The 2009 M-CASTL Transportation Research and Education Conference took place on April 7, 2009. The Conference was held at the Michigan Union on the U-M campus, and featured two keynote addresses. Two sets of break-out sessions occurred, with a networking lunch between those sessions. The agenda from the Conference is below.

Presentations and videos from the Conference are available for download below. Videos are in both Windows Media format (these appear best when viewed with the latest release -- available here) and mp4 format (viewable via iTunes or QuickTime). The mp4 files can also be viewed on an iPod by right-clicking and saving the file, then adding them to the iPod via iTunes. The videos are also available directly from iTunes U by clicking here, then on the 2009 tab.

Welcome
Dr. David W. Eby, UMTRI, M-CASTL

Opening Comments
Dr. James S. Jackson [video: WM / mp4], Director, U-M Institute for Social Research (The value and need for multidisciplinary research and education)

Keynote: Medical Conditions and Medications
It is well known that medical conditions and the medications used to treat them can adversely affect the skills needed for safe driving for both young and older people. This session will address the latest research on medical conditions, medications, and driving.
Dr. Richard Marottoli [video: WM / mp4] [slides], Medical Director, The Dorothy Adler Geriatric Assessment Center, Yale School of Medicine

Vehicle-Based Technology
Technologies such as crash-avoidance systems, automatic crash notification, and night vision enhancement systems have the potential for great safety benefits for drivers. This session will explore how vehicle-based technologies could benefit young and older drivers as well as some of the potential pitfalls.
Moderator: Dr. Timothy Gordon, Research Professor and Head, UMTRI Engineering Research Division
Dr. C. Raymond Bingham [video: WM / mp4] [slides], UMTRI, M-CASTL (Technology for monitoring young drivers)
Dr. John M. Sullivan [video: WM / mp4] [slides], UMTRI (Night vision enhancement for young and older drivers)
Dr. Frank Schieber [video: WM / mp4] [slides], Heimstra Human Factors Laboratories, University of South Dakota (Eye scanning behavior of young and older drivers)
Dr. Tao Zhang, Telcordia (Industry perspective on vehicle-based technology)

Education/Training
Education and training may play a key role in maintaining safe mobility throughout the lifespan. Both young and older drivers have unique education and training needs. This session will explore the current research on the value and problems of education and training programs for young and older drivers.
Moderator: Dr. Mary Leary, Senior Director, Easter Seals Project ACTION, The National Center on Senior Transportation
Ms. Paula Kartje [slides], U-M Medical School, DriveAbility Program (Assessing driving)
Dr. Rachael Seidler [slides], U-M Psychology, U-M Kinesiology (Cognitive retraining for improving driving)
Dr. Rob Foss [slides], University of North Carolina, Highway Safety Research Center (Driver education)
Dr. Richard Backs [slides], Central Michigan University, DEER Center (Education and training of older drivers)

Licensing Issues
In order to address the elevated crash risk of both young and older drivers, many states have developed licensing policy that is specific to each age group. Michigan, for example, has graduated driver licensing for young, novice drivers, but no age-specific policy for older drivers. This session will address the latest research and thinking about licensing policy for both young and older drivers.
Moderator: Mr. Michael Prince, Director, Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning
Dr. Jean T. Shope [slides], UMTRI, U-M School of Public Health (Graduated Licensing)
Ms. Lisa J. Molnar [slides], UMTRI, M-CASTL (Outcomes of the North American License Policy Workshop)
Dr. Marianna Spanaki [slides], Henry Ford Health System (Physician reporting and immunity)
Ms. Anne Corgan [slides], Michigan Department of State, Legal and Regulatory Services Administration (Licensing of young and older drivers)

Networking Lunch
Lunch will be served as part of the registration. Attendees are encouraged to network.

Distracted Driving
Current research shows that a large proportion of motor vehicle crashes result from distracted driving. Young drivers, in particular, engage in distracting activities such as talking on a cell phone or texting while driving. This session will address issues related to distracted driving and the current research on preventing distracted driving.
Moderator: Dr. John Lenneman, Senior Research Scientist, GM R & D and Planning
Dr. Paul A. Green [video: WM / mp4] [slides], UMTRI, M-CASTL (New research on distracted driving)
Dr. David LeBlanc [video: WM / mp4] [slides], UMTRI (Research on distraction management systems)
Dr. Louis Tijerina [video: WM / mp4] [slides], Ford Motor Company (Research on Ford’s SYNC™ and driving distractions)

Roadway Design
The majority of roadways in the United Stated are more than 50 years old. Given the high crash rates for older drivers it seems clear that they could benefit from improved roadway design. This session will explore the issues and current research on designing roadways to improve safety for older drivers as well as addressing whether or not these changes will also benefit young drivers.
Moderator: Mr. Roger Safford, Grand Region Engineer, Michigan Department of Transportation
Dr. Sherrilene Classen [slides], University of Florida (Instrumented vehicle testing of intersection improvement for older adults)
Mr. Dave Morena [slides], Federal Highway Administration (Roadway design and aging drivers)
Dr. Dominique Lord [slides], Zachry Department of Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University (Improving roundabouts for older drivers)

Transitioning
The acquisition and loss of driving abilities (and a driver license) represent important life-transitions for Americans. This session will explore driving transition processes, issues, and current thinking about how to facilitate transitions in driving.
Moderator: Dr. Ann M. Dellinger, Team Leader and Epidemiologist, Motor Vehicle Injury Prevention Team, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Dr. Lidia P. Kostyniuk [slides], UMTRI (Family and self-regulation issues in transitioning)
Ms. Karen Kafantaris [slides], AARP (AARP and the transitioning process)
Ms. Tina Abbate Marzolf [slides], Michigan Area Agency on Aging (Resources for transitioning)

Keynote: New Transportation Demands of an Aging America
Dr. Joseph Coughlin [video: WM / mp4] [slides], Massachusetts Institute of Technology AgeLab and New England University Transportation Center


The 2009 Conference was sponsored in part by:

For information about the 2008 Conference, click here.