Restrictions to Access

No restrictions. Open for research.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], in the Highway Safety Research Center of the University of North Carolina (System) Records #40114, University Archives, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Acquisitions Information

Periodic transfer from the offices that create these records.

Sensitive Materials Statement

Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.

The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.

Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.

These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.

• Automobiles--Seat belts.
• Campbell, B. J. (Bob J.)
• Research institutes--North Carolina.
• Traffic safety--Research.
• Traffic safety--Study and teaching--North Carolina.
• Universities and colleges--North Carolina--History--20th century.
• University of North Carolina (System). Highway Safety Research Center.
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill--History.

• Office of the Provost Records (#40039)
• Office of the Assistant/Associate Provost for Educational and Support Services Records (#40041)

The University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center (HSRC) was established by an act of the 1965 North Carolina General Assembly. In a Special Message on Traffic Safety, Governor Dan Moore specified the mission of HSRC: to evaluate the effectiveness of operational state safety programs, conduct research, and provide training for traffic safety professionals. Established as a multidisciplinary agency, the HSRC was also charged with identifying highway safety problems, recommending solutions, and making this information available to decision-makers at the state and national levels. Dr. B. J. Campbell became the HSRC's first director in 1966.

Research projects undertaken since the Center was established include studies on motorcycles, seat belts, driver licensing and driver improvement, motor vehicle inspection, police traffic services, driver and safety education, drinking and driving, and various accident analyses. In addition to its research, the HSRC operated the Injury Prevention Research Center jointly with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention.

Initially the HSRC was administered through General Administration of the University of North Carolina (System). In March 1968, it was placed under the administrative control of the Office of the Provost at UNC-Chapel Hill. For several years, it reported directly to the Associate Provost for Educational and Support Services. In December 1990, administrative oversight was transferred to the Associate Provost and Dean of Research. Later (1993?), HSRC became the administrative responsibility of the Vice Provost for Health Affairs. In 2003, it began reporting to the Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development.

Records include correspondence of former Highway Research Center director, B. J. Campbell, and several research reports on seat belt safety.