Author: Ronald R. Knipling

Publisher:

Published: 1993

Total Pages: 110

ISBN-13:

This report describes an analysis of the application of Intelligent Vehicle Highway System (IVHS) technology to the reduction of rear-end crashes. The principal countermeasure concept examined is a headway detection (HD) system that would detect stopped or slower-moving vehicles in a vehicle's travel path. The report is organized to correspond to the major steps of the project methodology: 1. Quantify baseline target crash problem size and describe target crash chracteristics; 2. Describe, analyze, and model target crash scenarios to permit understanding of principal crash causes, time and motion sequences, and potential interventions; 3. Assess countermeasure technology and mechanisms of action to identify candidate solutions; 4. Assess relevant human factors and other (e.g., environmental, vehicle) factors affecting crash scenario and potential countermeasure effectiveness; 5. Model countermeasure action to predict effectiveness and identify critical countermeasure functional requirements; 6. Identify specific priority technological, human factors, and other R & D issues to be resolved. Case reconstructions and modeling indicate that most rear-end crashes are due to driver inattention, and that this inattention can in theory be addressed successfully by the HD countermeasure concept and available radar technologies.