Feedback on the CARSP/ACIP 2026 Conference

Robert Colonna

CARSP 2026 was a fantastic conference with many new faces. I especially enjoyed Morris Green’s presentation on the “Manosphere of Road Safety,” which highlighted the GuysWork programs and their efforts to engage young men in road safety conversations. The off-road vehicle panel was another highlight, with each speaker bringing a unique perspective through different off-road crash case studies. The ferry and walking tours were also great options that added to the overall conference experience. Looking forward to next year! 

Emily McCullogh  

The 2026 CARSP conference was full of inspiring professionals and researchers dedicated to ensuring all road users can travel safely.

Of particular note was Dr. Kirk Magee’s presentation about off-road vehicle collisions. The culture of off-road vehicles continues to normalize impaired driving without protective gear (e.g., helmets). While off-road vehicle collisions are unlikely to impact conventional roadways, the normalization of injury-causing behaviours offers an opportunity to reflect on the behaviour of road users as a whole and how we can focus our collective efforts.

I congratulate the CARSP Conference committee and incoming executive director Kim Henry for organizing another successful conference!

Missy Rudin-Brown

The 2026 CARSP conference was excellent! It was an opportunity to connect with new and old like-minded colleagues in a beautiful Canadian setting in downtown Halifax. It really gave me the booster shot I needed in my ongoing career as a transportation safety researcher and investigator.

One activity that I found very interesting and rewarding was the ‘Professions in Road Safety: Discover & Connect’ session sponsored by the Young Professionals’ Committee (YPC). Designed to give students and young professionals the opportunity to connect with more “seasoned” road safety professionals in a relaxed, informal setting, the session was a real highlight for me, too, as one of the “seasoned” professionals. We were grouped according to work domain (government, industry / consulting, and research / policy) and provided time to give an overview of our careers, so far. What followed were many open and engaging conversations between attendees and professionals where they (hopefully) gained insight into different career types in road safety and some of the challenges they might encounter. It (and the young professionals’ and 'young at heart' networking event that followed at the nearby Loose Moose pub) was a very effective way of connecting new and old. Thank you, YPC, for inspiring and sponsoring this event!

Mackenzie McKeown

Attending the CARSP 2026 conference was an incredibly rewarding experience. As a researcher who spends a lot of time behind a computer, the opportunity to step away, connect with colleagues and friends in person, and engage with the broader road safety community was incredibly refreshing. Before the conference even started, I had organized the Young and Young-at-Heart mixer, the student poster competition, and the mentee/mentor program. The mixer was a particular highlight - even with the rain and the steep walk - the evening turned out to be a success. In many ways, it felt a lot like research: things do not always go as planned, but with a little flexibility, persistence, and a great group of people, the outcome can be even better than expected. 

 I also had the opportunity to present two research projects: Driving Under the Influence of Cannabis Edibles and Examining the Effectiveness of a Driver Training Program in Young Novice Drivers in Saskatchewan. The thoughtful discussions that followed both presentations were intellectually stimulating and left me feeling inspired to continue this work.

 Most importantly, CARSP reminded me how fortunate I am to be part of such a dedicated and collaborative road safety community. Connecting with researchers, industry professionals, police and RCMP, advocacy groups, people with lived and living experience, and government representatives from across Canada, all working toward a shared goal of Vision Zero, was both motivating and fulfilling. Conferences may be a lot of work, but they provide an invaluable opportunity to reconnect with the people, purpose, and community behind the research.