Safety

Research and development related to side collision warning systems has been directed at light vehicles and long-haul trucks. In this paper, we present evidence that supports our hypothesis that the side collision warning systems for transit buses are very different as they must focus on detecting pedestrians. This includes a preliminary analysis of pedestrian- bus accident claims data for the Port Authority of Pittsburgh, interviews with bus drivers, and an evaluation of what a driver can actually see. Past research, as well as experience with a collision warning system developed for long-haul trucks and installed on a bus, provides some partial solutions to these problems. A review of relevant literature and an evaluation of existing systems are presented. Based on the results of this preliminary research, a plan for developing a performance specification for a side collision warning systems for buses is presented.

University of Minnesota - Department of Civil Engineering

Carnegie Mellon University - Robotics Institute

Presented at the 10th ITS Annual Conference and Exposition, May 1-4, 2000 Boston, MA

During the 1997-1998 school year, the Minnesota Department of Transportation completed a successful operational test of in-vehicle signing to warn school bus drivers when they were approaching highway-rail intersections (HRI’s). That test was done in partnership with Twin Cities and Western Railroad (TC&W), the Glencoe-Silver Lake School District, 3M and Dynamic Vehicle Safety Systems (DVSS). The results of that test have previously been reported at ITS America’s annual meetings. Building on the technologies and partnerships of that test, Mn/DOT is proceeding with a one year operational test of technologies that show promise of providing low-cost active warning systems for use at low-volume HRI’s. This paper describes the potential benefits of the technologies, the functional requirements, the proposed operational test and, finally, the results of a technology demonstration conducted on April 20,

2000.

Minnesota Department of Transportation

Presented at the 11th ITS Annual Conference and Exposition, June 4-7, 2001 Miami Beach, Florida

This paper introduces a low cost collision avoidance system in a Wireless environment. This system uses existing GPS technology which makes it unique as compared to other systems in existence. The system is designed to provide the driver with an audio/visual warning of an approaching obstacle or if a collision is predicted. The proposed system is unique and has many potential benefits because it is not based on expensive Radar or sensor systems as opposed to existing systems. It uses GPS technology which is cheaper and promises improvement in position measurement accuracy.

University of Central Florida

Presented at the 10th ITS Annual Conference and Exposition, May 1-4, 2000 Boston, MA

This paper explores issues relating to the user acceptability and safety effectiveness of on-board driver performance monitoring for commercial drivers. The discussion centers on alertness monitoring, which has been the subject of extensive U.S. Department of Transportation-sponsored research. However, many of the same issues and guiding principles may apply to other on-board safety monitoring (OBSM) devices such as speed, headway, and lateral acceleration monitoring. Such technologies may be seen as safety performance feedback systems in addition to their role as collision warning systems. Indeed, feedback-induced behavior change may, to some extent, pre-empt the collision warning uses of these devices by bringing driver performance within a safety tolerance range where imminent collision situations are largely avoided.

A system concept is proposed for the application of “alertometers” (i.e., real-time invehicle displays of driver alertness levels) to commercial driver fatigue management. The principal element in this system is the continuous in-vehicle feedback that alertometers can provide to drivers regarding their levels of alertness. This feedback, if employed properly within an overall fleet safety management program, can lead to significant short-term and longterm changes in driver behavior and lifestyle relevant to fatigue management and sleep hygiene. A generalized version of this system concept may be applicable to other forms of OBSM and associated safety performance management.

In its research on OBSM, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is attempting to assess and synthesize behavioral principles to develop optimal ways to employ sensors, driver-vehicle interface designs, and associated management practices to influence commercial driver behavior in ways that will positively affect both short- and long-term driver performance.

U.S. Department of Transportation - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

ATA Foundation

Presented at the 10th ITS Annual Conference and Exposition, May 1-4, 2000 Boston, MA

The mission of a Department of Transportation is to provide its customers reliable transportation facilities that perform to their level of service expectations and to accomplish this in the most efficient and effective manner possible. This mission is particularly challenging to Snow Belt states during the perils of a winter season. For example, just-in-time goods deliveries, a key ingredient in any state’s economic vitality, places an ever-increasing importance on reliable year-round transportation. This paper presents a brief background and status of the tests being conducted on the concept vehicle. The two emerging technologies currently being tested on the concept vehicle are winter pavement surface friction measurement and pavement surface freezing point.

Center for Transportation Research and Education

Iowa Department of Transportation

Presented at the 11th ITS America Annual Conference and Exposition, June 4-7, 2001 Miami Beach, Florida