FMCSAs Research and Technology Program

1
FMCSAs Research and Technology Program

• Presentation to
• American Association of State Highway and
  Transportation Officials
• Subcommittee on Highway Transport
• Michael Griffith
• Director, Office of Research and Analysis
• June 16, 2006

2
Crash Statistics

• In 2004, large trucks accounted for 8 percent of
  the vehicles in fatal crashes and only 3 percent
  of the vehicles involved in injury.
• In 2004, 4,440 fatal crashes involved a large
  truck resulting in 5,190 fatalities.
• 75 percent of these cases involved at least one
  large truck and at least one passenger car.

3
Strategic Research and Technology Priorities

• Produce Safer Drivers
• Improve Safety CMV
• Produce Safer Carriers
• Advance Safety Through Information-Based
  Initiatives
• Improve Security through Safety Initiatives
  
• Enable and Motivate Internal Excellence

4
LTCCS and Driver Factors

• Driver factors up to 10 times more prevalent than
  vehicle or environmental factors in events that
  led up to crashes involving one truck and one
  passenger vehicle
• Drivers physical condition, actions and
  decisions, and familiarity with the roadway and
  the truck played a bigger role than faulty
  brakes, bad road signs, or poor weather

Critical Reason - Truck Crashes
5
Safety Data Risk Study

• Identify commercial vehicle driver factors that
  contribute to increased risk of large truck
  crashes
• Case-control sampling method (2,000 drivers)
  whereby crash-involved drivers (cases) are
  compared to non-crash-involved drivers (controls)
  
• Factors
• Driver Individual Characteristics (demographics,
  background experience, training, and medical
  conditions)
• Behaviors (personality traits - aggressiveness
  and risk-taking)
• Operating Environment (schedules, work hours,
  conditions)
• Expected Outcome Increased understanding of
  driver risk factors

6
Naturalistic Driving Research Program

• Provides in-vehicle, real-time data identifying
  driver factors such as issues of performance,
  inattention, distraction, fatigue, and other
  crash precursors.
• Truck cab is equipped with 5 video cameras
  providing views of drivers face, dashboard view,
  forward view, and 2 side mirror views.
• Expected Outcome The analysis of the
  naturalistic driving video data will provide a
  better understanding of the causes of crashes
  and potential
  countermeasures.

7
Driver Fatigue Research

• North American Fatigue Management Program (FMP)
• FMCSA and Transport Canada
• Components of FMP sleep apnea screening as well
  as training for managers, schedulers, drivers,
  and drivers families.
• Pilot test completed J.B. Hunt and a Canadian
  company evaluating FMP over next two years.
• One Expected Outcome Further development of a
  Drowsy Driver Warning System

8
Summary of Driver Factors

• Working on complementary studies to better
  understand the causes of crashes and provide a
  foundation for effective countermeasures.
• Studies use different methodologies each has its
  strengths
• LTCCS provides nationally representative sample,
  largest number of crashes evaluated, large number
  of data elements, and researchers at crash scene.
• Safety Data Risk, will identify driver risk
  factors. Study should support medical
  rulemakings.
• Naturalistic Driving Study is actual video of the
  precursors to crashes data will improve
  understanding of driver performance, inattention,
  distraction, and fatigue.

9
Simulator Validation Study

• FMCSAs ongoing Simulator Validation (Sim Val)
  Study examines conventional training,
  simulator-supported training, and no formal
  training for truck drivers

• Next study phase
• Examine whether simulator technology enhances CMV
  driver training and long-term driver performance
• Showcase the advanced capabilities of truck
  simulators to replicate emergency maneuvers

10
On-Board Monitoring to Improve Safety

• Caltrans and FMCSA - On-board monitoring and
  reporting.
• Study will define driver skills to be measured
  determine best means for communicating feedback
  to drivers develop a suite of hardware to
  monitor driver performance and develop research
  methodology
• FOT will be conducted to evaluate impact of
  on-board monitoring and feedback on CMV driver
  performance

11
CVISN Deployment Program

• SAFETEA-LU provides FMCSA 25 million/year
• Deploy Core capabilities nationwide
• States must have accepted CVISN Program Plan
• Receive no more than 2.5 million
• Define, develop, and implement Expanded
  capabilities
• Certified by FMCSA as completing Core deployment
• Receive no more than 1 million
• 19 States submitted CVISN grant applications,
  expect to receive requests from 20-25 States

12
Status of States
HI is developing its Business Plan
13
Core and Expanded CVISN Deployment
14
CVISN Ad Hoc Teams
2
3
Roadside Identification
HVUT
4
CVISN Central Support
1
Driver Info Sharing
CVISN Stakeholder Community
COMPASS Coordination
Security Flags
5
15
On-board Technology Initiatives
One Vision of a Safer Truck
Roll Stability Control Systems and Electronic
Stability Control Systems
1
1
3
Collision Warning Systems with Adaptive Cruise
Control
2
2
Lane Departure Warning Systems
3
16
Stability System Video

• Please view this video by clicking on the link at
  the Highway Transport Recent Meetings page.

17
On-board and Other Technology Initiatives
One Vision of a Secure Truck

• Satellite Mobile
• Communications System
• Real-time, Two-way Data
• Position Location (GPS)

1
1
3
2
Emergency Panic Buttons
2

• Cargo Security Technology
• Trailer Tracking
• Cargo Sensor
• Door Sensor
• Geo-fencing
• Trailer Connection/ Disconnection Status

3
18
Roadside Wireless Truck and Bus Inspections

• Develop alternative concepts to support
  inspections
• Leverage advanced on-board sensor systems and
  wireless communications technologies
• Current inspection activities and need for
  improved process
• Final report under review published later this
  summer

19
Wireless Concept

• Driver Data
• Driver identification, CDL status, and log info
• Vehicle Data
• Fault codes

20
Thermal Imaging Inspection System (Sec. 5513a)

• Conduct a demonstration of thermal imaging
  technologies
• Identify, in real time, faults and failures in
  tires, brakes and bearings mounted on commercial
  motor vehicles
• Employ system along the interstate
• Develop statistical tools that can predict
  impending tire, brake, or bearing failures
• Two-year Project

21
Driver Related Projects

• Employer Notification Service
• Burden to discover driver history is on motor
  carriers
• Design and prototype national ENS System
• Pilot test in Colorado and one other State
  (Summer 2006 November 2007)
• Commercial Drivers License 3rd Party Testing
  Anti-Fraud
• Goal reduce fraud in CDL process
• Develop IT-based strategies to monitor testing
• Pilot test software (Summer 2006) report (Fall
  2006) 

22
Enhanced Rear Signaling for Commercial Motor
Vehicles

• Rear-end crashes are one of the most frequent
  accident configurations in heavy vehicles
• Countermeasures will be evaluated by installing
  them on a test truck and observing driver
  behavior
• Final report (September 2006)

23
Enhanced Rear Signaling Features
24

• Michael S. Griffith
• Director, Office of Research and Analysis
• 400 Seventh Street, SW, Room 8214
• Washington, DC 20590
• Phone [phone]
• E-mail mike.griffith_at_dot.gov