In the days of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), we are seeing a reduction in overall traffic volumes and crash-related injuries and fatalities. What are the nuances of this situation, and what lessons can we learn to advance transportation safety research and practice? TRB hosted a webinar on Tuesday, June 2, 2020, from 1:00 to 2:30 PM Eastern that explored the impacts of COVID-19 on traffic crashes and overall highway safety conditions. This webinar was cosponsored by the Pacific Southwest Region University Transportation Center at the University of Southern California. The presenters discussed lessons learned from the changes in traffic and safety conditions as a result of COVID-19 and identified how to leverage these changes to improve traffic safety in the future.

The recorded webinar is available: https://vimeo.com/425250264
Webinar outline and presenters

• North Carolina Department of Transportation’s analysis of changes in traffic conditions following NC’s stay-at-home order: Daniel Carter, North Carolina DOT
• Virginia Department of Transportation’s analysis of traffic and safety conditions during COVID-19 orders: Mena Lockwood and Sanhita Lahiri, Virginia DOT
• Changes in traffic conditions and crashes in California during regional and statewide stay-at-home orders: Fraser Shilling, University of California, Davis
• Questions and answers: Moderated by Fraser Shilling, University of California, Davis

Resources about highway safety from TRB:
Consensus Study Report: Renewing the National Commitment to the Interstate Highway System: A Foundation for the Future
NCHRP Research Report 932: A Research Roadmap for Transportation and Public Health
NCHRP Research Report 928: Identification of Factors Contributing to the Decline of Traffic Fatalities in the United States from 2008 to 2012
NCHRP Research Report 875: Guidance for Evaluating the Safety Impacts of Intersection Sight Distance
NCHRP Synthesis Report 535: Pedestrian Safety Relative to Traffic-Speed Management