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This document describes the current test tools and capabilities established at NHTSA’s Vehicle Research and Test Center (VRTC) for researching the safety performance of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving systems (ADS) in a closed-course setting. This paper focuses on immediate and future needs for ADAS and ADS closed-course testing and the requirements […]
Motorcycle personal protective equipment (PPE), an important traffic safety countermeasure, can include a safety-certified helmet, impact- and skid-resistant jackets and pants, motorcycle gloves, and sturdy, over-ankle boots. NHTSA, State highway safety offices (SHSO), and motorcycle safety groups conduct programs to encourage motorcyclists to use protective gear, especially helmets, but the impact of these programs is […]
Traveling by school bus is the safest mode for transporting pupils to school (NHTSA, 2020). Donoughe and Katz (2015) analyzed school bus crashes over a decade and found that of the fatal school bus-related crash injuries, 6.2% were school bus occupants. While compartmentalization inside the bus and other safety features outside the bus (such as […]
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) joined state Departments of Transportation and other organizations nationwide today to urge drivers to keep highway workers safe as construction activities increase. They also urged the public to wear orange on April 28 for a national “Go Orange” Day to show their support […]
School bus stop-arm cameras are an emerging strategy used by school jurisdictions and law enforcement agencies to address the issue of drivers illegally passing stopped school buses. A stop-arm camera typically records video of vehicles and/or drivers who pass school buses when the stop-arm is extended. Several States have passed legislation allowing the use of […]
The project summarized data from a variety of sources on the indirect effects of seat belts on school buses. This report is a synthesis of the research findings and includes the results of a literature review and program scan. The findings also include anecdotal observations from bus drivers and school district officials obtained from a […]
High-Visibility Enforcement (HVE) is a traffic safety approach designed to deter unlawful behaviors and promote voluntary behavior change in accordance with traffic laws. HVE deters risky behavior by reminding motorists through communications and additional enforcement that they may be pulled over for illegal behaviors. HVE also aims to increase public awareness of the importance and benefits […]
The Federal Railroad Administration wants to better understand driver knowledge of and expectations for finding Emergency Notification System (ENS) signs at highway-rail grade crossings. A simulator study was designed where participants were exposed to ENS signs of different orientations (parallel and perpendicular to the tracks) and various crossing malfunctions (activation failure, false activation, and vehicle […]
Monday, January 11, 2021 WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation (the Department) today released the Automated Vehicles Comprehensive Plan (AVCP). The AVCP lays out the Department’s robust multimodal strategy to promote collaboration and transparency, modernize the regulatory environment, and prepare the transportation system for the safe integration of Automated Driving Systems (ADS). The AVCP […]
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is continuing its exploration of traffic safety during the COVID-19 public health emergency. This work is crucial to furthering our understanding of changes in potentially dangerous driving behaviors and allows us to expand or evolve countermeasures to meet current needs in States and across the country. In October […]