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Previous studies have shown that the optimal speed trajectories for vehicles with different engine types (e.g., gasoline versus electric vehicles) are very different under certain conditions. This study aims to solve this issue by developing a general speed control algorithm that calculates a compromised solution across different vehicle engine types while optimizing the entire mixed […]
Emerging vehicle technologies have the potential to make driving not only more comfortable but also safer. Many motor vehicle crashes result from mistakes made by drivers. Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), common in today’s new vehicles, have the ability to warn the driver or even intervene automatically in many situations to help the driver avoid […]
Transportation data sharing partnerships are becoming increasingly important as transportation systems continue to evolve and become more complex. As the demand for transportation services grows, the need for accurate and timely data becomes paramount for staff and the public to make informed decisions. This report is a culmination of research and analysis conducted by the […]
This project started with a broad question: What can new, rich naturalistic driver data such as in the Second Strategic Highway Research Program’s Naturalistic Driving Study (SHRP2-NDS), tell us about how drivers react to roadway designs and access management techniques? To address this question, the project team reviewed and analyzed 6,209 trips that drivers in […]
As vehicle automation takes on more and more of the driving tasks, the driver’s role will transform from an operator to a system supervisor. With higher levels of automation, the automated vehicle is able to monitor the environment, allowing the driver to engage in non-driving related tasks. However, if the automated vehicle reaches its system […]
This report examines challenges States face improving traffic safety information systems. The foundation for the report is the State Traffic Records Assessment Program data from 2018 to 2022 and technical assistance requests States have made to NHTSA since 2015. Of the six traffic records systems (crash, driver, vehicle, roadway, citation and adjudication, and injury surveillance), […]
This Research Brief provides highlights from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s 2022 American Driving Survey (ADS), which quantifies the daily driving of the U.S. population in 2022 and compares results to 2021 and 2020. Results show that 94.5% of U.S. residents ages 16 years and older drove at least occasionally in 2022. Drivers reported […]
In 2021 there were 7,489 people 65 and older killed in traffic crashes in the United States, accounting for 17 percent of all traffic fatalities. From 2020 to 2021 there was a 14-percent increase in the number of people 65 and older killed in traffic crashes. View the full findings here.
When approaching a lane reduction, drivers typically attempt to merge into the appropriate lane as soon as possible, even in congested conditions. Aggressive driving can occur when drivers merge at the last minute because they are potentially perceived to be “cutting the line.” This perception could stem from traditional traffic control device messaging suggesting that […]
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is seeking to recall 52 million airbag inflators produced by auto suppliers ARC Automotive and Delphi Automotive over fears they could explode and hurl shrapnel. NHTSA first demanded the recall in May. ARC responded that no defect existed in the inflators and that any problems were related to isolated manufacturing issues. Read […]