Can you share a little bit about yourself and your role at SafeTREC?
I’m originally from Baltimore, Maryland and arrived in California a few years ago after a long detour in Washington, D.C. and many years studying in Boston, Massachusetts. I have a B.A. in economics from Tufts, Master of Public Policy from Harvard, and Ph.D. in environmental health from Boston University, where my dissertation research focused on twin areas of disparities in exposure to air pollution and traffic fatalities. Prior to joining SafeTREC, I served in several roles in D.C., including as an advisor on performance management to the President of the World Bank, researcher at the World Resources Institute, fellow at the U.S. Department of Energy, and lead for autonomous vehicle partnerships at Ford Motor Company. At SafeTREC, I lead research projects focused on improving road safety for partner agencies in state government.
What sparked your interest in transportation safety research?
There are a few elements that came together to spark my interest in transportation safety. I’ve been a cyclist since I was four years old, and I’m passionate about climate action through transportation. Frustratingly, I have been hit by a vehicle while cycling three times, all while in a bike lane. While I was lucky enough to not suffer injuries myself, these experiences changed the way I looked at sustainable modes of transportation, particularly after I had my first kid. I became a more cautious cyclist because I wanted to be around for my family. I studied the academic literature and I realized that safety concerns are a major impediment to climate action on transportation. It dawned on me that folks might actually be rational in choosing not to walk or bike. My research focused on quantifying fatality disparities, both across different transport modes and across race and ethnicity. I found that not only have we created a society where walking and cycling are more dangerous per mile-traveled than driving, but also one where it’s more dangerous to walk or bike as a Black American than a white one. I became committed to conducting research that improves safety for all road users. Maybe it’s my public health training, but I believe that road fatalities and injuries are a preventable health challenge. I hope that our research can help move the needle on it.
What current projects are you working on at SafeTREC?
I am currently working on several projects focused on road safety at SafeTREC. For one project, I am working on a report for the California Transportation Commission examining the safety implications of heavier and larger vehicles on California’s roads. In a related but separate project funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety, we will be exploring whether there is an empirical relationship between larger vehicles and vulnerable road user safety. For another project, I am helping Caltrans to conceptualize how place might factor into speed limit-setting, informed by some international and domestic implementations that have combined place with road type to develop a matrix approach to setting speed limits. Finally, for a project funded by the California Department of Motor Vehicles, I am part of a team visualizing and analyzing crashes involving autonomous vehicles.
What issues are you particularly interested or passionate about?
I have always been someone who focuses on the forest instead of the trees. I’m particularly passionate about conducting comprehensive impact assessments in cost-benefit analysis of policy. From a transportation perspective, I think it’s important to consider the health, local environment, climate, noise, safety, and social implications. By considering comprehensive impacts, we can better evaluate policies and programs.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I have my hands full with my two kids, aged 5 and 1, but in the limited spare time I have I like to hike, visit national parks (I’ve been to 40), and photograph wildlife. I try to place my wildlife photography in a few galleries every year and love interacting with the community around photography.
This Spotlight interview was conducted in collaboration with UC Berkeley SafeTREC. The opinions and perspectives expressed are those of the interviewee and not necessarily those of SafeTREC.
