Faculty

• Dr. Heather Padilla, Director

Staff

• Ansley Kasha, MPH/MSW, Program Director

Alumni

Below is a list of some of the faculty, staff and students who contributed to the research conducted in the Traffic Safety Research and Evaluation Group during their time at the University of Georgia.

1. Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) – The purpose of this state-funded grant is to evaluate the effectiveness of 100+ GOHS-funded external grants for the current and previous federal fiscal years (FFY). TSREG recently completed the FFY 2021 Scoring and Grading Report for all grantees and is currently working on the FFY 2022 Preliminary Evaluation and the FFY 2022 Preliminary Performance Report based on data from the first fiscal quarter of 2022.
2. Rural Roads Evaluation (Stewart County) – As requested by the Georgia GOHS Director, Allen Poole, TSREG is designing and conducting a multi-year Rural Roads Evaluation to assess the needs, barriers, and opportunities of all road users (motor vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians) in five Georgia counties. During the FFY 2022, TSREG is evaluating how community stakeholders and residents travel into, through, and out of Stewart County. The evaluation results will be shared with stakeholders, residents, and GOHS to inform effective community traffic safety programs in rural Georgia.
3. Georgia Roadway Fatalities Database – TSREG is responsible for maintaining an annual Georgia Roadway Fatalities Database. Daily roadway fatality data is sent to TSREG from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and cross-referenced with the Georgia Electronic Accident Reporting System (GEARS) for complete accuracy of reporting. The Georgia Motor Vehicle Fatality Report is produced each year and delivered to GOHS.
4. Task Teams – TSREG is involved with the following traffic safety task teams: Young Adult Drivers Task Team, Older Drivers 55+ Task Team, Traffic/Crash Records and Data Analysis Task Team, and the Risk Analysis and Evaluations (Data Team) Task Team. TSREG works collaboratively on ideas and future projects with the task teams and provides data support per request.

• Awareness Survey: Georgia Hands-Free Law (2018)
• Bicycle Observational Study (2016)
• Drive-Bicyclist Empathy Study (2015)
• Bicycle Safety Survey (2014)
• Law Enforcement Texting While Driving Survey (2014)
• Distracted Pedestrian Observation (2012)
• School Bus Survey (2012)

Davidson, S, Barlament, J, Dawson, L, Cotton, C. Metrics for local community planning and evaluation: the case for observational measurement of high risk rural sub-populations in occupant safety. Western Journal of Emergency Medicine 2013;14:380-3.

Burkett, K, Cotton C, Barlament J, et al. Drive Alive: Teen Seat Belt Survey Program. Western Journal of Emergency Medicine 2010; 11: 279-282.

Cotton, C., Loftin, L., Barlament, J., Walker, W., Benson, M., Fors, S. Administrative License Suspension, 1999-2009: ALS Hearing Outcome Evaluation and Law Enforcement Survey Results. (Report for the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety; required reading for CVI faculty)

Cotton, C., Kirkbride, E., Grimes, A., Mitchell, J., Parker, P., Barlament, J., Loftin, L., Edgerston, C., Fors, S. Final Results of the Regional Community Liason. Presented at the 20th Canadian Multidisciplinary Road Safety Conference in Niagara Falls, ON June 6-9, 2010.

Cotton, C., Barlament, J., Magee, K., Fors, S.  (April 2007). Three Year Longevity Study of GOHS Grants Evaluated by TSREG (FY 2004-2006).

Fors, S.W., & Rojek, D.G. (2003). The effect of victim impact panels on DUI/DWI rearrest rates: A five-year follow-up. Criminology, 41(4), 1319-1341.

Cotton, C., Jackson, B., McCloskey, S., McDonald, J., & Russell, M. (2002, revised 2006). Safe Communities Tool Kit: A Data Guide for Safe Community Programs. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.dot.gov/files/revised20data20toolkit-2007.pdf

Cotton, C., Jackson, B., McCloskey, S., McDonald, J., & Russell, M. (2002). Motor Vehicle Tool Kit: A Data Guide for Motor Vehicle Programs. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Fors, S.W., & Rojek, D.G. (1999). The effect of victim impact panels on DUI/DWI rearrest rates: A twelve-month follow-up. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 60(4), 514-521.

Please contact us to request a copy of a report. After verifying distribution rights and wishes with all parties involved, we will be happy to assist you as necessary.

• Ralston, L. (May 2018) 2016 Fatal Motorcycle Crashes in Georgia: Compiled for the GOHS Motorcycle Task Team.
• Cotton, C., Ralston, L., Robinson, D. (May 2018) Georgia Highway Safety Programs Final Evaluation FFY 2016.
• Cotton, C., Ralston, L. (April 2018) Georgia Highway Safety Programs Evaluation FFY 2017 Grantee Scoring and Grading Report.
• Cotton, C., Ralston, L. (February 2018) Georgia Highway Safety Programs FFY 2018 Preliminary Performance Evaluation.
• Cotton, C., Ralston, L. (January 2018) Georgia Highway Safety Programs Evaluation FFY 2017 Preliminary Report.
• Cotton, C., Ralston, L. (December 2017) Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety 2017 Annual Report.
• Cotton, C., Ralston, L., Robinson, D. (September 2017) Preliminary 2016 Georgia Motor Vehicle Fatality Report
• Cotton, C., Ralston, L. (May 2017) Georgia Highway Safety Programs Evaluation FFY 2016 Preliminary Report.
• Cotton, C., Ralston, L. (April 2017) Georgia Highway Safety Programs Evaluation FFY 2016 Grantee Scoring and Grading Report.
• Cotton, C., McGill, A. (March 2017) Georgia Highway Safety Programs Evaluation FFY 2015 Final Report.
• Cotton, C., McGill, A. (January 2017) Georgia Highway Safety Programs  Preliminary Performance Evaluation FFY 2017.
• Cotton, C., McGill, A. (December 2016) Georgia Highway Safety Association 2015 Annual Report.
• Cotton, C., McGill, A., Robinson, D. (September 2016) Preliminary 2015 Georgia Motor Vehicle Fatality Report.
• Cotton, C., McGill, A. (May 2016) Georgia Highway Safety Association 2015 Grant Scoring and Grading Report.
• Cotton, C., McGill, A. (February 2016) Georgia Highway Safety Association 2016 Preliminary Performance Report.
• Cotton, C., McGill, A. (January 2016) Georgia Highway Safety Association 2014 Final Grant Evaluation Report.
• Cotton, C., McGill, A. (December 2015) Georgia Highway Safety Association 2015 Annual Report.
• Cotton, C., McGill, A. (October 2015) Results of the Statewide Survey Focused Questions FY 2015 Final Report.
• Cotton, C., McGill, A. (October 2015) Preliminary 2014 Georgia Motor Vehicle Fatality Final Report.
• Cotton, C., Dallas, D. (April 2015) Georgia Highway Safety Programs Evaluation FY2013 Final Report.
• Cotton, C., Dallas, D. (January 2015) Georgia Highway Safety Association 2014 Annual Report.
• Robinson, D., Cotton, C. (September 2014) Athens-Clarke County 2012 Crash Report
• Cotton, C., Dallas, D. (May 2014) Georgia Highway Safety Programs FY2014 Midpoint Report.
• Cotton, C., Dallas, D. (January 2014) Georgia Highway Safety Programs Evaluation FY2012 Final Report.
• Cotton, C., Barlament, J. (June 2013) Georgia Highway Safety Programs FY2013 Midpoint Report.
• Cotton, C., Barlament, J. (January 2013) Georgia Highway Safety Programs Evaluations FY2011 Final Report.
• Shelnutt, S., Cotton, C. (2012). Quantitative and qualitative analysis report:  Halloween traffic safety program for elementary schools.
• Cotton, C., Barlament, J., Horvat, I.  (May 2012) Georgia Highway Safety Programs FY2012 Midpoint Report.
• Cotton, C., Barlament, J. (March 2012) Georgia Highway Safety Programs Evaluation FY2010 Final Report.

Ralston, L., Tang, S. and Cotton, C. (March 31, 2019). Distraction-Colored Glasses: How We Report Distracted Driving Affects How Much of It We See. Poster presentation at Lifesavers National Conference on Highway Safety Priorities, Louisville, Kentucky.

Warnock, C. and Cotton, C. (March 31, 2019). Georgia’s 2018 Pedestrian Fatalities: A Preliminary Description. Poster presentation at Lifesavers National Conference on Highway Safety Priorities, Louisville, Kentucky.

Ralston, L., Strogatz, D. and Gray, M. (March 31, 2019). Rural Older Drivers: Tough Problems, Effective Solutions. Part of the panel “Speed Dating for Practitioners in Aging & Mobility”, Lifesavers National Conference on Highway Safety Priorities, Louisville, Kentucky.

Warnock, C. and Cotton, C. (October 18, 2018). Walking the Wrong Way: Georgia’s Pedestrian Fatalities. Poster presentation at State of the Public’s Health conference, Athens, Georgia.

Ralston, L. (October 18, 2018). Twice as Deadly: Rural-Urban Disparities in Georgia Traffic Fatalities. Poster presentation at State of the Public’s Health conference, Athens, Georgia.

Robinson, D. (May 1, 2018). The Walking Dead: 2017 Pedestrian Fatalities in Georgia. Poster Presentation at the Strategic Highway Safety Plan Summit, Atlanta, Georgia.

Robinson, D. (May 1, 2018). 2017 Georgia Fatalities: The Bad News and Good News. Poster Presentation at the Strategic Highway Safety Plan Summit, Atlanta, Georgia.

Ralston, L. (Moderator), Miles T., Li G., Head E., Hayes A., Zmud J. Building Effective Aging Drivers Interventions: Do You Have All the Right Pieces? Panel Presentation at Lifesavers Conference, San Antonio, Texas.

Ralston, L. and Cotton, C. (April 22-24, 2018). Why don’t we test more drunk drivers for other drugs? Poster Presentation at Lifesavers Conference, San Antonio, Texas.

Ralston, L., Robinson, D., and Cotton, C. (April 22-24, 2018). Older Passengers: Keeping Grandma Safe. Poster Presentation at Lifesavers Conference, San Antonio, Texas.

Warnock, C. (April 22-24, 2018). Buckling Up in the Back: Backing Primary Enforcement Laws. Poster Presentation at Lifesavers Conference, San Antonio, Texas.

Ralston, L. (March 21, 2018). Older Passenger Fatality Risk. Presentation to the Older Driver Task Team, Atlanta, Georgia.

Ralston, L. (December 7, 2017). New Vehicle Technology for Older Drivers. Presentation to the Athens Community Council on Aging.

Ralston, L. (October 20, 2017). Epidemiology of Traffic Safety. Presentation to the Epidemiology Seminar, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.

Cotton, C., Robinson, D. (March 26-28, 2017). 2016 Georgia Fatalities: What Does the Preliminary Data Tell Us? Poster presentation at Lifesavers Conference, Charlotte, North Carolina.

Cotton, C., Robinson, D. (March 26-28, 2017). Failure to Yield Among Georgia Elderly Drivers. Poster presentation at Lifesavers Conference, Charlotte, North Carolina.

Robinson, D., Cotton, C. (March 26-28, 2017). Putting the Brakes on Speed-Related Crashes in Georgia. Poster presentation at Lifesavers Conference, Charlotte, North Carolina.

Barnes, S., Cotton, C. (March 26-28, 2017). Traffic Safety Research and Evaluation Group (TSREG) Social Media Impact. Poster presentation at Lifesavers Conference, Charlotte, North Carolina.

Barnes, S., Cotton, C. (March 26-28, 2017). Drug DUI Impact in Georgia 2010-2015. Poster presentation at Lifesavers Conference, Charlotte, North Carolina.

Cotton, C. (November 2016 and March 2017). Presentations to UGA Transportation Department Professional and Student Bus Drivers.

Robinson, D., Cotton, C. (April 3-5, 2016). But, I Didn’t See Him!: An Assessment of Bicycle Collisions in GA. Poster Presentation at Lifesavers Conference, Long Beach, California.

Miller, B., Cotton, C. (April 3-5, 2016). Taking to the Streets: An Observational Bicycle Study. Poster Presentation at Lifesavers Conference, Long Beach, California.

McGill, A., Cotton, C. (April 3-5, 2016). Making a Difference: A 5 Year Reveiw of Georgia Traffic Safety Grantees. Poster Presentation at Lifesavers Conference, Long Beach, California.

Cotton, C., Robinson, D. (April 3-5, 2016). Driver or Passenger? Elderly Driving Facts in Georgia. Poster Presentation at Lifesavers Conference, Long Beach, California.

Cotton, C., (February 27, 2017). Look Out! Petextrians and Bicyclists are on the Road. Youth and Young Adult Leadership Conference, Peachtree City, Georgia.

Miller, B., Cotton, C. (March 15-17, 2015). What You Don’t Know Might Hurt Me: An Assessment of Bicycle Safety. Poster Presentation at Lifesavers Conference, Chicago, Illinois.

Cotton, C., Robinson, D. (March 15-17, 2015). The Enforcement Dilemma: Law Enforcement and Georgia’s Texting While Driving Law.  Poster Presentation at Lifesavers Conference, Chicago, Illinois.

Robinson, D. (March 15-17, 2015) A Crash Course in Danger: Contributing Factors of Collisions in a College Town.  Poster Presentation at Lifesavers Conference, Chicago, Illinois.

Cotton, C. (October 5-8, 2014) Enforcing A Texting While Driving Law in Georgia: Police Perceptions. Oral Presentation at the Law Enforcement & Public Health Conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Cotton, C., Robinson, D., Dallas, D. (September 10, 2014) Distracted Driving Enforcement:  A Law Enforcement Perspective. Poster presented at State of Public Health Conference, Athens, Georgia.

Littleton, L., Cotton, C. (April 27-29, 2014) Distracted Walking:  Are you a “Petextrian?” Oral Presentation at the Lifesavers Conference, Nashville, Tennessee.

Robinson, D., Cotton, C. (April 27-29, 2014) Stop Means Stop:  Georgia Drivers & School Bus Stop Arm Laws. Poster presented at the Lifesavers Conference, Nashville, Tennessee.

Littleton, L., Cotton, C. (April 27-29, 2014) Distracted Walking:  Are you a “Petextrian?”  Poster presented at the Lifesavers Conference, Nashville, Tennessee.

Dallas, D., Cotton, C. (April 27-29, 2014) Texting While Driving Laws in the Southeast. Poster presented at the Lifesavers Conference, Nashville, Tennessee.

Dallas, D., Cotton, C. (April 27-29, 2014) Drug Involved Traffic Fatalities. Poster presented at the Lifesavers Conference, Nashville, Tennessee.

Davidson, S., Barlament, J., Dawson, L., Cotton, C. (April 14-16, 2013) Rural Teen Safety Belt Use: State-Level versus Local Observational Data. Poster presented at the Lifesavers Conference, Denver, Colorado.

Cotton, C., Barlament, J., Littleton, L., Tuggle, E.,  (April 14-16, 2013) Partners in Safety: Building Relationships with Stakeholders through Evaluation Support. Poster presented at the Lifesavers Conference, Denver, Colorado.

Barlament, J., Littleton, L., Cotton, C. (April 14-16, 2013) Unseen Dangers:  Visibilty and Biclycle Safety on Georgia Roads. Poster presented at the Lifesavers Conference, Denver, Colorado.

Porter, J., Cotton, C., Barlament, J. (April 14-16, 2013) Anxiety about Prescripton Drugs and Driving. Poster presented at the Lifesavers Conference, Denver, Colorado.

Littleton, L., Cotton, C., Barlament, J. (April 14-16, 2013) Factors Contributing to Pedestrian Collisions in Georgia. Poster presented at the Lifesavers Conference, Denver, Colorado.

Barlament, J. (January 14, 2013) “What Can We Learn from Georgia Bicycle Data?” Oral Presentation at the Georgia Bicycle Safety Rountable Meeting. Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Headquarters, Atlanta, Georgia.

Barlament, J. (November 30, 2012) “Evaluation of Georgia Impaired Driving Programs.” Oral Presentation at the Georgia Impaired Driving Roundtable Meeting. Georgia Department of Transportation Headquarters, Atlanta, Georgia.

Barlament, J. (November 7, 2012) “Grantee Evalution.” Oral Presentation at the Govenor’s Office of Highway Safety Project Director’s Meeting. Georgia Public Safety Training Center, Forsyth, Georgia.

Barlament, J., Cotton, C. (October 20, 2012) What Can We Learn From Georgia’s Bicycle Data? Oral presentation at 2012 Georgia-lina Bike Summit, Augusta, Georgia.

Cotton, C., Horvat, I., Barlament, J. (June 14-16, 2012) A New Formula for Evaluating Traffic Safety Programs in Georgia. Poster presented at the Lifesavers Conference, Orlando, Florida.

Cotton, C., Barlament, J., Shelnutt, S. (June 14-16, 2012) Fatalities in Georgia: We are Only as Good as the Timeliness of our Data. Poster presented at the Lifesavers Conference, Orlando, Florida.

Cotton, C., Shelnutt, S. (June 14-16, 2012) Tuning In to Tuning Out. Poster presented at the Lifesavers Conference, Orlando, Florida.

Barlament, J., Shelnutt, S., Cotton, C. (June 14-16, 2012) Walk the Walk: Are Georgia’s Child Pedestrians Safe? Poster presented at the Lifesavers Conference, Orlando, Florida.

Cotton, C., Horvat, I. (June 14-16, 2012) Helmet and Safety Usage in Adult Motorcycle Riders in Georgia. Poster presented at the Lifesavers Conference, Orlando, Florida.

Porter, J.S., Cotton, C., Smith, M. L.,Barlament, J., Shelnutt, S. (June 14-16, 2012) The Effects of Motorcycle Training Courses on Older Riders. Poster presented at the Lifesavers Conference, Orlando, Florida.

Cotton, C., (April 10-13, 2012) Health Promotion and Road Safety: Conceptual and Practical Challenges. Oral presentation at the 5th Latin American and 4th Inter-American Conferece on Health Promotion and Education, Mexico City, Mexico.

Below are a selection of presentations, pamphlets, brochures and other materials produced by the UGA TSREG that are currently available to the public.

Presentation Materials

Regional Agricultural and Logging Roadway Safety Symposium 2022:

Presentation:

• Ansley Kasha, MPH, MSW & Crystal Shelnutt, MPH, NRP: A Safe System Approach and the Road to Zero (PPTX file – NOTE: browser security settings may prevent download)

State of the Public’s Health 2019: 

Panel: 

• Cotton, Warnock, Daimler, Ralston, Bason: Scooting, Walking, Aging and Hauling: Four Emerging Traffic Safety Emphases in Georgia (incorporated into Promoting Health Through Design)

Posters:

• Daimler, Cotton: DUI Recidivism by Drug Preference: The Case of Georgia
• Warnock, Cotton: In Hot Pursuit: Georgia’s Police Pursuit Crashes and Crash Fatalities

Handout: 

• Daimler, Cotton: E-scooter safety issues and laws in Georgia cities: A Preliminary Look

 2019 Fall Risk Expo:

Handouts:

• Falls and Motor Vehicle Crashes Handouts: Risk Factors, Screening and Prevention, Resources

 Lifesavers 2019:

Panel: 

• Ralston, Strogatz, Gray: Rural Older Drivers: Tough Problems, Effective Solutions (Incorporated into Speed Dating for Practitioners in Aging & Mobility)

Posters:

• Ralston, Tang, Cotton: Distraction-Colored Glasses: How we report distracted driving affects how much of it we see
• Warnock, Cotton: Georgia’s 2018 Pedestrian Fatalities: A Preliminary Description

 State of the Public’s Health 2018: 

Posters: 

• Ralston: Twice as Deadly: Rural-Urban Disparities in Georgia Traffic Fatalities
• Warnock, Cotton: Walking the Wrong Way: Georgia’s Pedestrian Fatalities

 Lifesavers 2018:

Panel: 

• Ralston, Li, Miles, Head, Hayes, Zmud: Building Effective Aging Drivers interventions: Do you have all the right pieces?

Posters: 

• Ralston, Robinson, Cotton: Older Passengers: Keeping Grandma Safe
• Ralston, Cotton: Why don’t we test more drunk drivers for other drugs?
• Warnock, Cotton: Buckling up in the back: Backing primary enforcement laws

Brochures and Pamphlets

UGA TSREG Brochure

This brochure provides information about the mission of the UGA Traffic Safety and Research Evaluation Group and they work they do to improve traffic safety in Georgia.

UGA TSREG Data Request

Learn how TSREG can connect you to federal, state, or local traffic safety data using the followinbg databases: Fatality Accident Reporting System (FARS), Georgia Electronic Accident Reporting System (GEARS), GEARS Analytics, Numeric.

Falls and Crashes (2022)

DID YOU KNOW that many of the factors that can make a person more likely to fall also make it more likely they’ll be involved in a crash? This handout helps individuals identify risk factors and provides information and screening and prevention resources related to this issue.

Pets In Cars (2016)

The Pets in Cars brochure was created in partnership with the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and provides helpful tips to keep pets safe during months with high temperatures.