News Archive
Search
View by Year
AI can make transportation safer and more efficient, researchers say in new report
2024-11-22
To support the future AI in transportation, a team of researchers led by Abhijit Sarkar of VTTI wrote a report published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The report explores the benefits and implementations of AI in departments of transportation (DOT) at the state and local levels and provides a set of guidelines and research agendas.
Research achievements and excellence honored during annual celebration
2024-11-13
Zac Doerzaph, Rich Hanowski, Gerardo Flinstch, and Jon Hankey were among more than 80 Virginia Tech faculty members honored during the Celebrating Scholarly Distinction ceremony.
Hokie veteran spotlight: Ammie Jo Carter
2024-11-11
Ammie Jo Carter, a U.S. Navy veteran and program manager for the Division of Vehicle, Driver, and System Safety at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute since 2022, spoke about her military experience and how it has prepared her for civilian work, the best part of working at the university, advice to current service members who will be joining the workforce soon, and more.
Transportation institute awarded nearly $1 million in trucking education grants
2024-11-05
VTTI recently received nearly $1 million in two grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to develop and enhance tractor-trailer educational programs.
Pioneering transportation research
2024-10-01
Richard Hanowski of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute is helping cut down on motorcycle-related crashes in low- and middle-income countries with the Motorcycle Collision-Alert and Management System.
Tom Dingus among the record seven Hokies to join Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine
2024-09-20
The Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine was established in 2013 to inform and educate the state’s executive branch agencies, as well as its residents, on issues related to policy, the economy, and quality of life, according to its website. The organization also promotes research, the application of knowledge, and engagement of future generations.
Should the legal driving age be increased? No, says Virginia Tech statistician
2024-09-19
As a parent and an expert in driving risk factors, Feng Guo has strong opinions about when and how kids should be driving: as early as safely possible with many, many hours under supervision
Sharing the Road Program visits Camp Lejeune
2024-09-19
VTTI's Sharing the Road with Trucks program visited Camp Lejeune to engage nearly 500 United States Marines in demonstrations that taught them how to safely drive around large trucks.
New internship opportunity sparks summer of learning
2024-09-17
This past summer, VTTI provided a meaningful internship opportunity for eight students of various non-engineering disciplines at Virginia Tech.
Driving Forces: Lisa Eichelberger
2024-09-09
As HR manager, Lisa is responsible for numerous aspects regarding VTTI employees. She fosters employee development, provides access to employee resources, and supports any staffing needs.
Guidelines to steer the future of autonomous trucking
2024-08-30
After four years, a guidebook for the future of autonomous trucking has driven across the finish line. In 2020, VTTI and 17 partners were awarded a $7.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to develop a concept of operations. The final report, published in July, includes best practices for the implementation of automated driving systems (ADS) in large trucks and policy issues for fleets to consider across eight topic areas.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute unveils Smart Cities program in Falls Church
2024-08-19
VTTI has launched the first phase of its Smart City test bed located near the university’s Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church. This initial technology implementation involves modernizing the city's traffic control systems to provide a foundation onto which additional “smart” technologies may be applied.
Driving Forces: Brian Daily
2024-08-13
Brian Daily is the longest tenure employee at VTTI. For nearly 30 years, Brian has been contributing to the success of software development, systems administration, database development, and all things technology.
Rich Hanowski receives Fulbright Scholar Award
2024-07-22
Rich Hanowski, the director of VTTI's Division of Freight, Transit, & Heavy Vehicle Safety, has received a Fulbright Scholar Award for the 2024-25 academic year.
Elizabeth White named chief of staff for Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
2024-06-20
As chief of staff, White will support Executive Director Zac Doerzaph’s efforts to accomplish the institute’s strategic agenda and lifesaving mission. She will lead the generation, compilation, and analysis of business intelligence data from across the organization to inform key organizational strategies and decisions.
Scholarship, creative activities, and innovation from across Virginia Tech spurs research growth
2024-06-11
For a second straight year, Virginia Tech’s research awards and expenditures grew more than 10 percent with federal, state, local, and private research awards growing a combined 17 percent.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute explores the global impact of motorcycle safety
2024-06-07
Richard Hanowski and Carl Cospel from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute are joining forces to create the Motorcycle Collision-Alert and Management System with the goal of helping to reduce motorcycle related crashes in low and middle-income countries. The technology, meant to be low cost and targeted for low-capacity bikes, is focusing on companies that use motorcycle fleets for the delivery services.
Virginia Tech tackles navigation solutions for safe, uncrewed aircraft surface operations
2024-06-03
The NASA funded research is a collaboration with multiple universities and industry partners and has the potential to set industry standards for autonomous commercial aviation and beyond.
Driving Forces: Veronda Osborne
2024-05-06
Over her last 12 years at the Global Center for Automotive Performance Simulation (GCAPS) as the Business Manager, Veronda Osborne has had a role in every aspect of the organization. With responsibilities including fiscal administration, human resources, purchasing, shipping and receiving, Veronda is one of the Driving Forces behind GCAPS’ success and has a positive impact on every business operation.
New automatic emergency braking safety standard will save lives, expert explains
2024-05-01
A new federal safety standard adopted this week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will require new cars to have automatic emergency braking systems that will bring them to a complete stop even at high speeds in order to avoid crashes. Zachary Doerzaph, executive director of VTTI, answers questions about the research into automatic emergency braking that supports this new standard and the reasons why it will save lives.
2024 Virginia Tech Service Recognition
2024-04-18
Each year, Virginia Tech recognizes employees for continuous service to the university in 5-year increments beginning at 10 years. In 2024, 26 of nearly 700 employees honored during events on April 15 were from VTTI. Collectively, those employees have dedicated 395 years of service to Virginia Tech.
Outreach program on truck safety travels across the country
2024-04-18
VTTI's outreach initiative Sharing the Road with Trucks traveled across the country to the city to present at the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Convention and Exposition 2024.
Tom Dingus recognized with the SAE International Humanitarian Award
2024-04-17
Tom Dingus has dedicated his life’s work to improving roadway safety through innovative transportation technologies and is being recognized with the Society of Automotive Engineers’ International Humanitarian Award for his efforts.
Keith Johnson receives Virginia Tech President's Award for Excellence
2024-04-03
Fifteen employees with a collective 248 years of service were nominated for the 2024 President’s Award for Excellence. These employees were recognized during a ceremony on April 2, where President Tim Sands announced five winners. The President’s Award for Excellence is an annual recognition of full-time staff for their outstanding contributions and consistently excellent performance for Virginia Tech.
Driving Forces: Billy Hobbs
2024-02-05
As Technical Support Service Leader in VTTI's Center for Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure, Billy Hobbs is enabling researchers to conduct life-saving research. He is currently responsible for maintaining and organizing all the field testing, managing a functioning asphalt testing lab and, and maintaining the Heavy Vehicle Simulator for the Accelerated Pavement Testing Facility that is located at VTTI, among many other critical responsibilities.
New software simulates the impact of alternative fuels for freight trains
2024-01-18
Researchers at VTTI recently created a nationwide multi-train simulation software, called NeTrainSim, to show the impacts of a countrywide shift away from diesel.
Eileen Herbers named among top transportation students in the country
2024-01-09
A fifth-year doctoral student in biomedical engineering and mechanics at Virginia Tech, Eileen Herbers, was named the Student of the Year for the Safe-D: Safety through Disruption University Transportation Center. Herbers was presented with the award for her work on measuring the potential safety impact of automated driving systems at the Council of University Transportation Centers Awards Banquet preceding the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting on Jan. 6.
New Hokie-themed semi-truck helps drive the Sharing the Road program forward
2023-11-27
VTTI now has a dedicated Hokie-themed semi-truck for its Sharing the Road with Large Trucks program, which is expanding to additional schools during the next year with new virtual components.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute creates the future of transportation safety
2023-11-21
Naturalistic driving studies utilize VTTI’s data acquisition systems to create a continuous stream of data — from key on to key off — which is time synchronized, captured, transferred, stored at Virginia Tech.
'Curious Conversations' podcast: Matt Camden and Scott Tidwell talk about the Share the Road program and driving around heavy trucks
2023-11-06
Matt Camden and Scott Tidwell of VTTI joined “Curious Conversations” to talk about the institute’s Sharing the Road program, which has shared tips for driving around heavy trucks with more than 20,000 high school students since 2018.
Accomplishments, scholarship, and impact honored at research celebration
2023-10-16
More than 70 faculty members were recognized during during Virginia Tech’s second annual Research Excellence Awards, including numerous VTTI researchers.
Autonomous driving tested with real-world scenarios
2023-10-13
VTTI researchers and their partners put an autonomous Ford F-150 through a series of driving scenarios related to public safety on the 395 express lanes in Arlington, Va.
Driving Forces: Kelly Stulce
2023-09-28
Currently serving in the Division of Vehicle, Driver, and System Safety, Kelly is responsible for coordinating all aspects of a project and ensuring that studies produce quality deliverables that meet sponsor requirements on time and within budget.
Feng Guo named Patricia Caldwell Faculty Fellow
2023-09-28
Feng Guo, professor of statistics in the College of Science at Virginia Tech and lead data scientist for VTTI, has been awarded the Patricia Caldwell Faculty Fellowship by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.
Tech on Tap: Making roads safer for drivers and pedestrians
2023-09-25
As part of the Tech on Tap series, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) panel discussed safety on the roadways and provided a look at the research done to help with pedestrian safety, teen driver development, and safely sharing the road with heavy trucks.
Hesham Rakha named Canadian Academy of Engineering fellow
2023-07-31
Hesham Rakha has been named a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering. The director of the Center for Sustainable Mobility at VTTI, Rakha was nominated by current academy members for his dedication to reducing traffic congestion, reducing the transportation system's energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and enhancing transportation safety. He will be one of the 55 new fellows inducted this year.
Driving Forces: Scott Tidwell
2023-07-27
Scott Tidwell is among the longest-termed VTTI employees, having worked at the Institute for 21+ years, the past 17 years as a senior field research technician in the Division of Freight, Transit, & Heavy Vehicle Safety.
Groundbreaking e-scooter study shows surface transitions as most common hurdle
2023-07-25
Utilizing VTTI’s proprietary data acquisition system, researchers found that infrastructure-related factors, the behaviors of e-scooter riders and other around them, and environmental factors all created risk for e-scooter users.
Driver safety important topic for continuing research
2023-07-17
VTTI continues decades-long research on naturalistic driving patterns and driver reactions in and around vehicular crashes. Researchers install cameras and sensors in vehicles to monitor driver behavior that aims to improve driver safety.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, NEC demonstrate intersection safety
2023-06-05
VTTI and NEC Corporation of America today announced they have combined private 5G and artificial intelligence to create a roadway warning system that could potentially saves lives.
Driving Forces: Jianhe Du
2023-05-18
With 16 years as a senior research associate at VTTI, Jianhe Du is a driving force in the Center for Sustainable Mobility, researching traffic efficiency and how to reduce the environmental impact of transportation while also focusing on (transportation) safety.
VTTI's Sharing the Road team receives award for outreach excellence
2023-05-09
Sponsored by the Virginia Tech Alumni Association, the Alumni Awards for Excellence are awarded annually to faculty and staff who exhibit excellence and dedication in their respective fields. Matthew Camden, Mark Golusky, and Scott Tidwell have been honored with a team achievement in outreach excellence for their work on the Sharing the Road with Trucks Program.
2023 Virginia Tech Service Recognition
2023-05-08
Each year, Virginia Tech recognizes employees for continuous service to the university in 5-year increments beginning at 10 years. In 2023, 28 of nearly 900 employees honored during events on April 11 and 19 were from VTTI. Collectively, those employees have dedicated 495 years of service to Virginia Tech.
Class of 2023: Alli Rossi-Alvaraz named a Graduate Student of the Year
2023-05-05
Alli Rossi-Alvarez in industrial and systems engineering received the 2023 Graduate Student of the Year award. This award recognizes students for their character, service, outstanding contributions, and academic achievements. Rossi-Alvarez successfully defended her Ph.D. in industrial systems and engineering in December and will graduate this spring. Her research focuses on cognitive engineering and human factors of transportation safety.
Distracted driving on the rise, but rather than the problem, expert says technology could be the solution
2023-04-13
According to VTTI, the top distractions are inattention due to fatigue and texting, particularly by inexperienced drivers. Charlie Klauer explains that while technology is a distraction, it can also be a part of the solution through tools such as car play, in which drivers can answer a call hands-free.
Researchers remove uncertainty in roadway lighting
2023-04-06
Groundbreaking research conducted at VTTI found that blue light from LED road lighting does not have any significant impact on road user salivary melatonin levels.
Driving Forces: Brian Williams
2023-04-05
Brian Williams has been with VTTI for nearly 20 years, having served as a research specialist and then senior research specialist before moving into his current role of research associate.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute sheds new light on Virginia State Police vehicles
2023-03-20
Ronald Gibbons and his team of researchers from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) have found that motorists passing a stopped police vehicle pay more attention when the vehicle has more emergency lights and uses red lights in its light bar. Now, as the next fleet of Virginia State Police vehicles is being rolled out, the vehicles are being equipped with a new lighting pattern that includes both red and blue lights, based on testing and evaluation by Virginia State Police Driver Training Center staff, nationwide best practices for police vehicle emergency lighting, vendor input, and recommendations from VTTI's published research.
Researching ways to increase driver attention
2023-03-16
Researchers from VTTI in collaboration with Google’s Android Auto team have found that mechanisms that encourage drivers to take long glances back at the road during extended interaction with a touchscreen infotainment system may be a key aspect of mitigating driver distraction.
Driving Forces: Vicki Williams
2023-03-06
Senior research associate Vicki Williams has been a Driving Force at VTTI since 2001. Her experience includes on-road experimentation, study design, data analysis, research & design support for data analytics projects, and the development of the first video reduction dictionary which was created for the 100-Car study.
Hesham Rakha named fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers
2023-02-21
As a result of his dedication to transportation research, Hesham Rakha has earned him a new prestigious title — fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).
Tom Dingus earns federal award for excellence in safety engineering
2023-02-16
Tom Dingus, the Newport News Shipbuilding Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, will be honored with the U.S. Government Award for Safety Engineering Excellence at the 27th Enhanced Safety of Vehicles conference this spring in Yokohama, Japan.
Driving Forces: Mario Jones
2023-01-23
Meet Mario Jones, VTTI’s latest Driving Force! In his role as lead of the Mechanical Design program within the Division of Technology Development and Deployment, he provides guidance on the development of mechanical designs to program researchers, mentors other mechanical design engineers and technicians, and serves as an interface between the program and the various research groups throughout VTTI.
Expanded technology used in Smart Work Zone system improves safety for roadside workers
2023-01-03
VTTI's Smart Work Zone system capabilities have expanded to meet the safety needs of an Albemarle County work zone deployed at the roundabout intersection of Route 151 and Route 250 in November.
'Good Morning America' films segment with Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
2023-01-02
"Good Morning America" visited VTTI to provide its viewers with a first-person perspective of what it is like to drive a truck on the road and tips on how to safely drive around them during the busy holiday travel season.
Kevin Kefauver appointed Virginia Tech Transportation Institute's division director of data and analytics
2023-01-02
Kevin Kefauver has been named Virginia Tech Transportation Institute's division director of data and analytics, effective Jan. 10. He brings an extensive background in mechanical engineering and controls with him to combine his expertise with that of the institute.
Students take a semester project beyond the classroom to a safety technology design competition
2022-12-02
VTTI's Executive Director Zac Doerzaph mentored students enrolled in the Advanced Vehicle Research and Development course who created a technology that alerts drivers when they are in the blind spot of a tractor-trailer. That project has been named a North American regional finalist in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles Student Safety Technology Design Competition.
Research collaboration initiated to increase pedestrian safety
2022-11-10
VTTI and NEC, an information and communications technology leader with more than 120 years of experience, have successfully carried out a proof of concept to provide safety information and warnings to drivers, pedestrians, and other road users near intersections using artificial intelligence (AI)-based video analysis technologies.
Cycling for safety: Olympians visit Virginia Tech
2022-11-09
Cyclists from the Team Twenty24 Cycling Training program visited the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute’s Virginia Smart Roads — a state-of-the-art, closed test-bed, research facility managed by the institute — to discuss bicycle safety and future collaborations.
Outreach team teaches local students about driver safety
2022-11-08
Research shows that car, pickup truck, and SUV drivers, including teens, initiate more than 75 percent of incidents involving heavy trucks. The VTTI Sharing the Road with Trucks program is dedicated to reversing this by educating this group of young drivers.
Driving Forces: Christine Link-Owens
2022-11-04
Christine Link-Owens is the manager of VTTI's Volunteer Coordination Group. She currently oversees eight employees who are tasked with recruiting and scheduling the volunteers needed for each study’s specific requirements.
Buying a car just got more efficient, thanks to Virginia Tech Transportation Institute's Hesham Rakha
2022-10-18
Hesham Rakha has created an online tool that allows users to compare the cost of owning an internal combustion engine vehicle, also known as a gasoline-powered vehicle, against a battery electric vehicle that provides drivers or these vehicles insights into how they can save time and money and protect the environment.
Eric Holbrook named associate director of marketing and communications for the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
2022-10-13
Holbrook, who started in August, comes with an extensive background in media, marketing, and creative services. Driven by his passion for storytelling, Holbrook leads marketing and communications for VTTI, one of Virginia Tech’s seven research institutes.
Driving Forces: Ross McCarthy
2022-09-06
Ross McCarthy serves as a research associate in the Center for Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure, where his responsibilities include processing and analyzing measured pavement characteristics related to tire-pavement interactions and highway safety.
Myra Blanco appointed to increase diversity, inclusion, and empowerment for Virginia Tech’s research enterprise
2022-08-04
As research expands, the need for diverse perspectives in research is critical to effectively serve every community. To champion that need, Myra Blanco, director of Advancement, Partnerships, and Outreach at VTTI, has been named Senior Faculty Fellow for the Office of Research and Innovation. The program selects faculty leaders to contribute to the development of Virginia Tech’s research and innovation infrastructure in targeted areas.
Driving Forces: Sondra Iverson
2022-07-20
Sondra Iverson has been a driving force at VTTI for the last 15 years. In her role as a senior software engineer in VTTI’s Division of Technology Implementation (DTI), her primary responsibility is leading the server development for the various client-server applications developed by DTI for transportation research purposes.
VTTI partners with Commonwealth Cyber Initiative to host technology showcase
2022-06-13
In an effort to foster collaborative efforts the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) Southwest Virginia Node hosted a technology showcase in partnership with VTTI. Participants from around Virginia were able to present research and network with other CCI nodes. VTTI presented two demos, one of which featured the remote control of an Autonomous Truck-Mounted Attenuator (ATMA) vehicle. The demos highlighted the use of wireless technologies like 5G and Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) platforms.
Driving Forces: Erem Memisyazici
2022-06-06
Erem Memisyazici brought a wealth of knowledge to his position as a senior research specialist in VTTI’s Division of Vehicle, Driver, & System Safety due to his 10 years of data reduction experience.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute researchers to deploy smart work zone in Wise, Virginia
2022-05-19
VTTI researchers have partnered with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and GeoStabilization International to deploy their full smart work zone technology system May 23-25 in a work zone along U.S. Route 23 in Wise, Virginia.
Eric Glenn awarded the Virginia Tech Principles of Community Individual Recent Award
2022-05-18
Eric Glenn was honored with the Virginia Tech Presidential Principles of Community Award for his work establishing VTTI's Road to Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (RIDE) Committee.
H. Clay Gabler III posthumously awarded the Kenneth A. Stonex Roadside Safety award
2022-05-17
H. Clay Gabler III was posthumously honored with the Kenneth A. Stonex Roadside Safety award at the 2022 Transportation Research Board’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C., the highest award offered by the Committee on Roadside Safety Design for outstanding contributions to improving highway and roadside safety.
Senator Tim Kaine tours Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
2022-04-22
Sen. Tim Kaine visited the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute April 21 to pledge his support for a university-led effort to establish Southwest and Southern Virginia as a global leader in next-generation transportation by creating the most advanced real-world test environments for automated vehicles and delivery technologies.
Driving Forces: Stephanie Baker
2022-04-12
Stephanie Baker came to VTTI 24 years ago when it was still called the Center for Transportation Research. Having a background in transportation and community development, she was a natural fit for the Travel Shenandoah project, a pilot study for what would later become 511 Virginia.
Alexandria Rossi-Alvarez named University Transportation Center Student of the Year
2022-03-28
Alexandria "Alli" Rossi-Alvarez, a doctoral student in the Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech conducting research at VTTI, has been a driving force behind pedestrian-related research at the institute through her analysis of external lighting patterns for vehicle-to-pedestrian communication. She has been named a University Transportation Center (UTC) Student of the Year.
VTTI researchers develop an open-access interactive tool to advance automated driving systems across the country
2022-03-03
A team of researchers from VTTI's Division of Data and Analytics has developed an open-access interactive tool that seeks to enhance the capabilities of government, industry, and academic research in establishing automated driving systems (ADS).
Driving Forces: Susan Soccolich
2022-02-28
In summer 2010, Susan Soccolich was hired by VTTI’s Center for Truck and Bus Safety —the forerunner to the current Division of Freight, Transit, & Heavy Vehicle Safety (DHVY) — and she has been applying her background in statistics and psychology for the benefit of DHVY and other VTTI divisions ever since.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute names Luke Neurauter director of the Division of Vehicle, Driver, and System Safety
2022-01-26
Luke Neurauter, a Virginia Tech alumnus and researcher at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), has been named director of the Division of Vehicle, Driver, and System Safety, effective Dec. 25, 2021.
Driving Forces: Ihab El-Shawarby
2022-01-20
Ihab El-Shawarby has had many roles at VTTI, reaching back almost 25 years. His work in the Center for Sustainable Mobility (CSM) is focused on operations research, modeling, simulation, driver behavior, and field data collection and analysis.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute research students accepted into the Dwight Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program
2022-01-10
Virginia Tech doctoral students Alexandria Rossi-Alvarez, Nick Britten, and Jacob Valente, who are working with VTTI on their research projects, have been accepted into the Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program.
VTTI’s Sharing the Road with Trucks program puts research into practice!
2021-12-17
VTTI's Division of Freight, Transit, and Heavy Vehicle Safety have developed and implemented a safety education and outreach program called Sharing the Road with Trucks as a result of research, which showed that teen drivers initiated over 75 percent of incidents involving heavy trucks, that was in part, due to a lack on driver education.
Myra Blanco honored as SAE Contributor of the Year for 2021
2021-12-17
Myra Blanco, director of advancement, partnerships, and outreach at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), has been named the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Contributor of the Year for 2021.
Hesham Rakha awarded the 2021 IEEE Intelligent Transportation System Outstanding Research Award
2021-11-30
“The research performed by Dr. Rakha, and the Center for Sustainable Mobility, continuously advances our understanding of transportation systems,” said Zac Doerzaph, VTTI executive director.
Zac Doerzaph featured guest on Texas A&M's Transportation Institute's Thinking Transportation
2021-11-19
Zac Doerzaph, executive director of VTTI, and Greg Winfree, agency director of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, are featured guests in Texas A&M Transportation Institute's podcast "Thinking Transportation," Innovation U: In a transportation research rivalry, everyone is a winner.
Driving Forces: Fang Huang
2021-11-16
Fang is a driving force behind two activities that are key to the naturalistic studies for which VTTI is known worldwide: she writes the communication programs that allow researchers and engineers to view and verify that the data is being collected accurately, and she writes programs that assist in the instrumentation process as well as the verification that all systems are working correctly.
Daylight saving can create driver fatigue and hazards on the road, says expert
2021-11-05
As clocks “fall back” and daylight saving time ends, many Americans will be driving longer at night which could translate to more driver fatigue and hazards on the road, says Virginia Tech Transportation Institute expert Matt Camden.
Survivors inspired to save the lives of most vulnerable roadway population - pedestrians
2021-10-29
“Over last few years, trends show that pedestrian safety is not improving — in fact it is getting worse,” said Andy Schaudt, chief of staff at VTTI. “We need more researchers focused on this area so that we can try to find solutions.”
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute automated vehicle technology research helps eliminate first responder fatalities
2021-10-28
A report produced by VTTI for the Governors Highway Safety Association examines how law enforcement officials, other first responders, and crash scene investigators can better prepare for automated vehicle technology by highlighting curriculum recommendations to improve training on rapidly changing safety protocols.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute joins the National Distracted Driving Coalition to eliminate distracted driving fatalities
2021-10-13
To broaden the scope of its research impact, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute has joined the newly launched National Distracted Driving Coalition as a member institution.
Driving Forces: Alex Moore
2021-10-11
Upon arriving at VTTI’s Blacksburg location, Alex Moore is likely to be the first person you will meet. In his primary role of staffing the front desk, he provides a consistent presence to assist and direct visitors and research study participants.
Ron Gibbons awarded the 2020 IES Medal Award
2021-10-07
Dr. Ron Gibbons, group leader of the Infrastructure-based Safety Systems Laboratory (IBSSL) within VTTI’s Division for Vehicle, Driver, & System Safety and an associate professor at Virginia Tech in the School of Architecture and Design, has been awarded the 2020 Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Medal Award.
Zachary Doerzaph appointed Virginia Tech Transportation Institute's executive director
2021-09-09
After a national search, Doerzaph has been appointed executive director of the nation's second largest transportation institute — Virginia Tech Transportation Institute — effective Oct. 1, 2021.
Carl Mitchell named Virginia Tech Transportation Institute's first associate director of advancement
2021-08-19
Carl Mitchell, a triple Hokie and long-standing Virginia Tech employee, has been named Virginia Tech Transportation Institute's (VTTI) first associate director of advancement, effective June 10, 2021.
Driver safety at forefront of Virginia Tech Transportation Institute research on hard-braking and other hard acceleration maneuvers
2021-08-17
In this public impact research, VTTI researchers are using advanced machine learning and statistical methods to examine key characteristics of high G-force events and their connection with crashes and develop machine learning models that can help predict crashes from high G-force events in real-time.
E-scooters return to Virginia Tech, providing opportunities for research, alternative transportation
2021-08-16
Beginning Aug. 19, 100 new e-scooters will be available at university ride-share stations using the Spin app for short commutes across campus. A fleet of approximately 200 e-scooters will be fully deployed beginning Aug. 25. Fifty e-scooters will be outfitted with Virginia Tech Transportation Institute sensors and data collection equipment that allows researchers to study riding behavior.
Miguel Perez awarded the 2021 Liviu Librescu Faculty Prize for Outstanding Accomplishments
2021-06-24
The award is presented annually by BEAM in honor of the engineering science and mechanics professor who was among the 32 lives lost on April 16, 2007.
Traffic fatality expert: even during pandemic, 'past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior'
2021-06-07
Preliminary traffic fatality data recently released by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) showed a surprising finding: while Americans drove less in 2020 due to the pandemic, the year saw the largest projected number of fatalities since 2007.
Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
2021-05-06
As the weather warms up, motorcycle riding season is kicking into full gear. In honor of Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) would like to offer some tips and things to consider to keep riders safe on the road.
Preventing child hot-car deaths through technology
2021-04-30
In 2018 and 2019, pediatric vehicular heatstroke was the leading cause of nontraffic child fatalities in the United States, according to the safety organization Kids and Cars. VTTI has released new research about technologies that are designed to prevent child hot-car deaths.
Gerardo Flintsch named Dan Pletta Professor
2021-04-28
Gerardo Flintsch, director of the Center for Sustainable & Resilient Infrastructure at VTTI, has been named the Dan Pletta Professor by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.
Search committee for transportation institute executive director announced
2021-04-19
A national search has been launched to recruit the next executive director of VTTI. The transportation institute executive director will oversee the university's largest research institute, which is conducting more than 300 current research projects in partnership with more than 100 public and private organizations to improve transportation safety nationally and globally.
Virginia Tech and City of Falls Church to partner on ‘Smart City’ test bed
2021-03-15
The City of Falls Church and VTTI, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation, are collaborating to develop a Smart City test bed on and adjacent to the university's campus off Haycock Road in Northern Virginia.
Tom Dingus to step down as director of VTTI
2021-03-02
Tom Dingus, director of VTTI for 25 years and endowed professor, has announced he plans to step down from the directorship and return to the faculty.
Researcher receives industry award for women leaders in engineering
2021-02-01
Michelle Chaka, Director of the Division of Data & Analytics, is the recipient of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International 2021 J. Cordell Breed Award for Women Leaders.
In memorium: Hampton Clay Gabler III
2021-01-26
Hampton Clay Gabler III, an esteemed faculty member of the Center for Injury Biomechanics, died on Jan. 11, 2021, surrounded by his loving family. In his work for the Center for Injury Biomechanics, a research partnership between Virginia Tech and Wake Forest University, Gabler utilized crash modeling and simulation techniques. His academic legacy spans the fields of injury biomechanics, crash safety and vehicle crashworthiness, automated vehicles, and aeronautical safety.
VTTI research informs SAE International best practices for public safety and automated driving system-dedicated vehicles
2020-12-18
In December, the Society for Automotive Engineers International’s Automated Vehicle Safety Consortium (AVSC) released the first set of best practices designed to help police, firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel interact safely with automated driving system-dedicated vehicles (ADS-DVs)—even without the presence of human drivers.
Virginia Tech Publishing and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute publish 'Survive the Drive'
2020-11-30
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 37,000 deaths occur each year from crashes on U.S. highways. In "Survive the Drive," Tom Dingus, one of the foremost authorities on driving safety, describes how to reduce the risk of accidents while on the road.
New leadership team positions VTTI for success
2020-11-19
As VTTI looks to the future, it recognizes that modern transportation challenges need modern solutions. A new leadership team has been tasked with overseeing an updated research and administrative program that will increase the institute’s agility in addressing current and future transportation needs for its partners.
Rural test bed pioneers a new frontier of vehicle research
2020-11-19
The Rural Roadway Expansion, which was unveiled by Virginia Tech, VTTI, and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) on Nov. 19, is the first research facility created to test automated driving systems and other next-generation technologies in a rural setting.
Video: VTTI is developing the work zone of the future
2020-10-22
The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute is working with the Virginia Department of Transportation to develop the work zone of the future, improving work zone safety through new technology.
VTTI offers insight into 2020 U.S. traffic fatality estimates
2020-10-13
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced its its preliminary estimates for motor vehicle fatalities in the second quarter of 2020. Although the full data set is not yet available for analysis, VTTI offered insights into these early projections for public awareness.
In memoriam: Ray Douglas Pethtel, Jr., transportation visionary
2020-09-18
Pethtel, former director of the Center for Transportation Research at Virginia Tech, played a significant role in positioning the university as a leader in transportation research and technology.
National transportation center evaluates commercial driver risk, in-vehicle monitoring, and return on investment for safety technologies
2020-09-14
Trucking companies face a variety of industry challenges, including an aging workforce, driver shortages, injuries and fatalities, and the cost of implementing advanced safety technologies. The National Surface Transportation Safety Center for Excellence (NSTSCE) has issued several new reports on these topics to help fleets navigate them successfully and improve their safety outcomes.
Tom Dingus inducted into the Academy of Engineering Excellence at Virginia Tech
2020-09-14
Virginia Tech's College of Engineering inducted five new members into the Academy of Engineering Excellence, to be celebrated at an induction ceremony in 2021.
LED research lights the path for U.S. roadway design guidelines
2020-08-26
With significant contributions from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine have published the first national guidelines for using light emitting diode (LED) lamps to light U.S. roadways.
Unmanned aerial systems demonstration takes flight at VTTI on behalf of the U.S. Army
2020-07-31
A week-long field market research demonstration of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), more commonly known as drones, concluded on July 31 at VTTI in support of the United States Army’s unmanned ground vehicle program. The demonstration was organized by the National Advanced Mobility Consortium and hosted by the institute.
Transportation institute exceeds record milestone; looks to the future
2020-07-09
Externally sponsored awards at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) topped $50 million in just over a year, setting a record for the institute, and allowing VTTI to lead further advancements in roadway safety and technology research.
Ronald B. Gibbons receives IES Medal Award
2020-07-01
Article by Nasanbileg Enkhbold - Ronald Gibbons, a faculty member in the School of Architecture + Design and the Director for the Center for Infrastructure Based Safety Systems at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute has been recognized by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) with the IES Medal Award.
Driving safety program trucks along in new online format
2020-06-10
From a distance, transportation researchers are finding creative ways to continue educating teenage drivers on safe driving behaviors.
National study to explore automated driving systems in dynamic scenarios
2020-04-24
Funded by a $7.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the new study will explore how to configure automated driving systems to address situations involving first responders and construction zones in a safe, reliable manner.
Can child rear seat alerts help prevent hot-car deaths?
2020-04-22
Every year, 38 children on average die in the United States inside a hot car. Researchers at VTTI are studying rear seat alerts to help save lives.
$7.5 million study to develop operational plan for mixed truck fleets
2020-03-30
A new four-year study, led by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) in partnership with a 16-member team, seeks to provide the trucking industry, regulators, and the general public with practical guidelines for safely integrating automated driving systems into current fleets. The research is funded by a $7.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
iTHRIV announces statewide health research pilot projects recipients
2020-02-24
The Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) partnership between Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia, Carilion Clinic, and Inova Health System has awarded $200,000 in funding to four research projects through the Pilot Translational and Clinical Studies Program. A project co-led by VTTI researcher Miguel Perez was among the recipients.
Research team works to develop new ways to detect air pollutants
2020-02-14
With a $2.3 million award from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, an interdisciplinary team of Virginia Tech researchers is working to revolutionize a testing process for these harmful pollutants, in particular for truck drivers.
Researcher honored by the Transportation Research Board for her work on automation in state motor vehicle codes
2020-01-14
Tammy Trimble, senior research associate, received the John C. Vance Paper Award for her team’s research on the regulatory landscape of advanced vehicles.
Mobility researchers recognized by Transportation Research Board for application of deep learning for in-vehicle systems
2020-01-14
Hesham Rakha and Osama Osman of VTTI’s Center for Sustainable Mobility have been recognized by the Transportation Research Board for their study of machine learning techniques that can detect distracted driving behaviors.
Student’s research seeks to educate consumers on driver assistance technologies
2019-12-17
Alexandria Noble received an award from the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society for her research on driver training methods.
Sleep apnea treatment reduces medical insurance costs for truck drivers
2019-10-25
Employer-mandated programs to screen, diagnose and treat truck drivers for obstructive sleep apnea can lower the medical costs for associated conditions.
VTTI receives $15 million from U.S. Department of Transportation for automated vehicle research
2019-09-18
This funding, with additional support from the Virginia Department of Transportation, enables VTTI to drive forward its commitment to developing solutions to transportation challenges.
Virginia Tech rolls out electric scooters for pilot research
2019-09-02
VTTI's pilot study with Spin will analyze scooter safety and mobility on Virginia Tech’s campus.
Electric scooters roll onto Virginia Tech campus for pilot study
2019-08-19
Starting on September 1, 300 e-scooters will be available at university ride-share stations for check-out using the Spin app for short commutes across campus.
National study finds comprehensive approach needed to improve commercial motor carrier safety performance
2019-08-15
Trucking companies that prioritize safety through their management practices and use of advanced technologies can greatly improve their performance outcomes, according to a new study from the National Surface Transportation Safety Center for Excellence (NSTSCE).
National study evaluates collision avoidance technology for transit buses, seeks to improve pedestrian, rider, bus operator safety
2019-07-02
An innovative Pedestrian Avoidance Safety System is being tested at VTTI. If successful, the technology could be implemented in transit fleets across the nation.
Students win international vehicle safety design competition
2019-06-19
A group of VT engineering graduate students won the international championship for the 2019 Collegiate Student Safety Technology Design Competition (SSTDC), hosted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the Netherlands, June 10-13.
Student engineering team advances to global vehicle safety design competition
2019-06-07
VT engineering students were in the Netherlands June 10-13 for the global round of NHTSA's Student Safety Technology Design Competition.
Low-speed ahead: Meet VTTI’s automated shuttle
2019-05-31
VTTI’s low-speed automated vehicle will be used initially for a mobility study at the institute.
Motorcycle Safety Foundation and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute to Share Naturalistic Study with Autonomous Vehicle Developers
2019-05-30
VTTI's motorcycle research can now benefit developers of self-driving cars.
VTTI secures grant from the Road to Zero Coalition to expand truck safety outreach program
2019-04-05
VTTI has received a Safe System Innovation Grant from the Road to Zero Coalition to advance its educational outreach to driver’s education students.
Student researcher wins scholarship to attend national traffic safety conference
2019-04-03
Mohammed Almannaa, a third-year doctoral student in civil engineering, received the Traffic Safety Scholars award to attend the 37th annual Lifesavers National Conference on Highway Safety Priorities.
Safe to use hands-free devices in the car? Yes, according to research
2019-02-07
New research from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) suggests that drivers who use hands-free electronic devices, as opposed to handheld ones, are less likely to get into a crash.
High schoolers see the road from a truck driver's point of view
2019-01-02
VTTI researchers are visiting 25 high schools to teach driver’s education students how to drive safely around trucks. The "Sharing the Road" program is funded by a grant from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Students help fuel advanced-vehicle R&D for top companies in new VTTI internship program
2018-11-28
Virginia Tech students now have the rare opportunity to work directly with leading employers on accelerating driverless vehicle safety thanks to InternHUB, a unique paid internship program at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI).
VTTI, under contract with NHTSA, to host FMVSS Stakeholder Meeting: Considerations for Automated Driving Systems
2018-11-06
The meeting will be held on November 28-29, 2018, at the USDOT headquarters in Washington, DC.
New study buckles down on child car seat use in ride-share vehicles
2018-11-01
Researchers at VTTI and Texas A&M Transportation Institute have released a new study about child ridership and safety seat use in ride-share vehicles.
Driving safety experts convene at Virginia Tech for international naturalistic driving research symposium
2018-10-15
Transportation researchers, practitioners, and other experts from around the world gathered in Blacksburg, Va. in August to share advancements being made in international driving safety.
VIDEO: Virginia Tech President Tim Sands talks about the value of Virginia Tech's unique footprint in engaging partners
2018-10-05
VTTI plays a critical role in Virginia Tech’s interdisciplinary research presence in Blacksburg, Roanoke, Northern Virginia and across the Commonwealth.
Transurban and VTTI partner to make roadways safer for motorcycle riders
2018-08-07
Transurban has partnered with VTTI to launch the Motorcycle Technology Evaluation Challenge (MotoTEC). MotoTEC seeks to implement rider-centric research to identify and advance potential new technologies to address the safety and usability needs of riders on the road and around construction work zones.
Teen crash risk highest during first three months after getting driver’s license
2018-07-11
Teenage drivers are eight times more likely to be involved in a collision or near miss during the first three months after getting a driver’s license, compared to the previous three months on a learner’s permit, suggests a new study led by the National Institutes of Health.
VTTI on pace to surpass milestones, advance transportation solutions
2018-06-19
The transportation landscape is rapidly evolving, and VTTI—along with its affiliated corporation, the Global Center for Automotive Performance Simulation—is keeping pace to address industry needs while ensuring the safety of transportation users.
Register for the Seventh International Symposium on Naturalistic Driving Research
2018-06-04
The National Surface Transportation Safety Center for Excellence at VTTI will host the Seventh International Symposium on Naturalistic Driving Research in Blacksburg, Virginia on August 28-30.
Local high school students explore driving safety at Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
2018-04-20
VTTI researchers spoke with local high school students about teen driving risks and demonstrated ways to become safe drivers, during its School Day program.
Career event for students celebrates women in transportation; empowers future engineers
2018-02-27
To acknowledge both the road ahead and women’s gains to date, VTTI and the Virginia Tech Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) chapter are co-hosting a free career development event with the U.S. Department of Transportation on March 13, 2018.
Transportation institute awarded $2.7 million in federal contracts on lighting, fuel-efficient automation
2018-01-09
The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute has received two U.S. Department of Energy contracts totaling $2.7 million to study eco-conscious solutions for roadway lighting and automated-vehicle design.
Smart Road expansions cement Virginia Tech Transportation Institute as a leader in advanced-vehicle testing
2017-11-14
VTTI — in partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation — unveiled four expansions to the Virginia Smart Road on Nov. 14.
Transportation institute awarded federal contract to study alternative vehicle designs and how they affect current safety standards
2017-11-09
VTTI has received a contract from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to lead a multidisciplinary project that develops technical translations to existing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and related testing procedure approaches for emerging innovative and non-traditional vehicle designs.
Transportation institute director to speak at TEDxWilmington Salon
2017-10-06
Tom Dingus, director of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, has been selected as one of 12 international leaders in the transportation world to gather in Wilmington, Delaware, for the Oct. 17 TEDxWilmingtonSalon event, “Who’s in the Driver’s Seat? The Transformation of Transportation.”
Ford, Virginia Tech Go Undercover to Develop Signals That Enable Autonomous Vehicles to Communicate with People
2017-09-13
Ford and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute are testing a Ford-designed lighting method for self-driving vehicles to signal their intent to pedestrians, human drivers and bicyclists in an effort to create a standard visual language everyone can easily process and understand.
Transportation institute receives NSF award to study effects of autonomous truck deployment
2017-08-25
The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute has received an inaugural Convergence award from the National Science Foundation to support research on autonomous trucks and their future workforce implications.
Transportation researcher appointed to federal advisory council on motorcycle safety
2017-08-23
Shane McLaughlin, director of the Center for Automated Vehicle Systems at the transportation institute and an expert on motorcycle safety research, has been appointed by the U.S. Department of Transportation to serve as a special government employee on the Motorcyclist Advisory Council to the Federal Highway Administration.
VTTI Automated vehicle-related Testing In Arlington, Va.
2017-08-07
This study is one of many being conducted to determine how best to design automated vehicles.
Transportation institute researcher receives national award for safety engineering excellence
2017-06-02
Myra Blanco, director of the Center for Public Policy, Partnerships, and Outreach and an advanced-vehicle researcher at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, has been named the recipient of the 2017 U.S. Government Award for Safety Engineering Excellence.
Institute engineers drive advanced-vehicle technology forward
2017-05-09
An embedded hardware team leader reveals an inside look at VTTI’s connected- and automated-vehicle testing capabilities.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and partners named a national safety center by U.S. Department of Transportation
2016-12-12
The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced the award recipients of five highly competitive national University Transportation Center grants, naming the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and its partners Texas A&M Transportation Institute and San Diego State University — with support from the Virginia Department of Transportation — as one of two national safety University Transportation Centers.
Class of 2016: Traffic research green lights career opportunities for Fawaz Almutairi
2016-12-09
Fawaz Almutairi, a graduate student in the civil and environmental engineering master’s degree program at Virginia Tech, has been conducting his thesis simulations for eco-cooperative adaptive cruise control system for multiple signalized intersections (ECO-CACC MS) on behalf of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute’s Center for Sustainable Mobility.
Institute wraps up successful Fifth International Symposium on Naturalistic Driving Research
2016-09-14
Driving researchers and practitioners worldwide recently gathered in Blacksburg, Va., for the Fifth International Symposium on Naturalistic Driving Research, hosted by the National Surface Transportation Safety Center for Excellence at Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.
Virginia Tech reveals $75 million plan to emphasize intelligent infrastructure
2016-09-01
Virginia Tech will invest $75 million over five years to build teaching and research capacity in areas where it is already a national leader, including smart design and construction, and autonomous vehicles across land, air, and water, university officials said today.
On August 16, Warner visited the center to get a first-hand look at its endeavors in enhancing tire and vehicle design and its economic impact on the Southern Virginia region.
2016-08-19
On August 16, Warner visited the center to get a first-hand look at its endeavors in enhancing tire and vehicle design and its economic impact on the Southern Virginia region.
Virginia Tech Transportation researchers develop award-winning model to identify weather and road congestion
2016-07-14
Center for Sustainable Mobility researchers have developed an award-winning model to identify the impact of weather on road congestion. Hesham Rakha, center director, (left) and Hao Chen (right) are pictured.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute part of new state legislation enacted for the testing and use of automated-vehicle technologies
2016-06-13
New legislation signed by Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe allows the sale of motor vehicles that can display moving images while the car or truck is in automated driving mode.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute named “Best of R&D in Virginia” by Southern Business & Development magazine
2016-06-08
VTTI is leading research and development efforts into next-generation vehicular technology, including connected and automated vehicles (pictured here during a demonstration held on Interstate 95 in Northern Virginia).
Virginia Tech design team to present bumper design to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
2016-04-27
A Virginia Tech mechanical engineering senior design team, advised by Jared Bryson of the VTTI and Professor Robin Ott, will be presenting their work at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Roundtable on May 5.
Virginia Tech student awarded transportation scholarship
2016-03-24
Laura Farrell, a Virginia Tech student and research specialist with the university’s transportation institute, has been awarded a scholarship as a Lifesavers’ 2016 Traffic Safety Scholar for her paper about automated vehicles.
Virginia Tech researchers co-author new study about effects of non-compliance with sleep apnea treatment on truck drivers' crash risk
2016-03-21
Truck drivers who have obstructive sleep apnea and who do not attempt to adhere to a mandated treatment program have a fivefold increase in the risk of a severe crash, according to a new study co-authored by VTTI researchers and featured in the March 21 online edition of the journal Sleep.
Researchers determine driver risks using large-scale, crash-only naturalistic database
2016-02-23
Drivers increase their crash risk nearly tenfold when they get behind the wheel while observably angry, sad, crying, or emotionally agitated, according to Virginia Tech Transportation Institute researchers writing in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Automated Vehicle Crash Rate Comparison Using Naturalistic Data
2016-01-08
Self-driving cars are quickly moving from prototype to everyday reality. During this transition, the question that is first and foremost on the mind of the public and policy-makers is whether or not self-driving cars are more prone to crashes.
Graduate student develops and tests in-vehicle safety application on Interstate 66
2015-12-23
As part of a Connected Vehicle-Infrastructure University Transportation Center project, Virginia Tech graduate student Kayla Sykes of Richmond, Virginia, tested an in-vehicle application with the potential to improve driver safety and save time.
Transportation Researcher Publishes First Driving Guide of its Kind
2015-12-17
In their new book “Survive the Drive: A Guide to Keeping Everyone on the Road Alive,” authors Tom Dingus and Mindy Buchanan-King combine years of facts, figures, reports, new cutting-edge research, and personal anecdotes into a single guide to help drivers understand and handle their everyday risks.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute wins $2.5 million contract for trucker safety study
2015-12-15
Virginia Tech, along with subcontractors from Washington State University and SmartDrive, won a $2.5 million contract from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to study a flexible hours-of-service safety provision that will allow long-haul truck drivers to split their required sleeper berth time into shorter periods.
New VDOT program at Virginia Tech will accelerate pavement testing
2015-11-12
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) today flipped the switch to start a new program that will cut years off the time needed to test the response of innovative pavements to the daily impacts of heavy traffic.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, partners test automated, connected vehicles on interstate
2015-10-19
Federal and state officials received hands-on experience with “hands-off” automated and connected driving as they traveled a 10-mile stretch of an interstate highway in Northern Virginia in cars sporting the latest automated- and connected-vehicle technology.
VTTI students win Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program awards
2015-10-09
Two graduate students working with the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute have each won a scholarship award from the Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program.
Virginia Tech teams with Federal Highway Administration to bring new road safety technology to United States
2015-06-30
A new initiative has been unveiled that will revolutionize the development and deployment of automated vehicles: the Virginia Automated Corridors, established by VTTI in partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation; the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles; Transurban; and HERE, Nokia’s mapping business.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and partners unveil Virginia Automated Corridors
2015-06-01
A new initiative has been unveiled that will revolutionize the development and deployment of automated vehicles: the Virginia Automated Corridors, established by VTTI in partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation; the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles; Transurban; and HERE, Nokia’s mapping business.
Thomas Dingus joins board of Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International
2015-05-19
The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute's director was elected for the 2015-2018 term.
VTTI launches effort to make traveling through traffic lights safer, smarter and cheaper
2015-05-14
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute researchers are working on a new project that could change the way motorists navigate through traffic lights, making the everyday action safer, smarter, and cheaper – the last by cutting fuel costs and likewise reducing pollution.
Transportation institute will share massive trove of driver research data
2015-05-01
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute has won a $16.4 million contract to facilitate making thousands of hours worth of driving data available to researchers. The overriding goal: make driving safer.
Survive the Drive: A Guide to Keeping Everyone on the Road Alive
2015-03-10
Take a sneak peek into a book written to keep you safe amongst the hurtling metal objects of unusual size and speed traveling the roadways. Written by VTTI Director Tom Dingus, Survive the Drive will ultimately discuss the greatest risks you face as a driver today and what you can do to reduce those risks.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute to head new Hours of Service trucker restart study for Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
2015-02-05
The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute is taking a new look at the impacts of restart breaks on commercial truck drivers’ safety performance and fatigue levels as part of a $4 million study for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Transportation institute's New England Journal of Medicine article vaults into top-read ranks
2015-01-14
A study by Virginia Tech Transportation Institute researchers published in the New England Journal of Medicine has vaulted to the Top 15 most-read of more than 10,000 studies published by the prestigious, 200-year-old journal.
VTTI Impact: New England Journal of Medicine article by VTTI researchers named one of 2014';s top 100 most discussed academic papers
2014-12-11
Altmetric has posted their review of 100 papers that received the most attention online – and the conversations that happened around them. A VTTI study featured in the New England Journal of Medicine has been ranked number 58.
Graduate student exploring ways to make riding a motorcycle safer using connected driving data
2014-11-05
Virginia Tech master's degree student Alexandria Noble is exploring ways to improve road safety for motorcyclists, using connected-vehicle technology and naturalistic driving research developed by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
Tire and vehicle research groups undergo new structure as work spreads to international levels
2014-10-29
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute combines its Halifax County, Virginia, vehicle, tire research centers into new Global Center for Automotive Performance Simulation.
Photos from Smart Road Open House
2014-10-08
Recently, VTTI in collaboration with the Virginia Science Festival, Blacksburg Transit and Virginia Department of Transportation hosted Open House.
Recent Symposium/Conference Photo Gallery
2014-10-06
Recently VTTI has been busy hosting and attending conferences. Click through to view some images from these events.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute works on study that could display traffic signs inside vehicles
2014-08-04
Researchers at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute are in the early stages of a novel idea to move stop and yield signs, among other posted traffic, from the side of the road into the car itself, where a dashboard screen will automatically alert the driver of what actions to take, if any.
Transportation institute awarded $55 million in federal contracts on truck safety, automated vehicles
2014-07-21
Anthony Foxx, Secretary of Transportation, recently launched a Data Innovation Challenge to develop technology that improves transportation access, traffic and congestion management, and transportation safety. The InSight Data Access website was one of three runner-ups acknowledged by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
InSight Data Access Website Runner-up in U.S. DOT Data Innovation Challenge
2014-07-15
Anthony Foxx, Secretary of Transportation, recently launched a Data Innovation Challenge to develop technology that improves transportation access, traffic and congestion management, and transportation safety. The InSight Data Access website was one of three runner-ups acknowledged by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Center for Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure hosts inter-university symposium
2014-07-07
Infrastructure can greatly influence the well-being of a community, from increasing mobility to ensuring safe drinking water and stable structures. Infrastructure management and research are thus vital to society and were key components of the 10th Annual Inter-University Symposium on Infrastructure Management hosted recently at Virginia Tech.
Transportation institute teams with Blacksburg Transit to ease wait times, save fuel costs
2014-05-14
The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute has teamed with Blacksburg Transit to create a new mobile app that could make waiting for the bus an act of the past and help the transit authority reduce fuel usage.
Pascha Gerni named director of finance at Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
2014-04-30
In her new position, Pascha Gerni will manage the institute's $45 million annual operating budget.
Hesham A. Rakha named Samuel Reynolds Pritchard Professor of Engineering
2014-04-04
A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1997, Hesham Rakha has received international recognition for his research on traffic flow theory, traveler and driver behavior modeling, dynamic traffic assignment, traffic control, transportation energy and environmental modeling, and transportation safety modeling.
NASCAR comes to Virginia Tech to test tires on a unique machine that can spin rubber at 200 mph
2014-03-24
At the National Tire Research Center, Goodyear Racing -- the official supplier of race tires for NASCAR -- has been testing a sample of the tires it designs specifically for each track.
Researchers to design vehicle-to-vehicle communication integration framework
2014-02-14
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awards $1 million to Virginia Tech Transportation Institute to build vehicle-to-vehicle, and vehicle-to-driver communication technology, soon to be mandated in all vehicles.
New England Journal of Medicine study: Virginia Tech researchers find novice teen drivers easily fall into distraction, accidents
2014-01-02
Teens may begin their driving habits with great caution, but as months behind the wheel pass and complacency sets in, they begin to multitask -- dialing cell phones, eating, and talking to passengers -- and greatly raise the danger of more crashes and near-crashes than experienced drivers.
VTTI celebrates 25th anniversary
2013-12-09
On Nov. 15, 2013, VTTI celebrated 25 years of advancing transportation through innovation. The institute opened its doors to hundreds of members of the community who took tours of the Smart Road and the Virginia Department of Transportation 511 Center; saw demos of transportation research efforts into connected-vehicle technology, automated vehicle technology, naturalistic driving, and efforts to deter distracted driving; and saw a demo of the Valeo self-parking car and General Motors’ luxury crossover 2013 Cadillac SRX.
VTTI invited to discuss current and future transportation policies with Sen. Tim Kaine
2013-12-09
During a recent visit to the Roanoke Valley, Sen. Tim Kaine met with researchers from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) to discuss transportation policies, particularly as they relate to distracted driving.
Wheel Whisperers: How the Smart Road ‘talks’ to vehicles
2013-10-17
The Virginia Tech Magazine recently visited VTTI for a feature about the Smart Road, connected-vehicle technology, and improving the safety of the transportation community.
VTTI director talks distracted driving research with RealClearPolitics
2013-10-10
VTTI Director Thomas A. Dingus served as a panel member during the Oct. 9 RealClearPolitics discussion about the dangers of distracted driving.
Google Partners with VTTI
2013-09-04
In early September, a Google Car equipped with this technology visited the VTTI Smart Road. Rep. Bob Goodlatte and Rep. Morgan Griffith were on hand for the event.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute signs partnership with Paris-based transportation research group
2013-08-30
The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute has signed a five-year collaborative agreement with the largest transportation research group in the world, the Paris-based French Institute of Science and Technology for Transport, Development and Networks.
Reducing Driver Fatigue
2013-07-10
The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) is expanding its role in ensuring driver safety by serving an integral part in the launch of the North American Fatigue Management Program (NAFMP) for commercial vehicle drivers and carriers. The NAFMP is a voluntary, fully interactive web-based educational and training program designed to address lifestyle choices made outside of the work environment that may contribute to fatigue.
Gov. Bob McDonnell helps Virginia Tech Transportation Institute launch Virginia connected vehicle test bed
2013-06-12
The connected vehicle test bed initiative involves vehicles equipped with connected wireless technology that enables them to "talk" to each other via wireless sensors installed along the highway infrastructure.
New VTTI study results continue to highlight the dangers of distracted driving
2013-05-29
Recently released results from a new Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) naturalistic driving study continue to show that distracted driving is a tangible threat.
VTTI Impacts Transportation Policy
2013-05-14
VTTI has provided lawmakers the ability to use substantiated research to educate the population about driving while distracted.
White House to honor Virginia Tech Transportation Institute's Tom Dingus as "Champion of Change"
2013-05-07
Thomas Dingus, director of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, will be honored May 8 by the White House as a Champion of Change, a group of Americans seen as making positive change. This year's theme is Transportation Technology Solutions for the 21st century.
11th annual Undergraduate Research Conference to be held April 19
2013-04-17
Almost 100 students will present their research and creative scholarship at the 11th annual Undergraduate Research Conference on Friday, April 19. Family, friends, those affiliated with the university, and the greater community are welcome to attend.
Graduate student award-winning research documents road surfaces that quiet tire noise
2013-04-11
A graduate student's award-winning research on the measurement of tire noise identifies quieting road surface treatments
If you think seatbelt use inconvenient, consider the inconvenience of being injured
2013-03-26
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute researchers determine that occasional seatbelt users often only buckle-up for high speed roads, although most accidents occur during more frequent local drives.
Future cruise control to have environmental, safety features
2013-02-26
The use of an eco-cruise control system being developed by Virginia Tech Transportation Institute researchers could save billions of gallons of fuel and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Myra Blanco receives international award for transportation research, leadership, work-life balance
2013-01-08
Myra Blanco of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute has been recognized for her professional contributions and support of colleagues while also overcoming personal adversity.
Virginia Tech ranking for research spending jumps; remains tops in Virginia
2012-12-07
A new report from the National Science Foundation shows Virginia Tech has risen from 44th to 41st in a national ranking of research and development spending at public universities in 2011. Virginia Tech remains the top university in Virginia for funds expended in the pursuit of science, engineering, and other scholarly activity, and the only Virginia institution in the top 50.
Work on automatic control of driverless vehicles through intersections receives recognition
2012-12-04
Someday cars will drive themselves and you will want control at intersections to be perfect.
Lighting research with real-world impact recognized
2012-11-29
In recognition of research that is making transportation safe, Ron Gibbons has been named a Fellow by the the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America.
Symposium opens dialogue about transportation and the aging population
2012-11-27
A senior mobility awareness symposium, on Dec. 6, will address the changing transportation needs of our older population.
Naturalistic study used in China to examine causes of accidents
2012-11-19
Tongji University of Shanghai, General Motors, and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute are teaming to bring naturalistic driving research to Shanghai, China.
New communication systems would allow vehicles to 'talk' with roadways
2012-11-05
A fleet of instrumented vehicles are testing these systems on two test beds -- one in Northern Virginia and one in Southwestern Virginia.
Research predicts warning, automatic braking systems on autos will help save lives
2012-10-25
Systems available on some new cars will warn of collision, boost braking, and autonomously apply brakes. Scientists predict the extent to which these systems will save lives.
National Tire Research Center to open
2012-10-19
The National Tire Research Center introduced a facility to the public on Oct. 24 that will become the one-stop destination for global tire testing and development -- bringing jobs and new businesses to the region.
Lighting critical to safety of parking lots
2012-10-04
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute researchers are testing new lighting technologies in a new commuter lot in Northern Virginia.
Observations of real-life driving behavior enables researchers to recommend life-saving strategies
2012-09-21
Taking your eyes off the road to dial a cell phone or look up an address and send a text increases the risk of crashing by 600 to 2,300 percent.
Electronic recording of truck drivers' hours-of-service evaluated
2012-08-10
Will electronic monitoring in commercial vehicles improve safety and compliance with hours-of-service requirements?
Virginia Tech biomedical program receives two of Toyota's research safety projects, honored for its brain trauma research
2011-12-07
Toyota announces two new research projects will be spearheaded by the Virginia Tech -- Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences
I-81 Corridor Coalition annual meeting to begin Oct. 31 in Blacksburg
2011-10-28
National and state transportation leaders are slated to speak at the annual meeting to be held Monday, Oct. 31 and Tuesday, Nov. 1 at the Holiday Inn University, 900 Prices Fork Rd., Blacksburg.
Department of Defense supports study to reduce head, neck, chest injury
2011-10-24
The Virginia Tech-Wake Forest Center for Injury Biomechanics has received $3.5 million from the U.S. Department of Defense to investigate blast-induced brain trauma and ways to reduce injury.
Toyota Collaborative Safety Research Center partners with Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
2011-09-22
Toyota is partnering with the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute to enhance the development, testing, and implementation of new automotive safety innovations.
Video: Economic developers take a closer look at Virginia Tech's research assets
2011-06-24
Economic developers from around Virginia gathered at Virginia Tech to learn more about the university's assets, especially the research institutes.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute creates 'Driving Healthy' resource network to aid commercial vehicle drivers
2011-03-23
Researchers at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute in the Center for Truck and Bus Safety have created the "Driving Healthy" resource network on a website, Facebook, and Twitter for commercial motor vehicle drivers.
College of Engineering, University of Nottingham form research and education partnership
2011-02-14
In an extremely selective competition involving 230 submissions, the British Council for Relations with Other Countries is funding a strategic research and international education partnership between the College of Engineering and the University of Nottingham.
U.S. Department of Defense supports study of brain, eye injuries in military personnel
2011-01-12
The Virginia Tech-Wake Forest University Center for Injury Biomechanics has been awarded a $2.8 million contract from the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command for phase 2 of an overall project focusing on brain and eye injuries in military personnel.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, Center for Injury Biomechanics receive $1.5 million for research
2010-11-29
The National Academies has awarded the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute's Center for Injury Biomechanics two research grants totaling $1.5 million. These grants are to fund in-depth investigations of serious and fatal road departure crashes to identify the crash and injury causation mechanisms associated with these traumatic events.
Virginia Tech and GM announce creation of the National Tire Research Center in Southside, Virginia
2010-08-05
Virginia Tech announced today the establishment of the National Tire Research Center, an advanced tire research and test facility to be established in Southside Virginia.
New York Times journalist receives Pulitzer Prize for story highlighting Virginia Tech Transportation Institute research
2010-04-21
Last week, the 2010 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism for national reporting was awarded to Matt Richtel and members of The New York Times staff for their July 18, 2009, front page story that highlighted research study results from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.
Center for Injury Biomechanics announces $3 million award
2010-04-06
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has awarded $3 million over five years to Virginia Tech's Center for Injury Biomechanics.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute Center for Injury Biomechanics Crash Sled Lab now open
2009-09-14
The grand opening of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute's (VTTI) Center for Injury Biomechanics (CIB) Crash Sled Lab, which is primarily funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, was held today at its facility in the Corporate Research Center (CRC) in Blacksburg.
New data from Virginia Tech Transportation Institute provides insight into cell phone use and driving distraction
2009-07-29
Several large-scale, naturalistic driving studies -- using sophisticated cameras and instrumentation in participants' personal vehicles -- conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), provide a clear picture of driver distraction and cell phone use under real-world driving conditions, according to the institute.
New partnership between Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and Center for Injury Biomechanics receives first research grant
2009-04-30
A team of three Virginia Tech faculty members -- Stefan Duma, Warren Hardy, and H. Clay Gabler -- was recently awarded $2.6 million from U.S. Army Research Acquisition Activity to study the biomechanics of head, neck, and chest injury prevention for soldiers.
Virginia Tech Transportation Fellow issues white paper on abusive driver fees
2008-01-07
Ray D. Pethtel, Virginia Tech's University Transportation Fellow and associate director of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, has issued a white paper on Virginia's controversial abusive driver fees imposed through legislation passed during last year's General Assembly session and signed into law by Governor Tim Kaine.
Transportation Institute dedicates new research building
2006-08-30
Today, with The Honorable John Warner as the keynote speaker, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) dedicated its new 22,000 square-foot building in Blacksburg as the National Surface Transportation Safety Center for Excellence (STSCE). University administrators as well as other local and state officials also attended.
Transportation Institute releases findings on driver behavior and crash factors
2006-04-20
Driver inattention is the leading factor in most crashes and near-crashes, according to a landmark research report released today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI).