Expanded Research and Development of an Enhanced Rear Signaling System for Commercial Motor Vehicles

The purpose of the current study was to further develop and refine the prototype Enhanced Rear Signaling (ERS) system that was developed during the previous Phase III effort. Expanded development efforts for the ERS system included modification of the system into a unit designed for simple commercial motor vehicle (CMV) installation, collision-warning activation refinements, and rear lighting brightness adjustments for nighttime conditions. During the ERS system development process, the team successfully completed necessary modifications for improved CMV installation. Formal closed test-track and real-world testing were then performed to determine the ERS system collision-warning activation performance. Ultimately, the ERS system performed with a 100 percent correct detection rate and an 85.43 percent correct rejection rate during real-world testing. During all ERS system activations, no unsafe following vehicle driver reactions/behaviors were observed, indicating a promising system for follow-on research. A nighttime brightness level was selected at the conclusion of a ratings study and carried on into nighttime real-world testing. During ERS system nighttime activations, there were also no unsafe following-vehicle driver reactions/behaviors observed. Overall, the research team found that the ERS system is ready for further evaluation in a field operational test (FOT).

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• Summary URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/173
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/174
• Corporate Authors:

  Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg

  Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
  3500 Transportation Research Plaza
  Blacksburg, VA  United States  24061

  Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

  Office of Analysis, Research, and Technology
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Schaudt, William A
  • Bowman, Darrell S
  • Stone, Scott R
  • Perez, Matthew C
• Publication Date: 2014-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 92p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Brightness; Commercial vehicles; Field tests; Night; Prototype tests; Rear end crashes; Rear lighting; Trucks; Warning devices
• Subject Areas: Highways; Motor Carriers; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01529480
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FMCSA-RRT-13-009
• Contract Numbers: DTMC75-07-D-00006
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 30 2014 9:41AM