A group of University of Alabama researchers recently received nearly $2 million in funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health for their research in interventions that could reduce the risk of traumatic injuries among tow truck operators.
Dr. Jun Liu, an associate professor in the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering and director of the NextGen Transportation Lab, will serve as the lead principal investigator. Dr. Steven Jones, a professor in the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering and executive director of the Alabama Transportation Institute, and Dr. Despina Stavrinos, a professor in the Department of Psychology and director of the Institute for Social Science Research, will serve as MPIs.
Other team members include Dr. Praveena Penmetsa, research assistant professor in the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering; Dr. Jiaqi Gong, associate professor in the Department of Computer Science and director of the Alabama Center for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence; Justin Fisher, assistant legal researcher of the Transportation Policy Research Center; and former UA faculty member, Dr. Yangming Shi.
“Receiving this R01 research award from the CDC and NIOSH is an incredible honor and a key milestone for our team,” Liu said. “It’s a rare opportunity for traditional transportation researchers to secure funding from the CDC and NIOSH, and it speaks to the growing recognition of the need to focus on the safety of our first responders, particularly tow truck operators.”
The project, titled “A Multidisciplinary Approach for Tow Truck Operator Safety,” is focused on reducing struck-by injuries and fatalities among tow truck operators by exploring the behaviors of both tow truck operators and passing drivers, as well as the impact of regulations and law enforcement. The researchers will use national surveys, field-based neurophysiological assessments and virtual reality-based driving simulator experiments to identify effective interventions that can reduce risk. Further, this project will also explore the effectiveness of safety tools, such as advanced warning signs and traffic cones, in improving roadside safety.
The findings of this research will provide insights into how to reduce injuries and fatalities through targeted safety interventions, policy recommendations, and educational programs.
This project builds on the group’s previous work, which began with support from the Alabama Transportation Institute, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and the National Science Foundation. Since 2020, this group has researched responder safety, a field that has become critical in protecting personnel working in roadside environments.
“This project is not just a research initiative — it’s a critical step toward ensuring the well-being of a vulnerable workforce and contributing to the safety of all road users,” Liu said. “With the support of the CDC and NIOSH, we are poised to make significant strides in improving the safety and effectiveness of roadside safety interventions.”