Transit Vehicle Collision Characteristics for Connected Vehicle Applications Research: 2009-2014 Analysis of Collisions Involving Transit Vehicles and Applicability of Connected Vehicle Solutions

The transit industry has always shown a great interest in the adoption of transformational safety technologies to improve the safety of its passengers and drivers, as well as all road users including pedestrians. Due to its unique characteristics and behaviors, such as vehicle size and frequent stops/starts, transit often deals with safety challenges and priorities that are often different from those for light duty and commercial vehicles. The purpose of this report was to identify candidate transit collision scenarios for near-term connected vehicle safety research using data from the 2009-2014 National Transit Database (NTD). The study identifies motor bus collision types according to collision characteristics, including the type of object the transit vehicle collided with (e.g., pedestrian, motor vehicles, infrastructure elements, etc.), the location of the collision (e.g., mid-block or at an intersection), and the spatial relationship between vehicles when they collided. The study revealed some prominent characteristics (such as spatial relationship between vehicles) related to motor bus collisions, and how these characteristics are amenable to connected vehicle solutions. The study ranks collision types by frequency, cost, and average cost per collision. Findings from the study may be used to inform the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) in its prioritization of transit Connected Vehicle for Safety research, particularly to support application development in the following areas: (1) Pedestrian Crossing Warning Applications: These applications could warn bus drivers of a pedestrian’s presence in a crosswalk – at intersections and mid-block; (2) Bus Stop Pedestrian Warning Applications: These applications could warn bus drivers and pedestrians of pedestrians in harm’s way of bus movements at bus stops; (3) Left Turn Warning Applications: These applications could provide information to drivers performing unprotected left turns to judge the gaps in oncoming traffic and to inform them of hazards to completing a safe left turn; (4) Forward Collision Warning Applications: These applications could warn drivers if they fail to brake when a vehicle in their path is stopped or traveling substantially slower; (5) Angle Collisions at Intersections Warning Applications: These applications could provide warnings to drivers of imminent angle or T-bone collisions at intersections, including highway-rail intersections (HRI); and (6) Blind Spot Warning/Lane Change Warning Applications: These applications could warn drivers when they try to change lanes if there is a vehicle in the blind spot of an overtaking vehicle. This report is an update of the report, “Transit Vehicle Collision Characteristics for Connected Vehicle Applications Research: Analysis of Collisions Involving Transit Vehicles and Applicability of Connected Vehicle Solutions,” November 2013 (FHWA-JPO-13-116).

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• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/32527
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Title on cover: Transit Vehicle Collision Characteristics for Connected Vehicle Applications Research Update: 2009-2014 Analysis of Collisions Involving Transit Vehicles and Applicability of Connected Vehicle Solutions.
• Corporate Authors:

  Noblis

  600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Suite 755
  Washington, DC  United States  20024

  Department of Transportation

  Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Craig, John L
  • Lowman, Alexa
  • Schneeberger, J D
  • Burnier, Carolina
  • Lesh, Matthew
• Publication Date: 2016-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 148p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bus crashes; Bus transit; Connected vehicles; Crash characteristics; Vehicle to infrastructure communications; Vehicle to vehicle communications
• Identifier Terms: National Transit Database
• Uncontrolled Terms: Safety warning systems; Vehicle to pedestrian communications
• Subject Areas: Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01648353
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-JPO-16-368
• Contract Numbers: DTFH61-11-D-00018
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 10 2017 5:41PM