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Roadside assistance providers such as motor vehicle towing personnel, mobile mechanics, and safety service patrollers often work on or alongside highways to help motorists stranded due to vehicle breakdowns or crashes. This places them at risk of being struck by passing vehicles. Research is needed to understand the circumstances of crashes in which roadside assistance […]
Risky driving behaviors such as speeding and impaired driving play a critical role in road traffic crashes and contribute to an unsafe transportation environment for Americans traveling both inside and outside vehicles. The 2022 Traffic Safety Culture Index provides insights into understanding public perceptions, attitudes toward, and engagement in unsafe driving behaviors. This report examines patterns of […]
New and sophisticated vehicle technology is beginning to change the nature of driving, assuming tasks that were previously part of the driver’s responsibility. Past research has documented critical gaps in drivers’ understanding of these technologies and related safety implications. However, less is known about how understanding of new technology varies across the driving population. Moreover, […]
Communities across the nation are turning to the Safe System approach to design transportation systems as a way to eventually reduce crash deaths and injuries to zero—the goal of Vision Zero programs. The Safe System approach uses thoughtful road and vehicle design to minimize the chance of a crash when people make mistakes and, when […]
Recent reviews by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety noted that technology-based countermeasures such as cellphone blocking apps offer a promising approach to reducing distracted driving. However, acceptance and use of such apps remain low, especially among driving populations most prone to distraction. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is working with researchers at the […]
Many older adults rely on driving a motor vehicle to maintain independence and engage with their environments. However, driving safely can become a concern due to age-related changes in physical, cognitive, and sensory function. To extend the number of years that older adults can drive safely, some self-regulate their driving. Self-regulation refers to modifying driving […]
With new advanced vehicle technology, drivers can allow automation to take on parts of the driving task. However, when circumstances dictate, drivers must be able to take back control of the vehicle safely and efficiently. Examining ways of supporting these control transitions is imperative and can help to realize the intended safety benefits of vehicle […]
The primary purpose of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) is to provide increased safety to drivers and other road users. As systems such as Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA) are becoming widely available, it is important to recognize road users’ understanding and knowledge (i.e., mental models) of these technologies. Studies have […]
This study examines the prevalence and frequency of use of in-vehicle technologies as well as the relationships between technology-use frequency and associated factors among a subset of AAA Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers (AAA LongROAD) participants. Previous research using data from the AAA LongROAD study has shown that many older drivers use available in-vehicle technologies […]
Automated vehicles have the potential to improve safety and mobility. At lower levels of automation (Level 2), drivers are required to supervise the automation and be prepared to intervene as needed to maintain safety. The consequences of these technologies on driver behavior are not yet fully understood, especially as real-world testing has been less common […]