Centre for Automotive Safety Research

Driving safety through research and innovation

At the Centre for Automotive Safety Research (CASR) we seek to understand the many factors contributing to road crashes, with the goal of eliminating harm from our road system.

CASR undertakes a broad range of road safety research and provides independent advice to government and industry. With a multidisciplinary team incorporating engineers, behavioural scientists, health researchers and data analysts, our expertise covers road user safety, safe infrastructure, vehicle technology and design, and speed management.

Our research approaches include at-scene road crash investigation and reconstruction, mass data analysis, countermeasure evaluation, vehicle impact testing, computer modelling and experimental studies.

Explore our research

CASR conducts high-quality research to inform rational decision-making in the development and implementation of road safety countermeasures.

Engage with us

Engage with us for expert research or consultancy to guide evidence-based policy or practice in the field of road safety.

Explore the Centre for Automotive Safety Research

Our experienced, multidisciplinary team seeks to understand how crashes and their resulting injuries are caused; and identify effective ways to eliminate harm on our roads. Based on this research, CASR regularly provides independent professional advice on road safety matters to government and non-government organisations in Australia and overseas.

Research capabilities Research capabilities
Research impact Research impact
Our people Our people
Our partners Our partners

Understanding crashes

CASR has decades of experience conducting research into road crashes, incorporating in-depth at-scene crash investigation, analysis of police-reported crash data, and examination of detailed injury data. Our program of at-scene crash investigation is one of the longest running in the world, providing an extensive database of very detailed crash information.

Event data recorders

More recently, CASR has commenced downloading data directly from the event data recorders (EDRs) of crash-involved vehicles. EDRs record various types of vehicle sensor data up to 5 seconds before an impact. By matching cases to police and hospital data, we can obtain unique insights into the relationship between vehicle inputs and crash injury outcomes. Our database now covers approximately 1,000 EDR cases.

Mental health and road safety

Our new mental health research program, led by a team of human factors experts including a clinical psychologist, focuses on understanding the impact of mental health disorders on crash causation as well as mental health functioning experienced after a crash. Our research draws on the use of unique detailed crash data sets and comprehensive discussions with road users following their involvement in a crash.

Countermeasure evaluation

CASR has considerable expertise in undertaking evaluations of road safety countermeasures, including infrastructure treatments, enforcement programs and penalties, and changes to training and licensing systems.

Vehicle testing

CASR performs pedestrian subsystem testing in accordance with Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) protocols in our lab at Kent Town. We also operate our own advanced equipment that can perform a wide range of standard and non-standard tests for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and connected and automated vehicles scenarios.

CASR has a considerable record of impactful research, with influence across the fields of vehicle safety, speed management, enforcement programs, licensing systems and road infrastructure.

Vehicle safety

CASR conducts research and advanced vehicle testing in state-of-the-art facilities, with a focus on investigating road crashes, injury prevention and future autonomous safety technologies. Our laboratory is operated by an experienced team with the technical expertise to advise on, design, conduct and adapt impact testing to suit any client’s requirements. Some of the organisations and companies we have collaborated with include:

the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP)
government authorities
vehicle manufacturers
bull-bar and other automotive component manufacturers
organisations with an interest in biomechanics.

Speed management

CASR has a long history of research into speed limits and their effect on safety. The reduction in urban speed limits across Australia was based on our research into travelling speed and the risk of casualty crashes.

Enforcement programs

CASR has conducted research into all types of road safety enforcement, including enforcement of laws related to speeding, driver distraction, impaired driving and restraint use. CASR has also provided expert input into the setting of road safety penalties.

Licensing systems

CASR has provided evidence-based reports that have guided the development of graduated licensing systems for driver of cars and motorcyclists across Australia and internationally. Research has also contributed to developing licence training programs and computerised hazard perception tests used in the licensing systems of multiple jurisdictions.

Road infrastructure

In addition to infrastructure treatment evaluations, CASR work on road infrastructure is currently focused on assisting with South Australia’s Network Safety Plan, which involves identifying high risk areas on the road network and prioritising investment to most effectively prevent future road trauma.

Associate Professor Jeremy Woolley

Director, Centre for Automotive Safety Research
Email: jeremy.woolley@adelaide.edu.au

Our team

Deputy Director: Associate Professor Matthew Baldock
CASR Business Manager: Leonie Witter
Vehicle Testing Laboratory Manager: Andrew van den Berg
Manager In-depth Crash Investigation: Dr James Thompson

CASR has a long-standing relationship with the State Government, undertaking an annual research program for the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) and the CTP Insurance Regulator. Our staff work closely with the State Government to ensure that our research provides the evidence they need to guide road safety policy and practice.

CASR also provides road safety research services to a variety of other clients. These include the Commonwealth, the various state and territory governments, local government, and Austroads, which represents the conglomeration of all transport departments across Australia and New Zealand. CASR also undertakes research for insurance groups, motoring clubs, industry (e.g., mining companies), and for the Lifetime Support Authority, who provide long term care for people seriously injured in road crashes.

Through our impact laboratory, CASR provides vehicle testing services for the Australasian New Car Assessment Program and provides testing services directly for vehicle manufacturers, assisting them with improving the safety of their vehicles.

Contact us

Centre for Automotive Safety Research

To enquire about contract research, consulting services or crash and vehicle testing, please contact us using the details below.

All initial queries should be directed to CASR Business Manager Leonie Witter, via email leonie.witter@adelaide.edu.au or phone: +61 8 8313 5997.

Location
Centre for Automotive Safety Research
Adelaide University
Ground Floor Engineering Annex, Gate 5, Frome Road, City Campus, Adelaide SA 5000

Phone: +61 8 8313 5997
Fax: +61 8 8232 4995

Email: leonie.witter@adelaide.edu.au

CASR Laboratory

We conduct all vehicle testing in our purpose-built CASR Laboratory. The lab can be contacted at:

Location
57 King William Street
Kent Town SA 5067

Phone: +61 8 8363 0555
Fax: +61 8 8363 0444