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TÜV Rheinland Joins Quality control team for DOT’s safety pilot model deployment
Major Study to Assess Innovative safety technology in real-world environment
Boxborough, Mass. — December 16, 2011 — TÜV Rheinland’s Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) group is now part of the quality control team for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (US DOT) Connected Vehicle Safety Pilot project. The Safety Pilot is a research program to test reliability and safety of innovative technologies that allow vehicles to communicate with each other and traffic lights, work zones and other infrastructure elements to help prevent crashes.
The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute will deploy the Safety Pilot in Ann Arbor, Mich., using the wireless technology in everyday vehicles in a real-world environment from August 2012 to August 2013. Led by Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., the quality control team will ensure that every aspect of the program – from technology to communications – operates smoothly and safely.
“We will work with about 3,000 cars, trucks and transit vehicles equipped with devices that will alert drivers to road dangers and help them take action to avoid crashes,” said Sebastian Oertel, Director of Mobility for TÜV Rheinland. “This is a significant research program in its intent and scope, and TÜV Rheinland’s team is pleased to have an opportunity to help make our roads safer.”
The Safety Pilot seeks to understand how different types of motorists respond to safety messages in the real world. It is the second part of a two-part Connected Vehicle research initiative. The first part, Safety Pilot Driver Acceptance Clinics, identified how motorists responded to wireless safety devices in a controlled environment.
The Connected Vehicle Safety Pilot research program collects data to help National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) make a decision about the use of connected vehicle technology that is based on reliable and scientific information. NHTSA’s decision is expected to come in 2013 for light vehicles and in 2014 for heavy vehicles.
To learn more about TÜV Rheinland’s ITS, visit www.tuv.com/us. For more information about the Safety Pilot, visit www.its.dot.gov.
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About TÜV Rheinland
Founded in 1871, TÜV Rheinland is a global leader in independent testing, inspection, certification, and consulting services. The company inspects technical equipment, products and services; oversees projects; and helps to shape processes for U.S. companies seeking entry to worldwide markets. With 16,000 employees, TÜV Rheinland maintains a presence in approximately 500 locations in 61 countries. In addition, it encompasses an international network of approved labs, testing facilities and education centers, and its experts train people across a wide range of industries. For more information, visit www.tuv.com/us.