The purpose of the present study was to identify high risk groups in the driving population, assess the potential for ITS and in-vehicle communications to create high risk situations through overload and distraction, identify ITS systems available or likely to become available which can address these issues, and suggest possible elements for a strategy to encourage early adoption of ITS systems. A number of high risk road user groups were identified by the study. The report discusses overload and distraction in terms of their sources, especially in-car communication systems, their status as a policy issue, and the tools available for their management. Intelligent speed adaptation and collision avoidance systems were identified as benefiting most of the high risk groups. Habitual speeders and drink drivers would benefit from collision avoidance technology as well as the device targeted at their problem. Adaptive cruise control would benefit recidivist speeders and young drivers. Smart licences would be of particular benefit to motorcyclists and young drivers. (Author/publisher)
Abstract