E D UC AT I ON U P DAT E :
Engineering Safer Roads: CUTR’s Data-Driven Approach to Transportation Safety in Florida B Y S I S I N N I O C O N C A S , P H D , P M P, C H A N YO U N G L E E , P H D , P E I - S U N G L I N , P H D, P E , P TO E , F I T E , A N D S A R A H PAY T O N
LED “No Turn On Red” blank‑out sign at a signalized intersection—dark when inactive, it lights up only when turns are prohibited. (Source CUTR)
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s Florida continues to grow in population and economic activity, the state’s transportation network faces mounting challenges in ensuring the safety of all road users. From rising motorcyclist fatalities to increasing pedestrian risks at intersections, the need for innovative, research-based interventions has never been more urgent. At the forefront of addressing these challenges is the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR). Established by the Florida Legislature in 1988 and a part of the University of South Florida’s College of Engineering, CUTR has become a nationally and internationally recognized leader in multimodal transportation research, education, and technology transfer. 42 | ENGINEERING FLORIDA
With more than $28 million in contracts and grants in Fiscal Year 2025 alone—many from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)—CUTR’s work is shaping the future of transportation safety across the state and the nation.
MOTORCYCLE SAFETY: A PERSISTENT AND GROWING CONCERN While overall traffic fatalities in the U.S. declined by 4.3% in 2023, motorcyclist fatalities continued to rise, reaching 6,339 deaths—a 1.9% increase from the previous year. According to CUTR’s Motorcycle Injury Prevention program, this trend is part of a broader, two-decade-long increase in motorcyclist deaths, which have surged by approximately