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Tow trucks and other roadside service vehicles (RSVs) must safely operate in a wide range of roadway environments and conditions, from sunny afternoons to combinations of darkness, smoke, fog, rain, and snow. RSV visibility in these diverse operating conditions is paramount and static and flashing emergency or hazard vehicle lighting are common countermeasures to enhance […]
For more than 75 years, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has carried out various work to fulfill its mission of preventing traffic deaths and injuries by conducting research into their causes and by educating the public about strategies to prevent crashes and reduce injuries when they do occur. The work presented in this technical […]
The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 40,990 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the United Sates in 2023 (National Center for Statistics and Analysis, 2024a). Although this perilously high number represents a small decline in motor vehicle related fatalities compared to 2022 (3.6%), each death represents an unacceptable human, societal, and economic […]
The safety of roadside responders is often placed in jeopardy by the potential dangers posed by passing vehicles. To develop and implement effective protection measures for roadside responders, comprehensive safety data is essential. Traditional methods relying on crash data to identify incidents involving roadside responders, such as struck-by or secondary crashes, provide some information about […]
Advanced vehicle technologies have the potential to improve safety and convenience for drivers; however, in order to realize these benefits, it is important that drivers use the systems appropriately. Past research has documented gaps in drivers’ understanding of how new technology works and when it should be used. It follows that the interplay between a […]
Self-regulation is the act or process of modifying one’s driving in response to an awareness of one’s declining abilities. Two common forms are (1) strategic self-regulation, or decisions made prior to one’s actual driving, and (2) tactical self-regulation, decisions made while driving in response to circumstances of the environment. Rapid Deceleration Events (RDEs), commonly known […]
Advanced in-vehicle technology is becoming more commonplace in the U.S. passenger vehicle fleet. Under limited circumstances, driver support features such as adaptive cruise control (ACC), lane centering assist (LCA), and other forms of vehicle automation can now perform parts of the driving task. It follows that these features can change drivers’ roles, including adopting passive […]
Speeding is a significant safety concern and has contributed to almost one-third of road fatalities in the past 20 years. This research investigated whether changing to higher posted speed limits on Interstates can cause spillover effects, or a systemic propagation of speeding behaviors that results in more crashes at nearby road segments. Findings presented in […]