Recent Center Highlights
Guiding parents of teen drivers in NC
A recent webinar, new fact sheets, and a free online course for caregivers illustrate HSRC’s commitment to supporting the families of North Carolina’s newest drivers:
- HSRC researchers co-presented on the webinar “Reducing Teen Crashes: Insights and Strategies for Parents, Law Enforcement, and Educators,” in partnership with the NC Governor’s Highway Safety Program and NC State University’s Institute for Transportation Research and Education. (April 2025)
- HSRC developed new fact sheets with information about the Graduated Driver Licensing system in North Carolina, sharing data and information about how and why the different elements of the system help give new drivers the practice they need to keep themselves and others safer on the road. (April 2025)
- Time to Drive, a free, self-paced online course, prepares caregivers to help their teens develop into experienced, safe drivers.
Spotlight on HSRC programs geared toward safe, active travel for youth
- The National Center for Safe Routes to School announced the Pueblo of Jemez, N.M., and the City of Minneapolis as recipients of the 2025 Vision Zero for Youth U.S. Leadership Award. (April 2025)
- The National Center for Safe Routes to School released three new information briefs on the variety of creative ways cities, counties and other local governments engage youth voices on community road safety issues. (May 2025)
- Thanks to all who joined the National Bike & Roll to School Day 2025 celebration in May. Almost 2,500 Bike & Roll to School Day events were registered in 44 states and Washington, D.C. Way to go!
Lauren Marchetti retires after 52+ years, and other notable staff news
Lauren Marchetti, who worked at HSRC as director of the National Center for Safe Routes to School and associate director of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, and came up with the original concepts of National Walk and Bike to School Days, retired in April 2025 after more than 52 years of service to the state.
Read more about her storied career.
- Nandi Taylor, a student in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health Department of Epidemiology who has worked on several HSRC projects, recently became Dr. Taylor after earning her PhD. She was also named a 2025 Lifesavers Traffic Safety Scholar.
- Katie Harmon was featured in the February 2025 Society for Advancement of Violence and Injury Research (SAVIR) Member Spotlight.
Picturing HSRC’s Collaborative Network through Publications (2020-2025)
Over the next year, we will commemorate HSRC’s 60th anniversary in a variety of ways.
This month we take a look at the collaborative network created by HSRC’s recent staff and publications.
HSRCers in action
HSRC’s Sarah O’Brien and Seth LaJeunesse participated in local Smith Middle School’s STEAM Day, an event that gives students opportunities to learn about the wide variety of careers in different sciences and beyond. (April 2025)
Scenes from the 2025 Smith Middle School STEAM Day.
