The Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland (CARRS-Q) is establishing a panel of 5,000 Queensland households to assist our research into preventing accidents and improving road safety.
Following are some Frequently Asked Questions about the Independent Survey Panel in Road Safety (InSPiRS). If your question is not answered or you would like more information, please phone Andrea McCrindle on (07)3138 4873 or Angela Watson on (07)3138 4570, or email the InSPiRS team.
Why is CARRS-Q establishing InSPiRS, and why would I want to participate?
Do I need any special knowledge or attributes to participate?
Will I be identified in the results? Will my name or personal information be used?
What will be asked of me if I agree to participate? Are there any obligations?
What will the research be about?
Can I find out the results of any research I participate in?
Are any documents relating to InSPiRS available online?
Where can I find more information about CARRS-Q?
CARRS-Q hopes to gather a group of 5,000 Queensland households who would help with important road safety research by giving their opinions and sharing their knowledge of relevant issues from time to time. This group of Queenslanders will be called InSPiRS, the Independent Survey Panel in Road Safety.
Why is CARRS-Q establishing InSPiRS, and why would I want to participate?
We all know that the Queensland road toll is unacceptably high. CARRS-Q is funded by QUT and through your third party insurance to do research that will help reduce the number of people killed and injured on our roads. Your participation in InSPiRS will greatly assist us in this aim. You may also be reimbursed for taking part in many of the research projects.
Do I need any special knowledge or attributes to participate?
No. We are looking for a random sample of Queensland households.
Will I be identified in the results? Will my name or personal information be used?
No. Your name and personal information will be kept confidential, and you will not be identified in the research results.
What will be asked of me if I agree to participate? Are there any obligations?
We are asking people if they would be prepared to help with our research. If you agree, you may be contacted in future and asked to participate in specific research projects. There is no obligation to participate in any project and you may withdraw from the panel if you no longer wish for us to contact you.
In our research we use a variety of research methods, including face to face interviews and surveys by mail, online and over the phone. We may even invite you in to have a turn on our driving simulator!
What will the research be about?
The Centre conducts research on a variety of road safety topics, including:
- Drink & drug driving
- Aggressive driving and “road rage”
- Speeding
- Bicycle safety
- Young drivers
- Motorcyclists
- Rural and remote road users
Can I find out the results of any research I participate in?
The results of CARRS-Q’s research are published on our website in the form of academic papers, media releases and special reports. Articles citing our research may also appear in journals, newspapers and magazines. Participants will not be individually notified of the results of any research they participate in, but if you have an interest in a particular topic or research project, you may like to keep an eye on our website.
Are any documents relating to InSPiRS available online?
Yes - you can access the following documents here:
- Invitation to join the panel (PDF, 98KB)
- Initial questionnaire (PDF, 92KB)
- Signature page (PDF, 47KB)
Where can I find more information about CARRS-Q?
Established in 1996 as a joint venture initiative of the Queensland Government’s Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC) and QUT, the Centre’s brief is to undertake research and deliver education programs to improve road safety and reduce deaths and injuries.
As one of the few nationally recognised, university-based research Centres of its kind in Australia, CARRS-Q has emerged as one of the world leaders in accident research and road safety. It is now the second largest road safety research centre in Australia and takes the lead in research into social and behavioural factors which contribute to road safety.
For more information, please see About Us.
Thank you for your interest in InSPiRS, Queensland’s Independent Survey Panel in Road Safety. If you have any concerns or would like more information, please phone Andrea McCrindle on (07)3138 4873 or Angela Watson on (07)3138 4570, or email the InSPiRS team.
