Traffic is an increasing concern in many urban areas, and traffic congestion is growing at a faster rate than can be alleviated solely by additional road construction. This report examines a technology called Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (CACC) that aims to increase traffic throughput by safely permitting shorter following distances between vehicles. This report establishes a framework that the can be used to evaluate the human-factors, safety, and implementation issues associated with CACC. This document discusses CACC benefits and identifies various ways in which the CACC concept could be realized as well as human-factors-related issues of implementation. Several research areas are suggested to address these issues. Human-factors, operations, safety, and transportation researchers can use this report as a starting point to further define and execute critical research studies. These studies will, in turn, help facilitate the safe implementation of this mobility-enhancing technology in the years to come. (Author/publisher)
Abstract