Ryan C. Smith Email & Phone Number

Like many others, my life has been greatly impacted by the harm and loss of life resulting from traffic crashes on our nation’s roadways. My professional career is dedicated to applying science, research, and data to reduce this harm and promote traffic safety. My specializations are statistics, applied field methodologies, advanced vehicle technologies, health, and driver impairment resulting from alcohol, prescription, over-the-counter, and illicit drugs. This includes significant focus on the effects of cannabis (i.e., marijuana) on driver performance, as well as the effects of cannabis legalization and decriminalization on traffic outcomes.I currently serve as a Transportation Research Analyst in the Office of Research and Engineering at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). In this capacity, I have the privilege of serving as a technical expert in the domains of drug impairment, health, human performance, and statistical analysis. My primary responsibilities are to conduct safety research studies, support crash investigations, and provide technical assistance within my areas of expertise. I joined the NTSB in 2019 as a Project Manager and Senior Accident Investigator in the Office of Highway Safety before joining the Office of Research and Engineering in 2021. Prior to joining the NTSB, I was previously employed as a Research Scientist at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute where I founded the institute’s impaired driving research group. My key duties included leading research proposals, developing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, writing scientific and technical research reports, managing research expenditures and staffing, disseminating research findings, supervising all aspects of research projects, and leading a diverse staff of psychologists, engineers, sociologists, statisticians, and other public health professionals. As PI or Co-PI, I was awarded approximately $5M of competitive research from key sponsors such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, National Academies of Science, and a variety of proprietary industry sponsors.

Listed skills include Research, Substance Abuse Prevention, Statistics, Grant Writing, and 21 others.