MARCY, N.Y. — The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and the U.S. Department of Transportation Region 2 University Transportation Research Center (UTC) have awarded Abolfazl Karimpour, an assistant professor of transportation engineering at SUNY Polytechnic Institute, $90,952 to research the urgent safety needs of vulnerable road users (VRUs) across the state.
Karimpour serves as principal investigator of the project, which will address the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, the university announced in a news release.
While overall traffic fatalities have declined, the World Health Organization reports death rates among those groups are increasing. Together, those three groups represent more than 24 percent of all fatal and serious injury crashes statewide from 2017 to 2021.
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“Dr. Karimpour’s work addresses a pressing need in our communities, and through this project, he is driving meaningful change toward safer, more inclusive transportation systems across the state,” SUNY Poly Dean of the College of Engineering Dr. Abdullah Eroglu said in the release. “We are immensely proud of his commitment to public safety and his role in creating actionable solutions that will undoubtedly benefit countless New Yorkers.”
The one-year study aims to develop actionable strategies that ensure safe, equitable access to transportation for those who walk, bike, or use non-motorized transport modes.
“VRU safety is a crucial area for enhancing public well being in New York state,” Karimpour said. “By exploring comprehensive data and working collaboratively with state and regional partners, we can provide targeted insights and recommendations to improve transportation systems for our most vulnerable road users.”
His research will yield detailed guidance for the NYSDOT on emerging and critical data types necessary to support VRU safety studies. The project team will use long-term datasets to identify direct and indirection factors that contribute to VRU-involved crashes.
By the end of the study, the research team will deliver a comprehensive analysis designed to support safer infrastructure and promote policies that prioritize VRU safety.
