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Volpe Center Highlights - Spring 2005

Safety

Director's Notes | Focus | Safety | Mobility | Global Connectivity
Environmental Stewardship | Security | Organizational Excellence
Highlighting Volpe Experts | Awards | Published and Presented

Preventing Crashes at Intersections (NHTSA)

Intersections are among the most dangerous locations on U.S. roadways. In 1999 and 2000, 9,951 vehicles were involved in fatal crashes at traffic signals, and 13,627 vehicles were involved in fatal crashes at stop signs. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in conjunction with the Volpe Center, is developing performance guidelines for crash countermeasure systems that would provide an in-vehicle warning to drivers who are at risk of running a red light or stop sign. The goal of these systems is to reduce the frequency of intersection crashes associated with unintentional violations of traffic signals and stop signs. This work supports the DOT's Intelligent Vehicle Initiative (IVI), which is focused on improving the safety of the nation's roadways through the continued development and deployment of advanced-technology crash-avoidance systems.

Crossing-path crashes are generally the most frequent types of intersection crashes. A recent Volpe report supports the development of intersection crash-avoidance systems that would warn drivers of an insufficient gap between vehicles and objects or pedestrians.

The Volpe Center recently published a report for NHTSA titled Analysis of Fatal Crashes Due to Signal and Stop Sign Violations. This analysis is concerned with understanding pre-crash scenarios, and concomitant circumstances, associated with traffic signal/stop sign violations in order to evaluate proposed countermeasure designs, or to offer insight to countermeasure development.

The Volpe team includes Ms. Brittany Campbell, Mr. John D. Smith, and Dr. Wassim Najm, all of the Advanced Safety Technology Division. The team analyzed the 1999 and 2000 Fatality Analysis Reporting System databases, and separated fatal crashes involving light vehicles, (e.g., passenger cars, vans, minivans, SUVs, and light trucks), that violated the traffic signal or the stop sign into three categories: single-vehicle, two-vehicle, and multi-vehicle crash. For each crash category, the report identifies the crash scenarios, describes the contributing factors, and characterizes the roadway where these fatal crashes occurred.

No significant differences were found regarding the crash categories and the roadway. While alcohol, speeding, and inattention were the three most common contributing factors of fatal crashes, the major contributing factors for each crash category provide valuable insight into the unique issues associated with each particular crash type. Single-vehicle crashes were three times as likely to involve alcohol than two-vehicle crashes. Single-vehicle crashes also had the highest rate of speeding and driver inattention.

Two-vehicle crashes had the second highest involvement rate of driver inattention, while multi-vehicle crashes had the second highest rate of speed-related accidents. The report is available at http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/departments/nrd-12/809-779/.

Human Factors Reports on Communications Devices (FRA)

New technologies, such as digital communications and location-finding systems, offer the potential to improve the safety and productivity of railroad operations. However, if the needs and limitations of operators are not clearly understood, such new technologies may adversely impact safety and productivity. Volpe's Operator Performance and Safety Analysis Division published three reports in October 2004 that evaluate the human factors implications of computer and communications technology in railroad operations. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Office of Research and Development sponsored the research as part of its activities to develop Intelligent Railroad Systems. All three reports are available at http://www.volpe.dot.gov/opsad/pubs.html.

• Supporting Railroad Worker Communications with a Wireless Handheld Computer: Volume 1: Usability for the Roadway Worker; and Volume 2: Impact on Dispatcher Performance. This two-volume report documents the design, evaluation, and continuing development of a digital communication device intended to improve roadway worker safety and productivity. The design evolved through an iterative process in which user requirements were turned into an initial prototype and modified based on user feedback. The original application was developed on a handheld computer with a wireless modem. The application was moved to another hardware platform (a cell phone with an integrated handheld computer) that provided improved communication functionality and the ability to provide location information using the global positioning system (GPS). The usability evaluation identified human factors issues that must be addressed for the device to be successfully implemented in the railroad environment. Dr. Jordan Multer and Dr. Thomas Sheridan of the Operator Performance and Safety Analysis Division co-authored Volume 1 with Mr. Nicolas Oriol of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Multer and Dr. Sheridan co-authored Volume 2 with Mr. Thimohtee Masquelier of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

• Impact of Data Link Technology on Railroad Dispatching Operations. This study examined digital (data link) communication as an alternative to voice radio for railroad dispatchers. This report focuses on safety, efficiency, and productivity issues associated with the introduction of a visually based (graphical and textual) data-link interface for railroad dispatchers. Dr. Jordan Multer and Dr. Thomas Sheridan of the Operator Performance and Safety Analysis Division co-authored this report with Mr. Nicolas Malsch of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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