C.

The TRB annual meeting covers all transportation modes. Researchers from the Highway Safety Research Center made presentations on a wide range of topics in several subject areas.

Below is a complete list of sessions involving researchers from the Center.

Revised Long-Term Safety Research Plan

Forrest M. Council, Ph.D.

Estimating Safety Benefits of Shoulder Rumble Strips on Two-Lane Rural Highways in Minnesota: Empirical Bayes Observational Before-and-After Study

Forrest M. Council, Ph.D.

Factors Contributing to Pedestrian and Bicycle Crashes on Rural Highways

Daniel L. Carter
Forrest M. Council, Ph.D.

Effect of Graduated Driver's License on Alcohol-Related Crashes Among Teen Drivers in North Carolina

Scott Masten

The Evolution of Highway Safety Analysis

Forrest M. Council, Ph.D.

Bicyclist Intersection Safety Index

Daniel L. Carter
William W. Hunter
Charles V. Zegeer

National Center for Safe Routes Kicks Off First 6 Months of Operation

CHAPEL HILL — The National Center for Safe Routes to School (NCSRTS), housed at the UNC Highway Safety Research Center, kicked off its first year with several key accomplishments. The NCSRTS aimed high in its efforts to build capacity and create demand for Safe Routes to School programs. During only the first six months of establishment, NCSRTS had significant achievements in a number of areas. Among those were the following highlights:

Coordinated the first Safe Routes to School State Coordinators National Meeting

The NCSRTS organized the first Annual Safe Routes to School State Coordinators National Meeting held in Washington D.C. The purpose of the meeting was to provide information to the newly appointed State Coordinators and a venue for networking. A keynote address was presented by The Honorable James L. Oberstar, U.S. Congressman from the Eighth District of Minnesota and Congressional sponsor of the Federal Safe Routes to School program.

Expanded International Walk to School Day

On October 4, 2006, a record number of communities from all 50 US states participated in International Walk to School Day. Over 2,200 events were registered on the USA Walk to School Web site. Of these registered events, 48 percent reported that their Walk to School event was a part of an ongoing walking and/or biking program and 47 percent reported that their event was part of a Safe Routes to School program.

Formed Partnerships with Outlets to Promote SRTS

The National Center for Safe Routes to School extended its promotional reach through the development of co-promotional partnerships with cataloguer Lands’ End and Walk4Life Pedometers. Working with Lands’ End, the Center secured 600 high visibility backpacks to use as promotional giveaways during the Pro Walk, Pro Bike conference in Madison, Wisconsin. In addition, the Center secured 1000 backpacks to use for weekly drawings and grand prize winners.

Launched a comprehensive NCSRTS Web site

Through a complete redesign of the site, the NCSRTS enhanced its image on the Web. The comprehensive site now includes areas to access a number of tools to help become familiar with the Safe Routes to School program, such as the Safe Routes to School Guide, online library, “Ask a Question” database, resource station and newsroom.