AUTOMATED CRASH NOTIFICATION: PRELIMINARY FINDINGS AND FUTURE TRENDS

Early notification of a crash and the ability to estimate its severity and the extent of any injuries can have a significant impact on the provision of prehospital care and treatment. Early crash notification is especially important in rural areas. This has been recognized by the Federal Highway Administration's Technology Deployment Initiatives and Partnership Program (TDIPP), which has a goal of reducing the human cost of run-off-the-road crashes and related injuries. The program is designed to significantly accelerate the adoption of innovative technologies, including systems that can enhance postcrash services, thereby mitigating trauma. This article describes one effort addressing the TDIPP goal that was initiated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and a number of public and private partners in western New York State in October 1995. Two systems were developed and are currently being tested under this effort: an automated collision notification (ACN) system and a crash event timer (CET) device. The ACN effort has received attention in the national media, and ITS America has broadcast messages about the capability on 618 radio stations in 50 states with an audience of more than 15 million listeners. Public awareness is expected to generate demand, particularly as the cost of the service decreases. Packaging of mayday systems with other services, such as navigation, driver assistance, and traveler information, might also increase consumer demand for crash detection technology. Assuming that demand supports the widespread deployment of in-vehicle crash notification systems, the integration of these systems with public safety and medical response services nationwide will be the next major challenge.

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• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Starosielec, E A
  • Funke, D J
  • BLATT, A J
• Publication Date: 1999-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 23-26
• Serial:
  • TR News
  • Issue Number: 201
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0738-6826

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automatic crash notification; Crash sensors; Crashes; Emergency medical services; Postcrash phase; Ran off road crashes; Rural areas; Technological innovations
• Identifier Terms: Technology Deployment initiatives Partnership Prog
• Uncontrolled Terms: Crash event timer
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I80: Accident Studies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00763320
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-042 801
• Files: HSL, TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: May 27 2000 12:00AM