The COMPANION system, which has been developed by BMW over the last ten years, is a roadside hazard warning and information system designed for use on inter-urban roads. Its main objective is to reduce the number of 'shunt' style accidents by warning drivers in advance of stationary vehicles in front of them. This is done through roadside electronic guide markers, which emit yellow or orange signals, to indicate that there are incidents ahead. The system has been trialled at Dunfermline in Scotland and at Munich in Germany. In addition further trials are being carried out by Autostrada in Italy. The main objective of the trials has been the assessment of driving behaviour and user acceptance of COMPANION. Overall, traffic speeds are reduced by between 10% and 20%, on activation of the system and instances of critical headways between vehicles are reduced significantly. (A*)
Abstract