Peter Savolainen
MSU Foundation Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering | Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI, UNITED STATES
Peter Savolainen’s research examines the fundamental nature of road user behavior
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Biography
Peter Savolainen is an MSU Foundation Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. During the course of his academic career, Savolainen has served as principal investigator (PI) or co-PI on more than $17 million of externally funded research through competitive grant awards from agencies including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, and various state departments of transportation.
Savolainen’s research examines the fundamental nature of road user behavior, particularly how traffic safety and operations are influenced by behavior in consideration of roadway and traffic characteristics. His work in this area has provided important information as to how road user behavior changes in response to such roadway features as maximum speed limits, centerline/shoulder rumble strips, and red-light-running cameras at signalized intersections. His research has also advanced fundamental knowledge as to how roadway design, environmental factors, and in-vehicle distractions affect the risk of traffic crashes.
This research has led to the publication of more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and research reports, highlighted by a series of contributions in the areas of naturalistic driving research, countermeasure evaluation, and crash-injury severity analysis. Savolainen currently serves on the editorial advisory boards of Accident Analysis and Prevention and Analytic Methods in Accident Research, as well as on the Transportation Research Board Standing Committees on Statistical Methods and Motorcycles and Mopeds. He is a registered professional engineer in the state of Michigan.
Areas of Expertise (4)
Traffic Operations
Connected and Autonomous Vehicles
Statistical and Econometric Methods
Transportation Safety Data, Analysis, and Evaluation
Accomplishments (6)
2024 Excellence in Transportation Awards (professional)
2024-07-23
July 2024 Council Impact Award from the Institute of Transportation Engineers
Professional Engineer in the State of Michigan
May 2009 - October 2017
Best Paper Award
2017 Transportation Research Board Standing Committee on Operational Effects of Geometrics
Best Paper Award
2017 Transportation Research Board Standing Committee on Pedestrians
Charles W. Schaefer Award
2016 For Excellence in Teaching, Research, and Service, Iowa State University Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
Award for Transportation Excellence Through Research
2015 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Research Advisory Council
Education (3)
Purdue University: Ph.D., Civil Engineering 2006
Purdue University: M.S., Civil Engineering 2004
Michigan Technological University: B.S., Civil Engineering 2002
Links (3)
News (4)
Pedestrian's risks and solutions for walking safety
The State News online
2023-11-23
Pedestrian safety is becoming a topic of concern as crashes involving pedestrians are on the rise.
E-Scooters Have Taken Over Many College Campuses. Now Scholars Are Studying the Phenomenon.
The Chronicle of Higher Education online
2019-09-20
Virginia Tech and Michigan State University recently announced research to collect and analyze real-time data on how the devices are being used.
Studying The Impacts Of Autonomous Vehicles On The Workforce
MSU Today online
2019-09-18
The research team includes J. Kevin Ford, professor in the Department of Psychology; John Verboncoeur, associate dean for research and graduate studies in the College of Engineering; Peter Savolainen, associate chair for graduate studies in the College of Engineering; and Troy Hale, professor of practice in the MSU School of Journalism.
Peter Savolainen: Are You An Excellent Driver?
360 Perspective online
2018-10-31
Peter Savolainen is a new MSU Foundation Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the College of Engineering.
Research Focus (1)
Road User Behavior
How traffic safety and operations are influenced by behavior in consideration of roadway and traffic characteristics
Dr. Savolainen’s research examines the fundamental nature of road user behavior, particularly how traffic safety and operations are influenced by behavior in consideration of roadway and traffic characteristics. His work in this area has provided important information as to how road user behavior changes in response to such roadway features as maximum speed limits, centerline/shoulder rumble strips, and red-light-running cameras at signalized intersections. His research has also advanced fundamental knowledge as to how roadway design, environmental factors, and in-vehicle distractions affect the risk of traffic crashes.
Journal Articles (8)
Evaluating Driver Response to Bridge Deck Warning Systems During Winter Weather Conditions
Transportation Research Record2024
Warning signs are often deployed at bridge overpasses during winter to warn motorists of potentially icy surface conditions on the bridge, although the effectiveness of these signs is questionable. One potential improvement to the standard signage methods is the bridge deck warning system (BDWS), which activates a flashing warning sign border or beacon when conditions warrant based on real-time weather and bridge surface data. However, BDWSs have not been broadly implemented in the United States, and consequently, their effectiveness as a safety countermeasure is not well established. To address this knowledge gap, a series of winter field evaluations were performed along three freeway bridge overpasses in Michigan to assess the effectiveness of various BDWS strategies as a speed reduction countermeasure for motorists approaching a potentially icy bridge.
Examining the Relationship between Connected Vehicle Driving Event Data and Police-Reported Traffic Crash Data at the Segment- and Event Level
Transportation Research Record2024
Police-reported crash data have been the de facto element used by the transportation agencies in developing and implementing traffic safety projects. This approach is reactive in nature and can lead to suboptimal investment decisions owing to inherent challenges in crash data analysis. Because of their large-scale and near real-time availability, connected vehicle (CV) driving event data have emerged as a promising means of addressing these challenges. This study utilized CV event data for three different event types, namely, acceleration, braking, and cornering at three severity levels (easy, normal, and harsh), to examine the viability of using these data in traffic safety analysis. The results showed a strong correlation between crash frequency and CV driving event frequency. CV event data also improved the goodness-of-fit of crash frequency models.
Effects of Speed Feedback Trailer Positioning and Police Enforcement on Vehicular Speeds in Freeway Work Zone Lane Closures
Transportation Research Record2024
This field study sought to evaluate select strategies for improving compliance with work zone speed limits, which included a speed feedback trailer (SFT) and active police enforcement.
Motor Vehicle Crashes Involving Railroad Crossing Signal Masts and Guardrails
Transportation Research Record2019 The installation of “active” warning devices, such as crossing signals and gates, is a principal element of state and federal railroad crossing safety programs, and their effectiveness in preventing vehicle–train collision is well documented. While most active crossings are occupied by trains only a few minutes each day, non-crashworthy items are frequently present at active crossings including crossing signal masts, crossing gate mechanisms, cantilever supports, and signal controller bungalows.
Examining Safety on Two-Lane and Multilane Highways in Consideration of Access Spacing
Transportation Research Record2019 Access management strategies, such as the introduction of minimum access point spacing criteria and turning movement restrictions, have been shown to be important elements in optimizing the operational and safety performance of roadway segments. The relationship between safety and these types of access policies is a complex issue, and the impacts of such features on traffic crashes is critical to the development of appropriate access management strategies.
Contrasting Crash-and Non-Crash-Involved Riders: Analysis of Data from the Motorcycle Crash Causation Study
Transportation Research Record2019 Motorcycle crashes and fatalities remain a significant public health problem as fatality rates have increased substantially as compared to other vehicle types in the United States. Analysis of causal factors for motorcycle crashes is often challenging given a lack of reliable traffic volume data and the fact that such crashes comprise a relatively small portion of all traffic crashes.
Analysis of Rural Interstate Fatality Rates in Consideration of Recent Increases in Maximum Statutory Speed Limits
Transportation Research Record2019 The relationship between traffic safety and speed limits has been an area of significant research. Since the repeal of the National Maximum Speed Law in 1995, states have full autonomy in establishing maximum statutory speed limits. Since 2001, at least 25 states have increased their maximum limits to speeds as high as 85 mph.
Safety analysis of interchange functional areas
Transportation Research Record2018 Limited access facilities, such as freeways and expressways, are generally designed to the highest standards among public roads. Consequently, these facilities demonstrate crash, injury, and fatality rates that are significantly lower than other road facility types. However, these rates are generally elevated in the immediate vicinity of interchanges because of increases in traffic conflicts precipitated by weaving, merging, and diverging traffic.
