Details:

Creators:
Hanscom, F. R.
Corporate Creators:
Virginia. Dept. of Transportation ; Virginia. Commonwealth Transportation Board
Virginia. Dept. of Transportation ; Virginia. Commonwealth Transportation Board Less -
Subject/TRT Terms:
[+]
Collision Avoidance Countermeasures Crash Reduction Drivers Evaluation Intelligent Transportation Systems(ITS) Intersections Pavement Loop Detectors Prince William County(Virginia) Side-impact Accidents Vehicle Safety Warning Systems
Publication/ Report Number:
VTRC 01-CR5 ; FHWA/VTRC 01-CR5
VTRC 01-CR5 ; FHWA/VTRC 01-CR5 Less -
Resource Type:
Research Paper
Geographical Coverage:
Virginia
Edition:
Final
Corporate Publisher:
Virginia Transportation Research Council (VTRC)
Abstract:
The Collision Countermeasure System (CCS) is an ITS application intended to reduce side-impact accident potential at rural, limited sight-distance intersections. It consists of activated warning signs and pavement loop detectors designed to enhance driver awareness of cross traffic. This field evaluation, comprising a four-phase observational effort (before, acclimation, 4-month after, and 1-year after studies) assessed novelty and longer term CCS effects. Results reported herein are based on a 48-day, 109,000-vehicle data sample. In order to address CCS accident reduction potential, the study targeted 2,242 high-speed vehicles arriving at the intersection in close time proximity to cross traffic. This study also assessed the potential "familiarization" effect, i.e., driver response to the device in its non-activated condition, and conducted a benefit/cost analysis. Vehicle behavioral measures of effectiveness (MOEs) were derived from CCS accident-avoidance objectives, i.e., specifically addressing intersection arrivals in close proximity to cross traffic. Applied MOEs were (1) drivers' CCS speed responses in the presence of cross traffic; (2) intersection approach speed reductions; and (3) projected times-to-collision (PTCs), i.e., the elapsed time to which an approaching vehicle would collide with a vehicle in its path in the absence of a timely avoidance response. Human factors (e.g., driver perception-reaction time) accident-avoidance requirements determined the critical PTC values that were used in the analysis. The vehicle-behavioral field evaluation produced the following results: (1) lower intersection-approach speeds were observed following installation and 1-year operation of the CCS; (2) longer PTCs, indicating a safer condition in the presence of cross traffic, were observed following CCS installation; and (3) sampled high-speed vehicles, i.e., exceeding 72 km/h and 88 km/h, exhibited initial novelty-effect CCS speed reductions, which were not generally sustained during extended CCS operation. However, this sample nevertheless demonstrated reduced accident potential, i.e., longer PTCs, during extended CCS operation. A "driver familiarization" study demonstrated that vehicles did not increase speeds during periods when the CCS was not activated. A cost-effectiveness analysis produced a positive result. The average annual (1993 through 1997) accident property damage and injury cost for the studied intersection far exceeded the estimated annual CCS cost, i.e., sum of CCS capital recovery, manual monitoring, and operation/maintenance costs. In simplest terms, if the CCS prevents one side-impact accident per year, the device is cost-effective.
Format:
PDF
Funding:
UPC 54972 6940
Collection(s):
US Transportation Collection
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:82fb067e713b736db00be693e68106ce228e77eea6fab3d18e82f5ec7c472657
Download URL:
https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/15402/dot_15402_DS1.pdf
File Type:

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