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Suggested Citation:"Chapter 1 - Introduction." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020. Current Practices in the Use of Onboard Technologies to Avoid Transit Bus Incidents and Accidents. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25716.
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Suggested Citation:"Chapter 1 - Introduction." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020. Current Practices in the Use of Onboard Technologies to Avoid Transit Bus Incidents and Accidents. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25716.
×
Page 6
Page 7
Suggested Citation:"Chapter 1 - Introduction." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020. Current Practices in the Use of Onboard Technologies to Avoid Transit Bus Incidents and Accidents. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25716.
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Page 7

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5 In 2017, there were 4,750 collisions, 16,338 injuries, 98 fatalities, and $694,493,189 in casualty and liability expenses involving transit buses (National Transit Database 2017, 2018). To improve safety, transit agencies have implemented various onboard technologies to provide additional information to their operators and to mitigate collisions through automated responses. Tech- nologies used to reduce accidents include, but are not limited to, the following (see the glossary for definitions of the first five technologies on the list): • Forward collision warning (FCW) • Mitigation or automated emergency braking • Lane departure warning (LDW) • Electronic stability control (ESC) • Pedestrian and other vulnerable road user integrated detection • Other forms of driver assistance systems Transit agencies around the country are facing the challenge of reducing transit bus collisions and the injuries, fatalities, and liability expenses associated with these collisions. The examination performed for this synthesis and industry experiences reflected in the literature review show that many transit agencies are proactively instituting a number of approaches to address these collisions, including the piloting and use of collision avoidance technologies, such as FCW, emergency braking, LDW, and ESC. To reduce the likelihood of pedestrian collisions while buses are turning, agencies have piloted various technologies that detect vulnerable road users obstructed from the operators’ field of view because of, for example, the bus’s A-pillar or mirrors, or the turning procedures. These technology applications display warning alerts to pedestrians in the form of flashing lights, audible announcements of possible dangers, or both. Other technologies provide displays in the operator workstation that offer less obstructed views of the bus’s surroundings. Transit agencies often adopt collision mitigation measures, like collision avoidance technology applications, as part of a comprehensive approach that can include additional training, bulletins, and other agency modifications. The multipronged approach to addressing these collisions makes it difficult to establish the effectiveness of one countermeasure and to estimate the return on investment from collision avoidance technologies. Additionally, it is challenging to predict the monetary savings associated with collisions that do not occur and the reduction of near-miss events due to these treatments. This synthesis aims to document different collision avoidance technologies that transit agencies have piloted or implemented, and agency feedback related to the technology features. C H A P T E R 1 Introduction

6 Current Practices in the Use of Onboard Technologies to Avoid Transit Bus Incidents and Accidents Project Background and Objectives This synthesis documents the current practice and usage of the various onboard technologies used in transit buses, with a primary objective of determining whether these technologies are effective in actual practice. To present the findings of this synthesis effectively, the synthesis team has established definitions for a number of the terms used, which can be found in the glossary. Technical Approach to the Project This synthesis explores the current practices in the use of onboard technologies to prevent bus incidents and accidents, and documents those practices described as successful. A literature review, survey of 55 transit agencies, and seven detailed case example interviews of the following agencies were conducted to report on the state of the practice: • Dallas Area Rapid Transit (Dallas, Texas) • GoTriangle (Durham, North Carolina) • Greater Bridgeport Transit (Bridgeport, Connecticut) • Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (Cleveland, Ohio) • King County Metro Transit (Seattle, Washington) • Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston, Texas) • Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) To inform other transit agencies that may be considering the implementation of the tech- nologies described, this report presents lessons learned and corresponding guidance provided by case example agencies. Each of the case example agencies piloted or implemented at least one collision avoidance technology, many of which provide pedestrian detection alerts. In addition, some of these technologies serve other functions such as generating forward collision and lane departure warn- ings. Technologies used by the case example agencies include the following: • Mobileye Advanced Driver Assistance System • Mobileye Shield+ System • Protran Safe Turn Alert System • Protran Blind Spot Awareness System • Battelle Enhanced Transit Safety Retrofit Package (E-TRP) • Brigade Backeye360 camera and ultrasonic sensors The Mobileye Advanced Driver Assistance System includes a sensor mounted on the wind- shield and a display on the dash to warn bus operators of pedestrians or cyclists who may be within an area with an obstructed view. The Mobileye Shield+ System uses additional sensors to detect pedestrians and cyclists and provides alerts to the operator if the system detects an object in an area with an obstructed view. Both Mobileye systems can also warn of imminent forward collisions, lane departures, unsafe headway distances, and speeds in excess of the speed limit. Both systems also collect and maintain data that transit agencies may use to measure and track safety performance metrics. The Protran Safe Turn Alert System is a stand-alone passive warning system that plays an audible message to warn that the bus is turning. The system also includes data logging and global positioning system (GPS) features, and it has an optional strobe light warning on the exterior of the bus to attract the attention of distracted or vulnerable road users. The Protran Blind Spot Awareness System, available as an add-on to the Protran Safe Turn Alert System, provides the bus operator with an audible and visual warning if an object is detected on either side of the bus.

Introduction 7 Battelle’s E-TRP includes dedicated short-range communications, a high-precision global navigation satellite system, and forward-looking infrared cameras to warn bus operators of pedestrians in crossings and vehicles turning right in front of the bus. The warnings produced by the Battelle E-TRP include both audio and visual alerts from a color touch screen display mounted in the cab of the bus. The Brigade Backeye360 camera and ultrasonic sensors provide a simulated view from above the bus to assist the operator with low-speed maneuvering by removing visual obstructions. The additional ultrasonic sensors detect pedestrians or obstacles close to the bus, whether moving or stationary, and provide an audible or visual (or both) in-cab warning to inform the operator of the obstacle. Report Organization Chapter 2 provides a summary of the literature review and focuses on the technologies that have been implemented on transit buses to reduce incidents and collisions. Chapter 2 also includes a review of collision avoidance technologies that have been deployed on personal occupant and commercial motor vehicles and that may have application for public transit buses. Chapter 3 provides a summary of a project survey that was submitted to 55 public transit agencies and was completed by 44 of those agencies (an 80 percent response rate). Chapter 4 provides a narrative of the information gathered from the seven case example agencies selected from the pool of survey respondents. Chapter 5 summarizes the major findings from the synthesis project tasks and identifies major issues, constraints, and challenges identified by survey respondents and case example participants. It includes successes that were achieved through various safety-related applications and programs, along with lessons learned. In addition, the synthesis team provides concluding comments and suggestions for further research.

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Transit agencies around the country are facing the challenges of reducing transit bus collisions and the injuries, fatalities, and liability expenses associated with these collisions.

The TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program's TCRP Synthesis 145: Current Practices in the Use of Onboard Technologies to Avoid Transit Bus Incidents and Accidents documents the current practices in the use of the various onboard technologies on transit buses to prevent incidents and accidents, with a primary objective of determining whether these technologies are effective in actual practice.

The examination shows that many transit agencies are proactively instituting a number of approaches to address these collisions, including the piloting and use of collision avoidance technologies, such as forward collision warning (FCW), emergency braking, lane departure warning (LDW), and electronic stability control (ESC).

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