Behavioural Science
Led by Associate Professor Sjaan Koppel, the Behavioural Science team applies innovative, transdisciplinary approaches to understand complex human behaviour and develop practical, evidence-based safety solutions. The team’s work spans all transport modes and extends across workplace, home, and community safety contexts. Guided by national safety priorities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, their research is translated into policy and practice to promote safer environments and enhance wellbeing across the life course.
Recognised nationally as Australia’s leading research group focused on safe mobility for older adults, people with medical conditions, and children, the team demonstrated strong research impact throughout 2025.
Major projects
A major highlight was the release of a national study examining seatbelt use among pregnant drivers in Australia. The research identified significant safety concerns related to incorrect seatbelt positioning during collisions, attracting substantial national media attention and leading to an international collaboration with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to extend this work in the United States.
A further major contribution was the publication of findings from the Young Novice Australian Naturalistic Driving Study (YANDS), a nationally significant collaborative project involving multiple universities and road safety agencies. As one of the largest real-world investigations of early driving behaviour in Australia, the study provides unprecedented insights into novice driver risk exposure, behavioural adaptation, and safety-critical events during the first months of licensure. The findings are expected to play an important role in shaping evidence-based graduated licensing policies and targeted interventions to reduce crash risk among young drivers.
The team partnered with MUARC’s Injury Analysis and Data team, with funding from Austroads, to design and undertake an evaluation of the National Heavy Vehicle Driver Competency Framework. In collaboration with the Human Factors and Sustainable Safety team, the team led a systematic review of the safety outcomes associated with the requirements of the graduated licensing system for Transport and Main Roads (Queensland). A new international collaboration with the University of Melbourne is also underway, examining road safety culture across different countries to better understand how cultural, regulatory, and system-level factors influence road user behaviour and safety outcomes.
Within the workplace road safety domain, the team published findings from the Baseline Research Program that demonstrate how a strong organisational safety culture can foster safer road behaviours. This work provides practical insights to improve work-related road safety in both the light commercial vehicle sector and the rapidly expanding gig economy. The research led to an invited presentation for the Institute for Safety, Compensation and Recovery Research (ISCRR).
Funding partners
The team is further leading several major projects for Victorian road safety partners. These include a comprehensive research program on the management of medically and functionally unfit drivers, and a horizon-scanning initiative to identify emerging trends, risks, and opportunities likely to shape the future road safety landscape in Victoria.
Team milestones
Associate Professor Sjaan Koppel was appointed President of the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine and received the 2025 Kidsafe Victoria Champion Award in recognition of her longstanding contribution to child occupant protection.
Student success
During 2025, PhD student Inam Ahmed submitted her thesis, Briony Kennedy was awarded her PhD, and visiting PhD student Hengyan Pan returned to Chang’an University after completing a 12-month research placement at MUARC funded by the China Scholarship Council.
Impact
Across the year, the team co-authored 23 peer-reviewed publications through national and international collaborations and presented research at conferences throughout Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
With expertise spanning questionnaire development, neuropsychological assessment, naturalistic driving methodologies, longitudinal research, scientometric analysis, and systematic review methods, the Behavioural Science team delivers rigorous, data-driven insights. Through strong partnerships with government, industry, and academia, including engagement via the National Road Safety Partnership Program, the team continues to influence policy, shape safer systems, and reduce injury risk across multiple sectors.