According to Dr. Zac Doerzaph of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), it’s something most of us take for granted: starting our car and hitting the road. Doerzaph, Executive Director of VTTI, says that simple act is still the leading risk to life for millions. That’s why he and his team wake up every day with one mission: making sure people get home safe.
“We lose over 40,000 lives in the U.S. each year from motor vehicle crashes,” Doerzaph said. “We cannot accept that as a given.”
As a research organization dedicated to advancing transportation safety, VTTI works with public and private partners to study human behavior, evaluate safety technology, and deploy solutions that save lives. Their work has informed everything from seatbelt laws to the development of in-vehicle warning systems.
But Doerzaph also issued a challenge to road operators and transportation agencies: don’t just chase new technologies. “First, ask why you’re doing it,” he said. “Then collaborate with researchers, vendors, and your own teams to match the right solution to the right problem.” Whether it’s deploying AI-powered sensors, improving signage, or adopting fleet-based pilot programs, the key is intentionality and validation.
“Be collaborative. Crawl, walk, then run,” he advised, pointing to the importance of pilots, phased implementation, and vendor accountability.
VTTI’s work is proof that research alone doesn’t save lives—but applied, evidence-based solutions do. From studying the impact of distraction and fatigue to helping automate safety responses in real time, their research is powering the next generation of crash prevention.
Hear more from Dr. Zac Doerzaph and Dr. Charlie Klauer in their full interview—where they dive deeper into the behavioral science behind distraction, the future of vehicle safety, and how collaboration can drive down fatalities.