Porter to Discuss His Risky Driving Research in Saturday Science Series

March 06, 2012

A program by Old Dominion University faculty member Bryan Porter, "Tales from the Road: A Psychologist's Quest to Measure (and Change) Risky Driving Behaviors," will be presented as part of ODU's Saturday Morning Science Series on March 17.

The presentation will begin at 10:30 a.m. in Room 200 of the Oceanography and Physical Sciences Building. Anyone with an interest in science, regardless of background or age, is invited to attend. Programs in the series are free.

Porter, an associate professor of psychology, is an expert on the psychological underpinnings of dangerous driving habits. He is known internationally for his work assessing and promoting automatic photo-enforcement to reduce red-light running and his research group also has helped the state of Virginia to evaluate the "Click It or Ticket" program to encourage use of safety belts.

Currently, Porter is leading a research project for the state Division of Motor Vehicles titled "Virginia DMV Occupation Protection - Impaired Driving Target Areas and Programs."

Porter and his students have dedicated years to documenting and working to change risky driving. They observe drivers and interview them, producing assessments of government programs to increase roadway safety. In his talk, Porter will highlight the good, bad and ugly of the driving practices he and his team have encountered.

For more information on the Saturday Morning Science Series, visit: http://sci.odu.edu/physics/events/sms.html.