Safety

Driver inattention is recognized as a factor in a large proportion of traffic accidents. In
these cases, when the driver is not driving with sufficient care and the vehicle is
approaching a forward obstacle, an appropriate collision warning is an effective way of
avoiding an accident and mitigating the severity of the collision. However, a warning
that is given too early may also annoy drivers who are driving carefully.
Therefore, a new pre-crash safety (PCS) system has been developed with an advanced
forward collision warning function. The new system is now provided with a driver
monitoring sensor that detects the facial direction and  degree of eye opening of the
driver, and gives warning at an earlier timing only when the vehicle is likely to collide
with a forward obstacle and the driver is unaware of its presence.
This PCS system has been realized with a high level of precision to reduce the number of
nuisance warnings. This paper describes the configuration and functions of the new PCS
system with a driver-monitoring sensor.

TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION, Japan

AISIN SEIKI CO., LTD., Japan

Presented at the 15th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems, November 16-20, 2008, New York, New York

The authors are developing a service supporting safe driving  in merging sections using
cooperative vehicle-highway systems, with merging sections on the Metropolitan Expressway
as their field of operations. Trials were conducted on public roads configured with the basic
scheme for advanced cruise-assist highway system (AHS) service to support safe driving in
merging sections, opinions of test subjects were collected, the driving behavior of test subjects
was ascertained, and possibilities for eventual practical application were verified.

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan

Advanced Cruise-Assist Highway System Research Association (AHSRA)

Presented at the 15th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems, November 16-20, 2008, New York, New York

In the Federal Republic of Germany a high level of safety in road traffic has been reached. In the future it is a matter of maintaining this level of safety as traffic flow continues to increase. During the last few years vehicle based systems contributed to an essential portion of the rise in road safety. Now co-operating systems such as car-to-infrastructure systems have come into focus to investigate the further potentials for an increase of the road safety.
These potentials can be determined by analysing accident data and in particular accident costs. Another important fact is the evaluation of economic characteristics for each of the telematic applications. Hence, the ascertained potentials can be confronted with existing and conceivable telematic systems and new approaches for ITS relevant to road safety.

Institut f. Automation und Kommunikation e.V. Magdeburg

University of Kassel, Department of Traffic Engineering and Transport Logistics

Presented at the 15th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems, November 16-20, 2008, New York, New York

Tunnels are sensitive road segments in the road network. The singularity of the tunnels
presents characteristics such as closed environment, artificial luminosity, ventilation, a limited
number of exits, etc. These characteristics imply not only the installation of specific
equipment (CCTV, CO, fire detectors, etc.) but also the traffic management and control in the
surrounding area has to be managed in a distinct way of the rest of the elements of the road
network. When an incident nearby the tunnel, it is necessary to develop a set of measures of
management and coordination between organizations that control the surrounding area of the
tunnel because the consequences can affect the traffic in the tunnel, so new problems can
appear. The aim of the present article is to show the developed methodology by the
‘Dirección General de Tráfico’ (DGT) to create the actuation protocols face to incidents in
tunnels.

Dirección General de Tráfico

Universitat Jaume I de Castelló

Instituto de Robótica – Universidad de Valencia

Presented at the 15th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems, November 16-20, 2008, New York, New York

Emergent Collision Avoidance Systems (CAS's) are beginning to assist drivers in performing
specific tasks and extending the limits of driver's perception. The systems face significant
hurdles in terms of safety and driver acceptance. In fact, CAS's may actually make the driving
environment more dangerous. This paper demonstrates that adaptive capability is necessary to
mitigate these concerns. Specifically, CAS's must adapt to a driver's style and limitations.
Fortunately, a significant portion of this adaptive capability can be realized without additional
sensors and with the inclusion of relatively simple hardware. The requirements of components
of a CAS are discussed based on advances found in recent relevant literature. An architecture for
an adaptive CAS is proposed.

The George Washington University

Presented at the ITS America Annual Conference and Exposition, April 29-May 2, 2002, Long Beach, California