ITE Journal - June 2021 - 24

| member to member

Building a Safety Legacy

Brian Chandler,
P.E., PTOE, RSP2IB, PMP
National Director for Transportation Safety,
DKS Associates, Seattle, WA, USA
Education
B.S., Civil Engineering,
University of Missouri-Columbia
ITE Awards and Experience
Co-Chair, ITE Washington Safety
Conference Committee, 2018-present
ITE Transportation Safety Council
Executive Committee, 2011-present
President and Co-founder,
Central Missouri Chapter, 2006-2007
State Director, Missouri Valley Section
(MOVITE), 2009-2010
2008 MOVITE Young Transportation
Professional of the Year
Professional Involvement
Washington State Autonomous Vehicle Work
Group - Safety Subcommittee, Health &
Equity Subcommittee
ITS Washington

Fun Fact: Brian recently started playing a
lot of tabletop games, and in doing so has
learned that the accessibility issues he's
written about for ITE ( " Grey Means Go: Colorblindness in Transportation, " ITE Journal,
March 2021) exist everywhere. He reviews
board games, modifies games for colorblind players, and talks with designers and
publishers to discuss how their games can
be more accessible. You can follow Brian's
efforts at www.colorblindgames.com.
24

J u ne 2021

i te j o urnal

ITE JOURNAL: It's clear from your experience you are passionate about safety. Why is
this issue so important to you both personally and professionally?
CHANDLER: My career has been safety-focused because saving lives continues to motivate
me. I believe our industry has the ability and responsibility to make transportation safer
for all users, and we have the tools to approach zero fatalities. I've had the good fortune of
working with hundreds of incredible professionals over the years, at Missouri DOT, the
Federal Highway Administration, Leidos, and now at DKS. One of those people was Tempe
Humphrey, Missouri DOT's Younger Driver Safety program manager. Tempe was killed in
a roadway crash-a tragedy for her family, friends, and coworkers-and a stark reminder
that this work is personal. It matters to the lives of real people and their loved ones. It
matters to me.
ITEJ: You have been involved in various projects that focus on safety. What are some of the
basic ingredients that help make these projects successful?
CHANDLER: Three main ingredients are required for successful safety efforts: understanding the problem, focusing on implementation, and building a safety legacy through policy.
Impactful safety projects and programs begin with understanding the problem. Evidencedbased problem ID often starts with crash reports, but it should not end there. Safety risk
goes well beyond reported crashes, to roadway conditions and unreported incidents. We
now have exciting new data sets to support preventive risk ID, including video analytics and
connected vehicle outputs.
To encourage implementation of a particular safety project or program, I spend less time
these days trying to change hearts and minds. Instead, I try to talk less, listen more, and
find allies in the room. They may care most about traffic flow, aesthetics, or environmental
benefits, so I will align with the strongest arguments to move the project forward, if I know
one outcome will be improved safety. I know one outcome will be a safer intersection.
For long-term safety impact, no single project or program is as valuable or long lasting as
established policies. This is how I see safety culture: we must embed safety into everything
we do-transportation planning and analysis, design, construction, operations, and
maintenance-to build a safer system.
ITEJ: Why did you pursue the Road Safety Professional (RSP) certification? Any words of
advice for others wishing to pursue this professional milestone?
CHANDLER: Like any registration or certification, the RSP
certification provides an indication of interest and competency in
transportation safety. While I have " safety " in my job title, most
people working as safety professionals do not. The RSP Level 1
provides a chance to show safety interest to others in the industry.
Given my daily work in this area, the RSP Level 2 allows me to
quickly communicate that focus-in my resume, email signature,
and online profiles. My background includes work in both
Infrastructure and Behavioral areas, so pursuing both certifications was valuable for my career. I am proud to have participated
in the first cohort for both levels, and to have earned my RSP2IB.
I highly encourage anyone interested in the RSP certification to
pursue it. The RSP can be a professional's first certification, and it
could start them on a path to making their community safer. itej

http://www.colorblindgames.com

ITE Journal - June 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ITE Journal - June 2021