August 9, 2002

Researchers explore psychology
behind traffic snarls through new website

A new website unveiled today by the Sacramento Institute of Traffic Safety - www.SacTraffic.org - provides drivers with a forum for discussing the Capital Region's growing traffic congestion and for offering suggestions for improving traffic flow on local freeways.

The institute is associated with California State University, Sacramento. Funding is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety under the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency.

"Ask anyone about traffic congestion and you will likely get a litany of complaints, but this new website offers Sacramentans a chance to become part of the solution," says Helene Burgess, one of three CSUS psychology professors involved with the project. The others are Joanne Marrow and Oriel Strickland.

Visitors to the website will be invited to:

• Answer three surveys about driving in congestion, stress when driving, and how to develop a community response to driving on freeways.
  
  
• Tell their stories about driving on the freeways as well as their ideas for improving the driving situation in Sacramento.
  
  
• Take a "driving quotient" quiz to test themselves on driving knowledge.
  
  
• Check out a "driving tip of the week." It will be updated using tips from the CHP, website users and traffic safety experts.
  
  
• Sign up for a face-to-face discussion group about driving Sacramento's freeways.

"Instead of just venting to your friends, you may be able to make a real difference in the driving experience," Strickland says. The surveys and ideas will be used to make recommendations on driving in the Sacramento area to the California Office of Traffic Safety.

Media assistance is available by contacting Joanne Marrow at (916) 278-7594 or the CSUS public affairs office at (916) 278-6156.

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