Safety

This paper presents a framework to evaluate an automotive rear-end crash avoidance system in a field operational test. This framework is described in terms of the evaluation goals, concomitant objectives, and respective subobjectives. The evaluation will pursue four goals to achieve a detailed understanding of safety benefits, determine driver acceptance, characterize the performance and capability, and assess the deployment potential and price of the automotive rear-end crash avoidance system. Ten instrumented vehicles will be equipped with this system that integrates rear-end crash warning and adaptive cruise control functions. Representative groups of subjects will be selected to test the system over a ten-month period, driving in a naturalistic environment under a variety of typical driving conditions. Each subject will drive an instrumented vehicle for a few weeks. The system will not be available during the first week in order to collect baseline driving data. The subjects will be able to utilize the system in the remaining weeks to gather data on driver-vehicle-system performance.

U.S. Department of Transportation

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

The security of Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) proves to be vital as these systems are expanded to support regional traffic management, integrated with public safety, electronic toll collection and other systems, and become part of Homeland Security. Changes to critical ATMS subsystems by disgruntled employees, operators without permission and training to manage functions, hackers, or aggressive terrorists could create dangerous roadway situations. Password protection provides minimal security. Often times, passwords are not only lost or stolen, but also shared among employees. This paper provides insight on the security challenges faced by ATMS systems and proposes biometric fingerprint security as a viable solution. Biometric fingerprint scan technology has improved steadily over the last ten years. A discussion of finger print technology is provided along with information about the integration of this capability into existing ATMS systems.

Integrated Technology Solutions, Inc.

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

TRW has built, under NHTSA contract, a fully automated data acquisition system for assessing the effectiveness of a lane change collision avoidance system. The system features two subsystems that allow for automated acquisition and analysis of data. The first is a scanning laser rangefinder which serves both as the collision warning sensor and collector of ground truth information. The second subsystem is an eye-tracker which outputs, at 30 Hz, the driver’s gaze direction. Preliminary data, taken at a test track and on local freeways using team members, have refined the parameters that make up the driver warning algorithm. The data is consistent with a keep out zone adjacent to and 30 ft. behind the car and a 3 second time to arrival for fast approaching vehicles.

TRW Space and Technology Division

Idiom Technology

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

Static speed limit signs are conventionally used in the U.S. to assist motorists in safe selection of speeds. Although appropriate to use under near ideal conditions, such signs fail to provide accurate information on speed selection when traffic and environmental conditions are less than ideal. This paper documents the findings from a state-of-the-practice review on variable speed limit systems. Such systems dynamically update posted speed limits to better reflect prevailing traffic and environmental conditions. The paper reviews and compares characteristics of variable speed limit systems, and discusses potential benefits and limitations associated with their deployment. Examples of domestic and international applications of variable speed limit systems are presented, together with an assessment of their potential capabilities towards enhancement of traffic operations.

Michigan State University

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

Coastal areas in many parts of the world are vulnerable to impact by hurricanes and tropical storms. The transportation systems of those areas can be taxed heavily by storm related evacuations, and the after effects can last for days, weeks and even months. Coastal urbanized areas that have Intelligent Transportation System equipment deployed for management of the transportation facilities recognize the power of ITS technologies and strategies to handle both recurring and non-recurring transportation congestion. The primary purpose of this paper is to evaluate the potential real-time use of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technologies to improve safety and efficiency during hurricane evacuations. A secondary use of ITS for post evacuation evaluation and preparedness planning is also addressed. The highway system in Florida serves as the backdrop for this evaluation. Hurricane evacuation is a serious business, and the government and private sector decision makers who bear responsible charge for public safety have a solemn task. The technologies of ITS cannot create a system that will completely eliminate traffic congestion during evacuations, but they can provide managers and operators with the best tools to get the job done quickly and safely. Of the immediately available technologies, those that have the greatest potential are motorist information devices, closed circuit video cameras for monitoring, robust communications systems for sharing of information, and traffic data collection devices that aid in the decision making activities both during the event, and after the event in planning for future storms. Transportation management centers in nearby locals that are safe haven zones for evacuees also may utilize ITS to manage the evacuating traffic, provide information to those seeking shelter, and even remotely operate devices in areas that are undergoing an evacuation.

PB Farradyne, A Division of Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas, Inc.

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