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Previous research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety on the effectiveness of countermeasures for distracted driving (see Related Content below) concluded that results of existing evaluations were mixed, there was questionable generalizability to other populations or regions and, in other cases, insufficient evidence to draw firm conclusions. Thus, this research compiled information on distracted […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 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 […]
Driving automation systems have become more widely available and popular over the past several years. While vehicle automation offers drivers both safety and convenience, automation may also have negative consequences, such as increased driver engagement in non-driving related tasks. The issue of driver inattention while using these technologies underscores the importance of systems that issue […]
This study examined the effects of posted speed limit changes on traffic safety by conducting before-and-after assessments using crash and speed data from multiple sites. Despite numerous studies reporting the negative impacts of increased speeds on traffic safety, many states have raised their posted speed limits. In response, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAA […]
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) support drivers with some driving tasks. However, drivers may lack appropriate knowledge about ADAS (referred to as their mental model), which can translate to drivers misusing or mistrusting the technologies, especially in situations beyond the capability of the system (i.e., edge cases). Past research suggests that mental models may be […]