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)
External positions
President, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine
Oct 2025 → …
President-Elect, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine
Nov 2023 → Oct 2025
Chair of the Scientific Committee, Australasian Road Safety Conference
Nov 2023 → Oct 2024
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
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):
-
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 15 Life on Land -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
-
Baseline Research program: Victorian Road Safety Futures-Horizon Scan and Mid-Term Strategy Evaluation (2026–2030)
Koppel, S. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Logan, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Muir, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Batson, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Zou, X. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Newstead, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Balakrishnan, S. P. (Project Manager)
30/09/25 → 30/06/27
Project: Research
-
A standardised inventory for measuring and monitoring the state of Australia's safety culture: Development, validation and a longitudinal testing
Haghani, M. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Koppel, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Bailey, S. (Project Manager)
13/06/25 → 30/03/27
Project: Research
-
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. P. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Hogervorst, E. (Partner Investigator (PI)) & Babulal, G. (Partner Investigator (PI))
31/03/25 → 30/06/27
Project: Research
-
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
-
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
-
A legislative analysis for enhancing safety for people who drive light vehicles for work in Victoria, Australia
Batson, A., McDonald, H., Logan, D. & Koppel, S., Jun 2026, In: Case Studies on Transport Policy. 24, 14 p., 101746.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
-
Exploring factors influencing user Re-ride intentions in shared autonomous shuttle vehicles
Sheykhfard, A., Azmoodeh, M., Das, S., Ye, X. & Koppel, S., Jan 2026, In: Transport Policy. 175, 13 p., 103894.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus) -
Eye-tracking and visual processing tests for assessing driving ability in individuals with dementia and mild cognitive impairment: A pilot study
Begde, A., Hogervorst, E., Wilcockson, T., Gyi, D., Fildes, B., Charlton, J. L., Oxley, J., Koppel, S. & Morris, A., Jun 2026, In: Journal of Transport and Health. 49, 11 p., 102301.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Scales and inventories in traffic psychology
Taheri Sarteshnizi, I., Haslam, N., Koppel, S., Rajabifard, A., Nassir, N. & Haghani, M., Mar 2026, In: Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour. 118, 35 p., 103541.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
The effectiveness of mandating supervised driving practice requirements on improving road safety outcomes for learner drivers: A systematic review
Koppel, S., McDonald, H., Gonzalez, J. R., Batson, A., Bates, L., Senserrick, T., Oxley, J. & Newstead, S., Jun 2026, In: Journal of Safety Research. 97, p. 307-318 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
Prizes
-
Advancing Women’s Research Success (AWRS) Award
Koppel, S. (Recipient), 2013
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine A.J. Mirkin Service Award
Koppel, S. (Recipient), 5 Oct 2023
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine Fellow
Koppel, S. (Recipient), 22 Oct 2021
Prize: Election to learned society
-
Australasian College of Road Safety Women in Road Safety Award
Koppel, S. (Recipient), 2 Oct 2024
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship - Industry
Koppel, S. (Recipient), 2010
Prize: Competitive Fellowships
Activities
-
Keeping Children Safe on the Road: Emerging Evidence from Pregnancy to Adolescence. Invited presentation, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Philadelphia, USA, 16 March 2026.
Koppel, S. (Contributor)
16 Mar 2026Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
-
Age Is Not Risk: Understanding Older Driver Safety Through Behaviour, Adaptation, and Naturalistic Evidence. Invited presentation, Industrial & Operations Engineering (IOE) Seminar Series, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA, 12 March 2026.
Koppel, S. (Contributor)
12 Mar 2026Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
-
Canadian LeadHERs in Road Safety Meeting Women in Road Safety: Participation, Pathways, Progress and Persistent Barriers. Invited presentation, Canadian LeadHERs in Road Safety Meeting, 26 March 2026.
Koppel, S. (Contributor)
26 Mar 2026Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
-
When Safety Contexts Change: Behavioural Risks from Pregnancy to Adolescent Mobility. Invited presentation, University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), Ann Arbor, USA, 12 March 2026.
Koppel, S. (Contributor)
11 Mar 2026Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
-
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
-
Seatbelt use among pregnant drivers
14/04/25 → 8/08/25
9 items of Media coverage, 4 Media contributions
Press/Media: Article/Feature
-
-
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
-
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
-
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