New U of A research chair will help make streets safer
Research on the infrastructure side of traffic safety covers the layout of roads.
March 16, 2009 - Edmonton - A new research chair in urban traffic safety will help make streets safer by finding solutions to road design and driver behaviour issues.
Announced today by U of A President Indira Samarasekera and Edmonton Mayor
"The City of Edmonton and the University of Alberta are serious about tackling the challenges of urban traffic safety," said Samarasekera. "With this chair in urban traffic safety, the U of A will have the capacity to attract a world-class expert in this area who can provide invaluable leadership and bring to Edmonton and Alberta the best thinking in traffic safety planning and design in the world today."
Research on the infrastructure side of traffic safety covers the layout of roads, placement of traffic lights and signage. The "soft" safety research involves computer modeling and simulations of traffic volumes and road conditions to help drivers make the right choices.
"With urban centres growing rapidly, improving traffic safety is definitely a priority. By creating this research chair position in urban traffic safety, the City of
Funding for the chair includes a $1.5-million commitment from the city, through automated photo enforcement fines, a non-tax levy through red-light cameras. The announcement was made at the opening of an international conference on traffic safety hosted by the City of
The research chair will provide research expertise presently available to the city only through consultants. The chair will also attract undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students in urban traffic safety research to the department, and will educate the next generation of traffic engineers. It is expected that this research chair will provide professional-development opportunities for City of
"Having an Urban Traffic Safety Research Chair is an example of how
