Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr Sjaan Koppel holds a PhD in Psychophysiology and is an Associate Professor at the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC).
Within this role, Sjaan leads the Behavioural Science team and is passionate about improving the safe mobility of vulnerable road users including: older road users, drivers with medical conditions and/or functional impairments, and child road users.
In a 2021 review - that analysed 50 years (and over 25,000 pieces) of road safety literature, Sjaan was recognised as the world's leading author on research related to “Old, child & vulnerable road users, driver clinical/mental condition, fatigue & sleepiness”.
Within her research, Sjaan uses many behavioural safety techniques including: questionnaires, neuropsychological assessments, interactive driving simulations, on-road driving assessments and naturalistic driving study [NDS] methodologies.
Sjaan is on the Board of Directors for the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM), is an elected member of the Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS), is an Associate Editor for the Traffic Injury Prevention (TIP) journal, is on the Scientific Program Committee for the TÜV SÜD Conference ‘Protection of Children in Cars' and is an invited member of Safe Kids Worldwide's 'Children in Automated Vehicles' Consortium.
Sjaan is also MUARC’s academic lead for the National Road Safety Partnership Program (NRSPP). The NRSPP’s mission is to empower Australian organisations through learning, sharing, and collaborating to develop evidence-based best practices to minimise workplace road trauma. Through its core government funding, NRSPP’s resources are made available to individuals and organisations:
Supervision interests
Pregnancy and motor vehicle travel
Mindfulness and road safety
Willingness to use emerging and future mobility modes
Workplace road safety
Child road users
Older road users
Fitness-to-drive
University Service
Associate Director, Behavioural Science (MUARC)
Baseline Road Safety Research Program Manager (MUARC)
Pre-Candidate Graduate Research Coordinator (MUARC)
Career Development Committee (MUARC)
Mental Health First Aid Officer (MUARC)
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
External positions
Chair of the Scientific Committee, Australasian Road Safety Conference
Nov 2023 → Oct 2024
President-Elect, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine
Oct 2023 → …
Member of the Executive Council , Australasian College of Road Safety Incorporated (ACRS)
May 2021 → Apr 2025
Member of the Review College, Fonds Voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek - Vlaandeen (Research Foundation-Flanders)
Jan 2021 → …
Member of the Scientific Program Committee, TÜV SÜD Conference Protection of Children in Cars
Aug 2017 → …
Associate Editor, Traffic Injury Prevention
May 2016 → …
Research area keywords
- Road Safety
- Mindfulness
- Vulnerable Road Users
- Child Road Users
- Older Road Users
- Workplace Road Safety
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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Smart vehicles: Supporting the safe mobility of drivers with dementia through innovative invehicle monitoring/driver assist systems
Oxley, J. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Koppel, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Charlton, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Fildes, B. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Brodtmann, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Collevecchio, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Stokes, K. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Darzins, P. J. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Morris, A. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Hogervorst, E. (Partner Investigator (PI)) & Babulal, G. (Partner Investigator (PI))
31/03/25 → 30/06/27
Project: Research
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Development of NORTISS: The National Occupational Road Transport Injury Surveillance System
Berecki-Gisolf, J. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Koppel, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), McDonald, H. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Collie, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Gray, S. (Chief Investigator (CI))
19/03/25 → 30/06/26
Project: Research
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Translation of Heavy Vehicle Toolbox Talks
Carslake, J. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Koppel, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Bailey, S. (Project Manager)
12/12/24 → 30/06/26
Project: Research
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National Road Safety Partnership Program: Supporting Australian businesses in developing a positive road safety culture
Carslake, J. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Koppel, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Charlton, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Muir, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Wragg, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Wishart, D. E. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Govias, K. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Rea, M. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Ireland, J. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Naidu, B. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Gunn, R. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Callaghan, B. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Howell, A. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Elliott, P. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Doukouris, K. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Fors, T. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Rutledge, B. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Lewis, I. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Landgren, F. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Brain, D. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Oeng, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Batson, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), McDonald, H. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Rivera Gonzalez, J. (Chief Investigator (CI))
16/04/24 → 31/01/26
Project: Research
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Development of an effective screening test to identify individuals in the early stages of dementia who are unfit to drive
Oxley, J. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Koppel, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Charlton, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Young, K. (Chief Investigator (CI))
Road Safety Trust (United Kingdom)
3/07/23 → 30/06/25
Project: Research
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Acceptability of virtual restraint fitting to extend the reach of child restraint fitting services: a pilot randomized controlled trial
Cooray, N., Ho, C., Dai, W., Szabo, R., Tailor, K., Maling, M., Chambers, J., Koppel, S., Bilston, L., Keay, L., Schwebel, D. & Brown, J., 2025, In: Traffic Injury Prevention. 26, 2, p. 146-155 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
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Are child and teenage occupants appropriately restrained while travelling in rideshare vehicles?
Koppel, S., Kaviani, F., Albanese, B., Mansfield, J., Baker, G. H., Connell, R., Sartin, E. B., Arbogast, K. B., Shannon, B., Ehsani, J. P., Zonfrillo, M. R. & Brown, J., Mar 2025, In: Journal of Transport & Health. 41, 13 p., 101987.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
1 Citation (Scopus) -
Assessing seatbelt use among pregnant drivers in Australia: correct seatbelt positioning, discomfort, knowledge and information sources
Koppel, S., Bugeja, L., Zou, X., McDonald, H., Lue, K.-A., Forman, J., Zonfrillo, M. R., Baker, G. H., Kidd, D. G., Cripton, P. A., Oyen, M., Viano, D. & Brown, J., Jul 2025, In: Journal of Safety Research. 93, p. 15-23 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Citations (Scopus) -
Cruising through concerns: Australian parents’ views on teen rideshare service use
Koppel, S., Baker, G. H., Kaviani, F., McDonald, H. & Lazarus, M., Jul 2025, In: Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour. 112, p. 188-206 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
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Exploring the effect of driver drowsiness on takeover performance during automated driving: an updated literature review
Pan, H., Logan, D. B., Stephens, A. N., Payre, W., Wang, Y., Peng, Z., Qin, Y. & Koppel, S., Jun 2025, In: Accident Analysis and Prevention. 216, 19 p., 108023.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile
Prizes
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Advancing Women’s Research Success (AWRS) Award
Koppel, S. (Recipient), 2013
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine A.J. Mirkin Service Award
Koppel, S. (Recipient), 5 Oct 2023
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine Fellow
Koppel, S. (Recipient), 22 Oct 2021
Prize: Election to learned society
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Australasian College of Road Safety Women in Road Safety Award
Koppel, S. (Recipient), 2 Oct 2024
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship - Industry
Koppel, S. (Recipient), 2010
Prize: Competitive Fellowships
Activities
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Pregnancy and Seatbelt Use. Invited presentation, Royal Hospital for Women, Sydney, Australia. 23 May 2025
Koppel, S. (Contributor)
23 May 2025Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
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Older Driver Safe Mobility: Balancing Independence and Road Safety. Invited presentation, SAFER Vehicle and Traffic Safety Centre, Gothenburg, Sweden. May 8th, 2025.
Koppel, S. (Contributor)
8 May 2025Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
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Driving Safety for Two: Study on the Correct Seatbelt Use During Pregnancy
Koppel, S. (Contributor)
27 Mar 2025Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
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Older Driver Safe Mobility. Invited presentation to the Federal Office of Road Safety. April 3rd 2025.
Koppel, S. (Contributor)
3 Apr 2025Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
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Driving Change: Dr Sjaan Koppel’s Journey as a Woman in Road Safety. Invited keynote speaker, Women in Road Safety Network, Australasian College of Road Safety. Online (Zoom). 7 March 2025.
Koppel, S. (Contributor)
7 Mar 2025Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
Press/Media
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What do people think about smartglasses? New research reveals a complicated picture
Kaviani, F., Koppel, S. & Lyall, B.
8/11/24
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Aussies admit to dangerous, antisocial smart glasses use
Kaviani, F., Koppel, S. & Lyall, B.
7/11/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Profile/Interview
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ACT's Light Rail Network well-designed, safety report finds
McDonald, H., Logan, D. & Koppel, S.
30/07/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Not so smart drivers
Koppel, S., Kaviani, F., McDonald, H., Peiris, A. S. & Zonfrillo, M.
5/07/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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The habit parents have putting their children in danger
Koppel, S., Kaviani, F., McDonald, H., Peiris, A. S. & Zonfrillo, M.
5/07/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Profile/Interview