Driving Safety Research Institute

The University of Iowa’s longstanding leadership in driving simulation research was on full display last week at NASA-Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, California. NASA hosted a major workshop on “Lunar Autonomy Mobility” for the South Pole Pathfinder/Rover project, where the University of Iowa was represented by current and former faculty, researchers, and alumni.

Podcast host Peggy Smedley and Dan McGehee, director of the Driving Safety Research Institute, discuss distracted driving research, physiological changes that happen with smartphones, and the most dangerous type of distraction.

Omar Ahmad, deputy director of DSRI, will be awarded the prestigious 2025 Board of Regents Staff Excellence Award for his exceptional leadership, dedication, and contributions to the University of Iowa, the state, and the broader research community.

The Driving Safety Research Institute works with students from across the country, and learn about their research on assessing driver monitoring systems, understanding of advanced driver assistance systems, connected simulation, and new features to miniSim in our 2024 Year in Review.

The University of Iowa recently completed a research project on a self-driving van. Specifically, it’s looking at how these automated vehicles could work in rural parts of the state.

The University of Iowa Driving Safety and Research Institute recently completed a research project to help rural America. The project hopes to combat challenges facing rural communities across Iowa and the nation.