By Ines Aviles-Spadoni, M.S., Research Coordinator

Bryce Grame, a doctoral student in the UF Department of Civil Engineering, is one of 19 students nationwide to be selected as a 2024 Lifesavers Traffic Safety Scholar (TSS). This recognition has also earned him a spot at the Lifesavers Conference on Roadway Safety, which was held April 7 to 9, 2024, in Denver, Colorado.

“This week, I was blessed with an incredible opportunity to attend the 2024 Lifesavers Conference on Roadway Safety in Denver, Colorado, as a Traffic Safety Scholar,” Grame said. “At most professional and academic conferences, I spend time trying to hone my technical skills and learning about research gaps, but this week, I tried to really take advantage of the many interdisciplinary sessions to learn about topics I rarely get exposure to.”

The conference showcases the latest research, evidence-based strategies, proven countermeasures, and promising new approaches for addressing the nation’s most pressing traffic safety problems. The Lifesavers TSS Program pays scholarships to help full—and part-time undergraduate and graduate students in a variety of fields defray the cost of attending the conference, which is the largest gathering of traffic safety professionals. Upon completion of the Traffic Safety Scholars Program Requirements, a letter of accreditation will be sent to the Scholar.

Grame’s work in transportation engineering, under the guidance of Dr. Siva Srinivasan, is making a significant impact. His research, which delves into traffic operations and safety, including human factors, is crucial in understanding how humans interact with transportation systems, vehicles, and infrastructure. His innovative study in Gainesville, Florida, using unique eye-tracking technology, provides real-world insights that can enhance the safety of our roadways.

Grame and his fellow Scholars kicked off their Lifesavers experience on April 6, 2024, learning about career opportunities from a panel of young traffic safety professionals working in the public and private sectors.

“I learned a ton about being a future husband and father with topics like proper seat belt use for pregnant mothers, car seat installation, and new technologies designed to prevent child heatstroke in hot cars; there was so much practical information that I was able to take away,” Grame said. “Thank you so much to Lifesavers for making this such a valuable week.”

See images from the Lifesavers Conference on Roadway Safety in Denver, Colorado.