Lifesavers Conference Names Stephen Onyeukwu of MIE a "2026 Lifesavers Traffic Safety Scholar"
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Stephen Onyeukwu, a graduate student from Lagos, Nigeria, pursuing a degree in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at UMass Amherst, has been named as a 2026 Lifesavers Traffic Safety Scholar, an honor that will enable him to participate in the Lifesavers Conference on Roadway Safety, from April 19 to 21, in Baltimore, Maryland. The conference is the largest gathering in the United States focused exclusively on traffic safety.
The Lifesavers Conference brings together professionals and advocates dedicated to reducing deaths and injuries on the nation’s roadways through education, innovation, and collaboration.Onyeukwu is one of 22 Lifesavers Traffic Safety Scholars chosen nationwide for the honor.
“We are excited to have Stephen attend the Lifesavers Conference as a scholar,” says Michele J. Mount, Lifesavers Conference Executive Director. “The selection process is very competitive, and Stephen’s application set him apart from other applicants.”
Onyeukwu, who does his research in the lab of MIE Professor Anuj K. Pradhan, describes himself as “a second-year Ph.D. student in Industrial Engineering. My research lies at the intersection of human factors and transportation safety. I am particularly interested in the influence of vehicle technologies and advanced automation on the safety of road users. I study driver behavior to understand how people engage with these technologies on the road. I am also interested in the safety of vulnerable road users. Ultimately, the driving force behind my research is to reduce road crashes and improve mobility outcomes for all road users.”
One example of Onyeukwu’s research is his data collection for a study on “Assessing and Calibrating Teen Drivers’ Risk Perceptions About Cannabis-Impaired Driving,” a study done at Longmeadow High School using the UMass Amherst Human Performance Lab “Distractology”Driving Simulator and special goggles that imitate the influence of cannabis.
“It was fascinating and eye-opening to see how teens felt about ‘driving high’ before and after experiencing the simulation,” says Onyeukwu. “Using THC goggles [which simulate the effects of cannabis], we helped them safely experience how cannabis can affect perception and reaction time. Seeing their reactions and hearing their reflections reminded me why this work matters — helping young drivers understand risk through experience, not just information.”
During the study, Onyeukwu was featured on Western Mass News to discuss his experimental approach for the study and on WWLP-22 News to cover the outreach event and its message on safe driving.
Onyeukwu earned his B.S. in Industrial and Production Engineering from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria.
According to its press release, “The Lifesavers Traffic Safety Scholars and Fellows Program offers undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to participate in the nation’s premier roadway-safety conference. Onyeukwu will join 25 other students (three fellows and 22 scholars) for three days of learning and networking with nearly 2,000 traffic-safety leaders. Fellows are returning scholars who lead a cohort of scholars (first-time recipients) as they navigate the robust schedule of events.”
The release notes that, during the three-day conference, fellows and scholars will attend two plenary sessions, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Service Awards Luncheon, a technology-focused general session, and nine workshops from the more than 85 offered on topics such as impaired driving, pedestrian and bicycle safety, vehicle technology, public health,and roadway design. (April 2026)