The University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center Turns 50
Congratulations to the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center (HSRC) as they celebrated their 50th anniversary on November 10, 2015. At the symposium marking this milestone, special recognition was given to HSRC Director David Harkey for his outstanding leadership and significant contributions to highway safety.
ITE Executive Director and CEO Jeffrey Paniati was an invited speaker at the symposium, which focused on “The Next 50 Years in Highway Safety—Connecting People and Technologies.” Jeff's presentation, “Where does Infrastructure Safety Fit in An Automated World?," examined the progression of automated vehicles and, looking to the future, highlighted the role of infrastructure safety in this new world. Jeff identified the need for continuing traditional highway safety research and infrastructure during the long transition to automated vehicles, highlighted the important role infrastructure elements such as signs and markings can play with automated vehicles, and made the case for "connectivity"—particularly vehicle-to-infrastructure communications—in enhancing highway safety.