In Melbourne, Australia, a major research project is currently underway with the aim of stimulating the demand by fleet owners for in-vehicle ITS technologies which have significant potential safety benefits. A fleet of cars is being equipped with an integrated suite of eight in-vehicle intelligent transport systems. Fleet drivers will operate these vehicles for about 12 months. During this period driver attitudes towards, and acceptance of, these technologies will be assessed, and the effects of the selected technologies on driving performance and safety will be evaluated on the road and in an advanced driving simulator. Under normal conditions drivers will be unaware that they are driving an ITS-equipped vehicle: it is only when they intentionally or inadvertently operate the vehicle in an unsafe manner that they will be warned and calibrated in an integrated manner by the various ITS technologies.
Abstract