NTL Record

Title Automated Feedback to Foster Safe Driving in Young Drivers: Phase 2
Record ID 60977
Personal Name
Creator
Blomberg, Richard D.; Van Houten, Ron; Thomas, F. Dennis; Korbelak, Kristopher T.; Hilton, Brian N.
Corporate Creator Dunlap and Associates, Inc.
Corporate
Contributor
United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Office of Behavioral Safety Research
Publisher Dunlap and Associates, Inc.
Publication Date 20151200
Language English
Abstract Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) represents a promising approach to reduce speeding. A core principle for ISA systems is that they provide real-time feedback to drivers, prompting them to reduce speed when some threshold at or above the limit is reached. The overall goal of the study was to provide insight into the effectiveness and acceptance by young drivers in the United States, of an ISA consisting of an Active Accelerator Pedal (AAP) system. The project involved the design, development, and production of an AAP that included speed mapping and data logging and its installation in two vehicles used for data collection. The AAP system provided increased accelerator pedal resistance above the 2 lbs. of the original pedal up to a maximum total of 38 lbs. if a person exceeded the posted speed limit. If drivers allowed the vehicle speed to drop back to or below the speed limit, the pedal force returned to normal. After successful development and pilot testing of the system, researchers conducted two separate studies with young drivers (18-24 years old) to examine its speed reduction effects, the workload experienced, and satisfaction with the system. For one study, researchers defined a driving route within the Kalamazoo/Portage area of Michigan consisting of 6 segments. Twenty-two pairs of participants (n=44) matched on age and gender drove the route twice on a single day—morning and afternoon— with one participant in each pair having the AAP active in the afternoon drive. Results of this study showed the AAP led to less speeding and somewhat increased driver workload when activated. The second study involved giving an AAP-equipped vehicle to 4 participants to use for 15 days in place of their personal vehicles. The system was off during the first 5 days, activated during the second 5 days, and again turned off for the final 5 days. Results of this study were encouraging with 2 of the 4 participants showing significantly reduced speeding 5+ mph over the limit when the pedal was active. Participants expressed support for the widespread use of the AAP if it saved them money (e.g., lower insurance premiums).They liked the increased awareness of the speed limit but disliked being slower than prevailing traffic. Overall, the studies produced results not unlike those reported in the literature from Europe. The AAP system showed promise for reducing speeding among young drivers in the United States, but more research is needed to further refine the system and understand how best to introduce it into the total vehicle fleet.
Rosap ID dot:1987
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/1987
ResearchHub ID 663
TRT Terms Teenage drivers; Traffic safety; Intelligent speed adaptation; Speed control; Vehicle accelerators; Data collection; Pedals; Automatic control
General Subjects Research Hub; Speed; Accelerator pedal; ISA; AAP; Speed control; Active accelerator pedal; Intelligent speed adaptation; adaptive accelerator pedal
Geographical
Coverage
United States
TRIS Online
Accession No
01587755
Contract Number DTNH22-09-D-00138, Task Order 0003
Report Number DOT HS 812 230
Availability NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Research
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/60000/60900/60977/812230-AutomatedFeedbackFinalReport.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository