Ontario Ministry of Transportation – Road Safety Research Partnership Program
Funding Value and Duration
RSRPP projects take on average between one to three years to complete and typically do not exceed $50,000 per year in program funding. Selected partners must conduct applied road safety research using methodologies that the Ministry of Transportation cannot perform internally. This includes research that leverages any form of specialized equipment or resources such as private data sources, survey studies, simulator testing, or clinical expertise, as examples.
Overview
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) is pleased to announce that the 2023 call for proposals for the Road Safety Research Partnership Program (RSRPP) is now open. The RSRPP provides grant funding to researchers in the broader Ontario public sector, enabling them to contribute policy-relevant research to support Ontario’s efforts to improve transportation safety and keep the province among the safest jurisdictions in the world.
Eligibility Criteria
RSRPP research topics must have practical applications for improving road safety in Ontario. Proposed topics should address a current issue or opportunity for the provincial transportation system or its governing policies and programs. The following research questions are examples of road safety topics identified by MTO as areas of interest with a research need.
- How effective are novel digital assessment tools at determining fitness-to-drive?
- What is the risk, prevalence, and profile of impaired micromobility users?
- How prevalent is distracted driving among delivery service drivers who use active transportation and mobile phones to carry out their duties? How do job demands interact with or influence dangerous mobile phone use behaviour while on the road?
- How are emerging transportation technologies such as micromobility devices impacting Ontarians with disabilities?
- What are the opinions and perceptions among Ontario police officers regarding traffic law enforcement, penalties, and provincial court processes?
- Does the use of advance driver assistance systems (ADAS) negatively impact driving skills or driver behaviour over time?
- What are the most effective ‘safe system’ designs for cyclist crossings at high-speed ramps and interchanges with minimal disruption to vehicular traffic?
- What are the in-transit safety risks for passengers on public buses? How do factors like crowding, seating, passenger position, and interior design elements affect injury risk?
- Applicants may submit research proposals on topics that are not represented in the list above. Proposals must include clear descriptions of the research need and applications of the results.
Internal Contacts
Potential applicants are encouraged to discuss this funding opportunity with their Faculty Research Facilitator.
Additional Resources
Deadlines
| Faculty Deadline | Consult your Faculty Research Facilitator. |
| OVPRII Deadline (Approval Form and Application) | January 31, 2025 |
| Submission to Sponsor | February 7, 2025 by 23:59 EST |
Submitting Your Application
- If you intend to submit an application, please contact Miky Dumitrescu, Senior Advisor, Development, ROADS, at dumitrm@mcmaster.ca, ASAP for the Program Guide and application form. Please direct any specific inquiries to RSRPP@ontario.ca.