Perspectives

Dr. Emily Brunsen with Host Jason Jefferies on DARTS-Discussions Advancing Research in Transportation Safety

By Emily Brunsen & Jason Jefferies


Emily Brunsen, PhD

Jason Jefferies, MA


002--Dunlap Did It: DARTS-Discussions Advancing Research in Transportation Safety
Jason Jefferies, Emily Brunsen
  • This report presents three case studies documenting the processes and outcomes in three cities that implemented a low-cost pedestrian safety zone approach, and it describes the background leading to the initiation of the demonstration study, the approach taken by the study, and the three case study reports.

  • The zone approach to countermeasure deployment is a multi-step process intended to increase the efficiency of safety programs by focusing attention on locations with histories of crash problems or the existence of known crash risks, such as high vehicle speeds or the absence of adequate street lighting at night.

  • The technique of defining pedestrian safety zones and applying countermeasures in them, which was defined in a previous study, was not widely adopted by locales seeking to initiate pedestrian safety countermeasure programs in the years following the study's publication. One possible reason this technique did not gain traction may have been the cost and time involved in attempting to treat as many identified zones as possible to achieve a city-wide effect. To overcome this issue, the zone approach might be modified to focus on applying low-cost countermeasures that can be more easily supported in a jurisdiction’s budget and implemented in a relatively short time and limited area.

Dunlap Research is excited to present Dunlap Did It.

Host Jason Jefferies, Communication Associate at Dunlap Research, interviews Emily Brunsen (Principal Associate and Strategic Partnerships Lead, Dunlap Research) about DARTS: Discussions Advancing Research in Transportation Safety.

About the Experts

Emily Brunsen, PhD, RSP1

Emily Brunsen holds a PhD in Human Factors and Applied Cognition, with expertise in traffic safety research, research design, literature search and review, quantitative and qualitative methods, survey design and deployment, data collection methodologies and tools, and research project management. She is passionate about leading projects that enhance traffic safety, accessibility, and the user experience in transportation systems. With a strong foundation in both research and practical design, she aims to contribute to developing safer, more inclusive environments through data-driven insights and interdisciplinary collaboration. Dr. Brunsen is committed to applying her expertise to drive meaningful changes in transportation safety, ensuring that systems are both effective and accessible for all users. 

Jason Jefferies, MA

Jason Jefferies is an experienced writer, editor, project manager, business manager and event manager with a background spanning journalism, media, web development, festival production and higher education. He has written for several publications and organizations including SOMA, The Colorado Sun, Aspen Public Radio, The Lemming, VegNews, and WRAL. He hosts two podcasts with over 50,000 listeners (Bookin’ and The Listmas Podcast) that feature interviews with award-winning and bestselling authors, philosophers, thought leaders, musicians, and journalists. At Dunlap Research, Jason prepares, writes, reviews, and edits scientific and technical reports, proposals, and literature reviews. He collaborates with Principal Investigators on project strategies and timelines, manages internal and external communications, helps to run the production of major conferences, and oversees Dunlap’s website.

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