TRAVL invites TRB attendees to explore the stressed-out side of driving

Simulation world.

Published January 5, 2026

With direct support from the Stephen Still Institute for Sustainable Transportation and Logistics, a team of researchers from the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering (CSEE) will showcase their studies on the challenges young and new drivers face when navigating traffic, developed at the Transportation Research and Visualization Laboratory (TRAVL).

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“If you ever wondered what goes on in the mind of an anxious driver such as, where they look, how they react and what can be done about it, this session is for you. ”
Irina Benedyk, Assistant Professor
Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering

To understand the complex factors of anxiety behind the wheel, CSEE researchers are presenting data collected from human subjects research using virtual reality, driving simulations, test surveys, interviews and mixed-method approaches. 

Gongda Yu using the driving simulator.

Driving simulator.

The topic of session number 2071 will be “Driver Learning and Competency Throughout the Lifespan.

Within that session, there will be three posters presented:

  • TRBAM-26-00940: A Virtual Reality-Based Investigation of Driving Anxiety in Young Drivers
  • TRBAM-26-02495: Driving Anxiety and Visual Attention in Young Drivers: A Driving Simulator Study
  • TRBAM-26-00004: Driving Anxiety in Young Drivers: A Mixed-Methods Study of Factors and Pathways to Enhance Safety and Quality of Life

The research is led by Dr. Irina Benedyk, assistant professor in CSEE, and Dr. Austin Angulo, assistant professor in CSEE, alongside Ye Wang, PhD researcher in CSEE, and Dr. Gongda Yu, AECOM ITS Engineer and University at Buffalo graduate.

“If you ever wondered what goes on in the mind of an anxious driver such as, where they look, how they react and what can be done about it, this session is for you,” says Dr. Benedyke.

The transportation research will be presented on Monday, January 12, 2026, from 10:30am to 12:15pm at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The session is open invitation, and attendees are welcome to stop by to discuss the future of driver safety.