Vision
To undertake road safety research that is valuable to and has an impact on our community, stakeholders and government.
The RSRC was established as a strategic collaboration between the Queensland Government’s Motor Accident Insurance Commission and UniSC to undertake research that positively impacts the lives and safety of Queenslanders and our world communities. The Centre acknowledges the funding support from the Motor Accident Insurance Commission.
Made up of over a dozen full-time research academics along with research assistants and postgraduate scholars, the group brings a dynamic multidisciplinary perspective to road safety research. The Collaboration’s research is informed by disciplines that include psychology, social science, health, education, policing, criminology, transport, alcohol and drug use and public policy.
Research focus areas
While focusing primarily on human behaviour, the team explores the aetiology and outcomes of high-risk driving behaviours and most importantly, how to best alleviate and control its impact on our community. The group is based at the Sunshine Coast campus and works with government, community and industry across our communities.
The Road Safety Research Collaboration works collaboratively with government departments and other agencies. Our applied research is uniquely positioned to influence policy as it focuses on ways to target illegal behaviour and high-risk groups. The RSRC is the first specialist road safety research centre to be established and funded at an Australian regional university.
Impaired Driving
Impaired driving is a key priority area for the RSRC. Our projects are currently investigating legal and non-legal influences on impaired driving, as well as the effects of medically prescribed cannabis on driving performance.
Contact: Bevan
Distracted Driving
Our distracted driving projects aim to maximise the impact of legal countermeasures on engagement in illegal mobile phone use while driving behaviours. Currently, we are exploring both the perspectives of Police and offenders concerning the use and enforcement of phone use while driving.
Contact: Verity
Crash Data
We are currently examining crash data within the last decade to determine the most salient predictors of motor vehicle collisions. This information will be used to help design countermeasures to combat such factors.
Contact: Verity
Fatigue
UniSC is undertaking research into the characteristics and determinants of fatigued driving. In addition, this project will investigate the factors and influences associated with drivers’ current readiness and resistance to change their fatigue-related driving behaviour.
Contact: Bevan
Older Drivers
Watch this space!
Contact: Kayla
