Marisa Auguste

Marisa Auguste is a Research Associate at the Connecticut Transportation Safety Research Center (CTSRC), part of the University of Connecticut. Her work focuses on social science research in transportation, particularly human behavior and equity. She analyzes state-wide data to identify vulnerable populations and crash risk factors. Current projects include studying cannabis use and driving, pandemic impacts on driver behavior, and pedestrian safety education.

Her research integrates sociology, psychology, and criminal justice theories, emphasizing behavioral modification. She authors the blog Drivers Behaving Badly, which explores traffic psychology and reaches international audiences. Professional interests extend to mobility barriers for teens, crash data linkage with public health metrics, and transportation equity.

Key research areas include pandemic traffic trends, cannabis/driving interactions, and pedestrian infrastructure improvements. She actively contributes to policy development through reports and guides like the Connecticut Pedestrian Safety Guide. Her work bridges behavioral science with public safety, advocating for evidence-based interventions to reduce traffic-related harms.