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Object Detection and Identification Using Enhanced Camera/Video Imaging Systems (E-C/VISs) on Heavy Trucks
Get PDFTests were performed to determine the feasibility of developing an Enhanced Camera/Video Imaging System (E-C/VIS) to provide heavy vehicle drivers with better situation awareness to the sides and rear of their vehicles. It is well known that large blind spots currently exist in these areas and that sideswipe crashes can occur as a result. An additional goal was to extend the operating envelope of conventional video to nighttime and to inclement weather. A three channel system was envisioned in which there would be a camera at each (front) fender of the tractor looking backward along the sides of the tractor trailer. The third channel would be aimed rearward from the back of the trailer. Indoor tests involved selection of components having the best capabilities, while early outdoor tests used the selected components in a single-channel side mounted system. Once developed, the heavy vehicle three-channel system was tested in a static object detection and identification experiment, as well as a dynamic on-road experiment. The current document describes the static object detection and identification experiment methodology and results. In regard to object detection and identification, objects were correctly detected and identified significantly more often with the E-C/VIS than with mirrors alone. Objects directly behind the heavy vehicle could be detected with the rear wide-angle look-down camera of the EC/VIS whereas such objects could not be detected with conventional side mirrors
Estimating Workload Demands of Turning Left at Intersections of Varying Complexity
Get PDFThe challenge posed by left-turns has been well-documented in literature. Left-turns are thought to be complex roadway sites resulting in a significant proportion of motor-vehicle collisions. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether subjective and objective workload is affected by left-turns of varying complexity (i.e., information processing and maneuvering) in a sample of young inexperienced drivers. A secondary goal was to determine the effect of administering a secondary task on subjective workload. To this end, 60 inexperienced drivers completed four simulated driving scenarios of varying visual and maneuvering complexity. Half of participants completed an objective measure of workload (i.e., a secondary task) while all participants completed a subjective measure of workload upon completion of each scenario. The results demonstrated the effect of complexity on subjective and objective workload. Specifically, information processing complexity was found to significantly affect both subjective and objective measures of participants’ workload while the influence of maneuvering complexity was detected through subjective load only
Multiple-Session Simulator Training for Older Drivers and On-Road Transfer of Learning
Get PDFDriving retraining classes may offer an opportunity to attenuate some of the aging manifestation that may alter driving skills. Unfortunately, there are suggestions that classroom programs do not allow to improve the driving performance of elderly drivers. The aim of this study was to evaluate if specific simulator training sessions with video-based feedback can modify on-road behaviors of elderly drivers. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the training, 10 elderly drivers who received feedback were tested before and after the training program with an on-road standardized evaluation. A control group (12 older drivers) also participated. Participants in this group received a classroom training program and similar exposure to driving in a simulator but without drivingspecific feedback. After attending the training program, the control group showed no modification of their driving performance (on-road score, frequency of successful turning maneuvers and frequency blind spot verification before lane change maneuvers). On the other hand, participants in the feedback group improved their driving skills for all maneuvers that were evaluated. These results suggest that simulator training transferred effectively to on-road performance. In order to be effective, driving programs should include active practice sessions with driving specific feedback
Considerations When Calculating Percent Road Centre From Eye Movement Data in Driver Distraction Monitoring
Get PDFPercent road centre (PRC) is a performance indicator which is sensitive to driver distraction. The original definition of PRC is based on fixation data extracted from eye movement recordings, but it has also been suggested that PRC can be determined directly from the gaze data without segmenting it into saccades and fixations. The primary aim of this paper is to investigate if this is the case. Naturalistic driving data from a small scale field operational test comprising seven vehicles was used in the evaluation. It was found that PRC time traces based on gaze data and fixation data, respectively, were highly similar (correlation coefficient=0.95, average wavelet semblance=0.84) except for an absolute amplitude difference of about 8%. This indicates that the two approaches can be used interchangeably and that the processing step of segmenting gaze data into saccades and fixations can be left out. In addition to this finding, design issues related to the calculation of PRC are investigated. Especially, the impact of gaze cases pointing towards the intersection of the road centre area and the centre rear mirror were investigated. Results lead to conclude that gazes and fixations on the centre rear mirror should be removed from the PRC calculations, as they may negatively influence the correctness of the performance indicator
Identifying Influences of Driving Behaviour: Could the Australian Work Driving Setting Be Unique?
Get PDFWork-related driving safety is an emerging concern for Australian and overseas organisations. An in depth investigation was undertaken into a group of fleet drivers’ attitudes regarding what personal and environment factors have the greatest impact upon driving behaviours. A number of new and unique factors not previously identified were found including: vehicle features, vehicle ownership, road conditions, weather, etc. The major findings of the study are discussed in regards to practical solutions to improve fleet safety
Drivers with Dementia: Environment, Errors and Performance Outcomes
No full textThe current non-experimental observational study adds to the body of evidence and literature by describing, from a person – environment – occupation model, the on-road performance of 115 licensed drivers who had dementia. The purpose is to potentially prescribe the essential criteria of environmental and driving tasks for on-road assessment inclusion
On the Construction of a Safety Gap Prediction Model for Freeway Bus Lane-Changing Maneuver Using Driving Simulator Data
No full textLane-change crashes are not only responsible for an important portion of vehicular fatalities, but also for crash-caused traffic delays, often resulting in congestion. The type of discretionary lane change was the focus of this research, in which a safety gap prediction model was constructed for potential application in the development of lane-change support systems. Data for analysis and model fitting were collected from a fixed-based bus driving simulator. The experimental scene designed for the driving simulator consisted of a straight section of two-lane freeway mainline with daylight and vehicular flows traveling at different speed levels on the road. Ten professional coach drivers were recruited to perform lane-change experiments. Results of two-way ANOVA revealed a significant lane-change direction × vehicle speed on the target lane interaction, and further analyses demonstrated that there was a simple effect for vehicle speed on the target lane in the left-to-right group of the type of lane-change direction factor. A safety gap forecasting model with the time gap between lead and lag vehicle on the target lane as the forecasted variable was constructed, and tests of true out-of-sample forecast accuracy of the prediction model showed promising results for its potential application in the development of lane-change support systems
Assessing Drivers’ Vigilance State During Monotonous Driving
Get PDFThe differential effects of three hours of monotonous daytime driving on subjective (sleepiness, inattention, monotony), performance (choice reaction time), and physiological (EEG alpha power, P300-amplitude, heart rate) vigilance measures were examined. A linear degradation of drivers’ subjective state, mean long reaction times (as opposed to short ones), P300-amplitude and parietal alpha power with time spent on the highway was identified. An improvement of the subjective measures towards the end of the driving task was not accompanied by any improvement in performance or physiological measures. This dissociation of self-assessment and objective vigilance measures has important implications for the design of modern driver assistant systems that aim to adapt to the driver’s state
Age, Skill and Hazard Perception in Driving
Get PDFTwenty-one young-inexperienced drivers (17-18 years old, 2.7 months of driving license), 19 experienced drivers (22-30, 7.3 years of driving license) and 16 elderly-experienced drivers (65-72, 37.5) observed six hazard perception movies (four movies included one planned hazardous event and two movies served as control) and were instructed to press a button each time they recognized a hazard. Participants’ eye movements were recorded. Young drivers were the least sensitive in responding to immaterialized unplanned hazards, which occurred after the planned hazardous events. When the hazard was imminent, however, all drivers responded at the same time. Eye movement analysis revealed that all drivers detected the elements in the environment when they were salient, but gazing towards the right at T-intersections characterized only the more experienced drivers. The young drivers tended to gaze straight ahead. This study shows that experienced drivers learn to avoid hazards to which inexperienced drivers must respond. Responding to more hazardous situations, drivers’ knowledge base expands, resulting in a more focused, goal-directed visual search and a higher sensitivity to potential hazards
The Virtual Check Ride (VCR) as a Diagnostic and Remediation System
No full textThe Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) have identified safety and operator performance as major objectives in addressing the inter-modal transportation needs of the state and nation. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is working diligently to address the issue of safety on Florida’s roads by developing and enforcing standards and certification of Commercial Driver License (CDL) training and issuance, as well as continual monitoring via enforcement. The Florida Trucking Association (FTA), representing the commercial industry side of the community, is likewise very concerned and is also taking steps to deal with these challenges. Clearly the issue of safety and the proper training of persons who will be operating heavy trucks is of great concern to all of us in the community. Driver training, safety, security, performance enhancements and accident reduction are priority issues in the truck driving industry. With this emphasis, and the increase in highway safety compromised by fraudulent or unskilled CDL licensed drivers, the new Virtual Check Ride, a simulated knowledge and skilled-based diagnostic system for professional truck drivers, was created using multimedia blended simulation that includes computerbased training (CBT) elements. This system also utilizes the GE VS TruckDriving Simulator. While the implications of VCR are rich with possibilities, the goal of this research is to validate and verify the newest version of the VCR system within the trucking community (e.g., Frito Lay and others)