Research In Action

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend my very first Lifesavers Conference for Road Safety as a Traffic Safety Scholar. As a research engineer at CIRP and a part-time doctoral student at UPenn, my work often happens behind the scenes. It’s easy to lose sight of how my research interacts with the broader traffic safety community. Attending Lifesavers allowed me to see firsthand the difference my research, and that of CIRP, is making for traffic safety stakeholders from all over the country. 

How I Discovered Lifesavers 

Even though I’ve been involved in traffic safety research for over a decade, I had never made it to Lifesavers…until now. The conference has always been on my radar since I first learned about Lifesavers during a lunch conversation early in my career at CIRP. My colleagues Drs. Kristy Arbogast and Mark Zonfrillo were chatting about the conference and suggested that everyone should attend Lifesavers at least once in their career. So, when I found out about the Traffic Safety Scholars program during my return to grad school, I jumped at the chance to attend. 

What Stood Out at Lifesavers 

One of the highlights of the Lifesavers Conference was connecting with fellow scholars and professionals in the field. Unlike academic research conferences, I had the chance to meet front-line traffic safety professionals—think law enforcement and EMS, driving instructors, large and small businesses— all dedicated to making our roadways safer. This interaction sparked new research ideas and potential collaborations that I am excited to explore. 

I also enjoyed the variety of workshop topics available. I stepped outside my engineering comfort zone and explored sessions on Criminal Justice and on Communications. These workshops really drove home the importance of conducting research that can be translated into actionable policies and community programs— a lesson I plan to carry forward in my own career. 

But what truly struck me about Lifesavers was the camaraderie among attendees. There was a genuine desire to share best-practices and learn from one another, all in pursuit of our common goal: reducing the toll of roadway crash deaths and injuries.

Congratulations and Thank You! 

A huge shoutout to my fellow 2025 Traffic Safety Scholars. I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Lifesavers Board Members and Planning Committee—especially Rick Birt, Danielle Wolfe, Tara Casanova-Powell, and Mary Lofgren—for making this such a rewarding experience. 

Looking Ahead

If you’re in the field of traffic safety and considering a career in that space, I highly recommend attending Lifesavers at least once during your career. The fresh perspectives I gained from the workshops and the amazing new colleagues have broadened my understanding of traffic safety. I look forward to future Lifesavers, perhaps where I can present my research in a workshop.