Behavioral and Data Sciences

The Behavioral and Data Sciences team works to enhance safe mobility for all ages by deepening our understanding of the social and behavioral issues important to transportation.

Using innovative research approaches, UMTRI’s behavioral scientists and statisticians:

• Understand the relationship between public policy and social and behavioral factors in transportation
• Evaluate the effects of public policy and intervention programs that promote safe driving
• Expand knowledge of the social and behavioral factors related to high-risk driving behavior
• Investigate social, behavioral, and cognitive factors related to Intelligent Transportation System technologies
• Prevent traffic injuries and fatalities through the development of programs that intervene against factors related to high-risk driving behavior
• The renowned Michigan Traffic Crash Facts (MTCF) website provides public access to state crash data along with numerous yearly reports that governments, media, and the public use to plan for safety on Michigan roads. 
• Expert statistical analysis, data visualization, and interpretation support technology and other intervention implementation,  providing key information for decision-making across the Safe System Approach.
• Innovative methods are used to analyze integrated datasets to deepen our understanding of the most effective strategies for attaining a Zero Crashes vision.
• Integration and analysis of a variety of data types helps identify novel factors that influence transportation safety and mobility throughout the lifespan.

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