Driving Safety Research Institute | The University of Iowa

Our Mission

We aim to make roads safer by researching the connection between humans and vehicles. We are home to the National Advanced Driving Simulator, and we now have a new name for our broader institute: the Driving Safety Research Institute.

About Us

Participate

Participate in one of our studies, or join our registry to get notified about new studies.

Rose Schmitt and John Gaspar in NADS-1 control room

Our Research

We partner with researchers around the world to study the connection between humans and vehicles.

The 24-foot NADS-1 simulator is on a six-legged base that rotates up to 330° and moves across the 64-foot square bay floor to simulate driving motions such as accelerating, lane changing, and skidding. There are 23 brakes on the large crossbeam that spans the room, while 42 hydrostatic bearings ride on a thin film of oil across smooth metal belts.

Our Tech

Simulators and Vehicles miniSim

News

The Hazards of Distracted Driving: McGehee on Iowa Public Radio

Friday, March 10, 2023

Iowa Public Radio

One in 5 crashes in Iowa are caused by distracted driving. Our director, Dan McGehee talks on Iowa Public Radio's River to River about the hazards of distracted driving.

Elon Musk has promised self-driving Teslas for years. Experts say it's not even close.

Monday, February 27, 2023

This Business Insider article discussed the future of autonomous vehicles with comments from University of Iowa Driving Safety Research Institute director, Daniel McGehee.

ADS for Rural America Ford transit on rural road

ADS for Rural America: Lessons learned so far

Monday, February 20, 2023

As of fall 2022, we're more than halfway done with our 2.5-year ADS for Rural America Project. The development of any new technology requires lessons learned along the way. This article explores the lessons we have learned in the first half of this U.S. DOT-funded demonstration project.

An alternative to touchscreens? In-car voice control is finally good

Thursday, February 16, 2023

Ars Technica

This Ars Technica article features commentary from University of Iowa Driving Safety Research Institute director, Daniel McGehee.

Stefan Plaettner stands by the viewing window of the NADS-1 simulator

DSRI welcomes Fulbright scholar Stefan Plaettner

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Join us in welcoming Stefan Plaettner, visiting Fulbright scholar from the Technical University of Dresden to the University of Iowa Driving Safety Research Institute (DSRI).

Recording available for webinar 3: Rider and safety driver experience

Friday, February 3, 2023

ADS for Rural America project website

A recording is now available of our third webinar on our ADS for Rural America project, which included video interviews of past riders, results of rider surveys (including their anxiety levels and perceptions of the technology), as well as safety driver experience and perceptions.

Automated shuttle bus on rural Iowa road

ADS for Rural America

Learn more about our Automated Driving Systems (ADS) for Rural America project, which is now driving a partially-automated shuttle bus through Iowa City, Hills, Riverside, and Kalona, Iowa.

Tour our tech

Take a 360 degree virtual tour of our facility, and learn more about our technology and expertise.