By Ines Aviles-Spadoni, M.S., M.A., UFTI Research Coordinator/Communications and Charles Brown, UFTI/T2 Center
Nithin Agarwal, Ph.D., director of the UFTI’s Transportation Technology Transfer Center (T2), along with his research team, were presented with the 2025 Best Paper Award from the Transportation Research Board’s (TRB) Freeway Operations Committee on Jan. 7 during the 2025 TRB Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
The paper “A Safety Service Patrol Case Study in the Use of Vehicle-Mounted Message Boards to Promote Move-Over Behavior” reflects a team effort in advancing freeway safety management strategies. The research highlights the collaborative innovation of the team, showcasing how vehicle-mounted message boards can effectively encourage drivers to comply with “move over” laws—critical for protecting roadside assistance, first responders, and safety patrol staff.
“This study demonstrates how a small yet strategic intervention can make a significant difference in driver behavior and overall safety,” Agarwal said. “This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the collective dedication of every team member.”
The research team includes Grady T. Carrick of Enforcement Engineering, Inc., and UFTI-affiliated researchers Siva Srinivasan, Ph.D.; Shraddha Sagar, Ph.D.; including Abiral Aashish and Charles Brown.
“This research underscores the importance of leveraging technology to promote safer behaviors on our roads,” Sagar said. “It also reflects the importance of partnerships that bring practical, data-driven solutions to pressing safety concerns.”
The study was funded by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), further emphasizing FDOT’s unwavering commitment to Target Zero—a vision to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries—and to enhance the safety of first responders and safety patrol staff. This support underscores FDOT’s leadership in supporting research that has both immediate and long-term impacts on roadway safety.
The TRB’s Best Paper Award recognizes research teams that contribute substantially to enhancing the safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability of freeways and freeway corridors. This achievement reinforces UFTI’s mission to lead transportation innovation through cutting-edge research and collaborative efforts.
Congratulations to the team for achieving this significant accomplishment!