James Thompson

Dr James Thompson

Grant-Funded Researcher (B)

Centre for Automotive Safety Research

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.


Dr James Thompson has been a Research Fellow at the Centre for Automotive Safety Research (CASR) since 2015. He is part of the in-depth crash investigation team at CASR and has recently worked on projects examining rear-end crashes, road safety in regional and remote areas, the safety of trains at passive level crossings and road trauma involving motorcyclists. He received his PhD from the University of Adelaide in 2014 for a thesis examining the road safety and mobility of older drivers who live in rural areas compared to those who live in urban areas.

My research largely falls within the human behaviour side of road safety and I have recently worked on projects examining rear-end crashes, road safety in regional and remote areas, the safety of trains at passive level crossings, road trauma involving motorcyclists and collisions between older pedestrians and motor vehicles.

I am available to supervise students for Honours and HDR programs. Students will be able to develop projects within the many areas of road user behavioural research. These include, but are not limited to, distraction (e.g., mobile phone use), the association between mental health and crashes (as a cause and consequence of crash involvement), road safety education, hazard perception abilities, cognitive and functional testing for relicensing, safety and mobility of older and younger drivers, the association of fatigue and crashes, and risky driving behaviour (alcohol/drug use, speeding).

  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2023 - 2026 Member of the Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology Lower Risk Human Research Ethics Committee University of Adelaide
    2015 - ongoing Research Fellow University of Adelaide
    2014 - 2015 Research Assistant University of South Australia
    2011 - 2011 Psychology 2 Tutor University of Adelaide
    2011 - 2014 Research Assistant University of New South Wales
    2009 - 2014 Postgraduate Student University of Adelaide
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    2009 - 2014 The University of Adelaide Australia PhD
    2007 - 2007 The University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Health Sciences (Hons)
    2004 - 2006 The University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Arts
  • Research Interests

2023 Vehicle speeds through ACT school zones

2023 A survey of cyclist travel and crash experiences in the ACT

2021 Road Safety Community Grants Program - Older pedestrian crashes in the ACT

2021 Road Safety Innovation Fund - In-depth no-blame investigation of crashes involving trucks

  • Position: Grant-Funded Researcher (B)
  • Phone: 83130917
  • Email: james.thompson@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 82324995
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Engineering Annex, floor 1
  • Org Unit: Centre for Automotive Safety Research

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