The 100-Car Study collected unique pre-crash data that might help to overcome the limitations of police reports and, thus, might help identify possible countermeasures. Such information includes the timing and location of where drivers were looking, the timing of accelerator release and brake application, as well as the drivers’ time and force modulation of the brake pedal. The goal of this task is to gain a better understanding of what driver behaviours and performance contribute to rear-end events, the vehicle kinematics that influence the event, and the potential of enhanced rear-signalling systems to alert following drivers or provide additional cues regarding lead vehicle dynamics. The goal of Task 1 of the current project was to analyze results of 100-Car Study to attain in-depth understanding of rear-end crashes, near-crashes, and incidents as a basis for identifying enhanced signal light characteristics and functions. In addition, a sample of baseline braking events was analyzed for characterization of normal braking manoeuvres and comparison of normal braking to rear-end conflict braking. These analyses provided further insight into the causes, characteristics, and potential countermeasures for rear-end crashes. In addition, the data provided justification for various deceleration criteria for enhanced rear-lighting systems. (Author/publisher)
Abstract