Getting back to basics: using road accident investigation to identify the desirable functionality of longitudinal control systems
Year: 2008
Type: book-chapter
Abstract: ABS (antilock brake system), EBA (emergency brake assist), ACC (adaptive cruise control)\nand alternative examples of intelligent vehicle control systems aspire to support the driver in\ncontrolling the vehicle and alleviate the incidents that would lead to collisions and injuries.\nThis paper considers some requirements for such systems based on a study of accidents\noccurring in the real-world. While systems are rationally developed in the engineering\nlaboratory, on the test track and through use of simulations, the need for a through\nunderstanding of the design needs as observed in the real-world of current day accidents is\nincreasingly recognized. This paper overviews the range of data available on the causes of\naccidents in the UK. A fresh look is taken at some issues relating to braking by specific\nreference to data from the On-The-Spot (OTS) accident research study in an attempt to\nconsider the necessary functionality of active safety systems pertinent to longitudinal control\nfailures. The road user interactions file from 3024 road accidents in Thames Valley and South\nNottinghamshire regions of the UK, as covered by OTS study, were analysed. Significant\ncontributory factors where “failure to stop the vehicle” was identified as the accident\nprecipitating factor were seen to be “following too close”, “disobeyed automatic traffic signal”, “careless/reckless/in a hurry”, “failure to look” and “failure to judge other person’s\npath or speed”. On the other hand, where “sudden braking” is identified as the accident\nprecipitating factor, contributory factors included “sudden braking” (as a contributor),\ndistraction, aggressive driving, failure to judge other person’s path, “masked road markings”,\n“excessive speed”, “following too close”, and “road layout”. Current systems address some of\nthese issues, while possibly overlooking others; recommendations for future safety\nengineering designs are made accordingly.
Authors: Νικόλαος Γκίκας, Julian Hill, John Richardson
Institution: Loughborough University
Language: English
Topic: Traffic and Road Safety
Subfield: Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Loughborough University
OpenAlex ID: W1442828660