Murphey Field at Mulcahy Stadium | University of Arizona
Murphey Field at Mulcahy Stadium | University of Arizona
Alyssa Ryan, an assistant professor at the University of Arizona's College of Engineering, is spearheading a national study to address disparities in traffic safety among various transportation users. This research, supported by a $467,000 grant from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, seeks to identify populations most vulnerable to crash injuries based on factors like location, race, sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.
"Transportation engineering is very focused on people and impacting society and how people interact with the world," Ryan stated. "If you don't have transportation, you can't do anything."
Rebecca Steinbach from the AAA Foundation emphasized the need for understanding these disparities to ensure safe mobility for all communities. She noted that the project's rigorous approach could lead to solutions applicable across professions to enhance equity in traffic safety.
The study will utilize extensive datasets from national resources such as the U.S. Census Bureau and other federal systems to analyze crash trends among different groups. Collaborating with Oregon State University's David Hurwitz, Ryan aims to uncover significant patterns by examining data from four demographically diverse states.
"This is an issue in society, but it presents itself in transportation in really compelling ways," Hurwitz remarked.
Ryan's previous research highlighted gender disparities in traffic crashes and pointed out that women are more likely than men to sustain certain injuries. Her findings also revealed that vehicle design and testing often overlook female drivers' safety.
Doctoral student Saquib Haroon from the University of Arizona is contributing by developing machine learning models to process vast amounts of data. He underscored the importance of distinguishing between social equity and equality within this context.
"We all need to understand that not everything in this world is going to be equal and focus on ensuring those who are disadvantaged receive adequate resources," Haroon said.
Ryan's work builds on historical insights into how inequities have been embedded in U.S. transportation systems since their inception. The research team plans to present their findings and recommendations to state officials nationwide as part of efforts supported by initiatives like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.