A Social Network Analysis of Alcohol-Impaired Drivers in Maryland: An Egocentric Approach

In Maryland, about 40 percent of highway fatalities are related to drunk-driving. Although various programs are in place to curb the incidence of alcohol-related fatalities, success has not been significant. In the past decade, researchers, in particular sociologists and applied anthropologists, have become more inclined towards social network analysis (SNA) in understanding human behavior. They consider that personal, household, and social-structural attributes are manifested in human behavior. In order to have effective change in personal behavior, it is important to understand the social network of the individuals in addition to their personal and household attributes. A social network is defined as a group of social actors who interrelate or exchange information with one another. The study of an actor with SNA provides a better understanding on how an actor of particular characteristics communicates between and among the members within the network. This study attempts to understand the personal, household, and social structural attributes of alcohol-impaired drivers of Maryland; how communication and activity-travel patterns emerge from social networks; and how change in knowledge level in networks influences or modifies behavior. The study will use the egocentric network approach, relying on survey research to unveil the underlying social structure of first-time DWI offenders. This approach concentrates on specific actors (alcohol-impaired drivers: called egos), and those who have relations with them, called alters (Carrasco et al. 2006). It requires data composed of two-levels: i) drivers’ characteristics and overall network features; and ii) an ego-alter level, constituted by the characteristics of each alter and alter-ego ties with reference to drinking episodes. Impaired-drivers will be interviewed with a structured questionnaire. After assessing their frequency of activity-travel with reference to social hours or drinking, we will select one alter with the highest frequency of activity-travel with the ego with regards to social drinking for an additional interview. The selected alters will be interviewed with a separate questionnaire that is relatively shorter than the egos’ questionnaire.

Index Terms: Impaired drivers, aggressive behavior, aggressive drivers, accident rates, accident severity, accidents, highway safety, Maryland, research projects

Sponsor Organizations:
Maryland State Highway Administration
707 N. Calvert Street
Baltimore, MD 21202

Morgan State University
National Center for Transportation Management, Research and Development
Montebello D-206
1700 E. Cold Spring Lane
Baltimore, MD 21251
http://www.eng.morgan.edu/~ntc/

Performing Organization:
Morgan State University
National Center for Transportation Management, Research and Development
Montebello D-206
1700 East Cold Spring Lane
Baltimore, MD 21251
http://www.eng.morgan.edu/~ntc/

Project Managers:
Hua Xiang
Phone: 410- 545-2953
Email: hxiang@sha.state.md.us

Liza Aguila-Lemaster
Phone: 410- 787-4076
Email: laguilalemaster@sha.state.md.us

Principal Investigators:
Ashraf Ahmed
Email: ashraf.ahmed@morgan.edu

Z. Andrew Farkas
Phone: 443-885-3761
Email: andrew.farkas@morgan.edu

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Trip Generation Studies for Special Generators

The main resource for determining how many vehicle trips will be added on to surrounding roadways as a result of new development is the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Trip Generation Manual. This manual contains rates from a composite of trip generation studies across the country. It is updated approximately every five years, and new data is incorporated in the form of additional studies or new land use types. Although this resource is widely accepted as the standard for trip generation, it has several weaknesses. Since the manual draws from studies across the country, the rates may not accurately reflect what happens here in Maryland. In addition, it is difficult for the manual to keep up with new or unusual land use practices. Some land uses that we have identified as being inadequately represented by ITE are town center (with or without transit access) and retirement or senior (55+) housing developments. The main objective of this research is to determine the effects of the two aforementioned special generators on surrounding roadways and nearby transit.

Index Terms: trip generation, Institute of Transportation Engineers, vehicle trips, retirement, housing, senior housing, suburban town centers, Maryland, research projects

Sponsor Organizations:
Maryland State Highway Administration
707 N Calvert Street
Baltimore, MD 21202

Morgan State University
National Center for Transportation Management, Research and Development
Montebello D-206
1700 E. Cold Spring Lane
Baltimore, MD 21251
http://www.eng.morgan.edu/~ntc/

Performing Organization:
Morgan State University
National Center for Transportation Management, Research and Development
Montebello D-206
1700 E. Cold Spring Lane
Baltimore, MD 21251
http://www.eng.morgan.edu/~ntc/

Project Managers:
Hua Xiang
Phone: 410-545-2953
Email: hxiang@sha.state.md.us

Lisa Shemer

Principal Investigator:
Mansoureh Jeihani
Phone: 443-885-1873
Fax: 443-885-8324
Email: mansoureh.jeihani@morgan.edu

Subjects:
Operations and Traffic Management
Planning
Highways

A Statewide GIS Mapping of Recurring Congestion Corridors

Most recurring traffic congestion problems are associated with capacity deficiency engendered by one or more factors that may require major projects involving a lengthy planning, design, and construction process. While permanent solutions are being developed, short-term mitigation strategies can be implemented cost-effectively in some cases. This research project will identify the transportation corridors in the state of Maryland that experience recurring traffic congestion, and the probable causal factors. An interactive web-based GIS map will be developed depicting the spatial and traffic attributes of these congestion corridors, and traffic engineering studies will be undertaken for selected corridors to determine temporary quick-response mitigation strategies.

Start date: November 6, 2007
End date: October 6, 2008
Status: Active
Contract/Grant Number: AX416A21
Total Dollars:
Source Organization: Maryland Department of Transportation
Date Added:
Index Terms: recurring congestion, GIS map, capacity deficiency, Maryland, mitigation strategies, research projects

Sponsor Organization/ Project Manager:
Maryland State Highway Administration
7401 Connelley Drive
Hanover, MD 21076

Morgan State University
National Center for Transportation Management, Research and Development
Montebello D-206
1700 E. Cold Spring Lane
Baltimore, MD 21251
http://www.eng.morgan.edu/~ntc/

Jean Yves Point-du-Jour
Phone: 410-787-5866
Email: jpoint-du-jour@sha.state.md.us

Performing Organization/ Principal Investigator:
Anthony A. Saka
Morgan State University
National Center for Transportation Management, Research and Development
Montebello D-206
1700 E. Cold Spring Lane
Baltimore, MD 21251
http://www.eng.morgan.edu/~ntc/

Subjects:
Data and Information Technology
Operations and Traffic Management
Research
Highways

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Development of a Prototype Vehicle-Infrastructure Integration System for Real-Time Traffic Management and Control

While the vehicle-infrastructure(VII) concept has been in existence for a decade, its operational model and implementation strategy remain unclear. What is clear is that the VII infrastructure, if designed to meet its full expectations, must be able to support applications such as incident management, congestion mitigation, air pollution management, driving assistance, and disaster evacuation. However, fully realizing this vision involves meeting challenges beyond just establishing communication links among VII components. New operational algorithms and higher-layer network protocols must be developed in view of the heterogeneous devices, contexts, and wireless technologies that are involved, and the specific missions that must be achieved. Given the expected large scale of the VII system and ever-increasing metropolitan areas, the traditional, centralized operational concepts have become too costly to implement, maintain, and protect from threats. This research will develop a prototype hierarchical VII system with distributed decision making and reliable distributed networking that adequately accommodates future sophisticated VII applications.

Start Date: September 1, 2007
End Date: October 31, 2008
Status: Active
Contract/Grant Number: 07-08-01

Sponsor Organization:
National Transportation Center
http://www.eng.morgan.edu/~ntc/

Performing Organization(s):
Morgan State University
National Center for Transportation Management, Research and Development
Montebello D-206
1700 E. Cold Spring Lane
Baltimore, MD 21251
http://www.eng.morgan.edu/~ntc/

Clemson University
Department of Civil Engineering
Clemson University
Clemson, SC 29634

Principal Investigators:
Ronnie Chowdhury, Ph.D., P.E.
Clemson University
Department of Civil Engineering
216 Lowry Hall
Clemson, SC 29634
Phone: 864-656-3313

Anthony Saka, Ph.D., P.E., P.T.O.E.
Morgan State University
National Center for Transportation Management, Research and Development
Montebello D-206
1700 E. Cold Spring Lane
Baltimore, MD 21251
Phone: 443-885-3666

Subjects:
Vehicle-Infrastructure Integration
Distributed Wireless Network
Distributed Decision Making
Traffic Operational Algorithms