A more integrated, triangular ‘driver-vehicle-infrastructure’ approach is needed to maximise the road safety benefits of ADAS. That’s a key finding in a recent research project, commissioned in 2020 by FIA, the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, and developed by a consortium featuring Royal Haskoning DHV, TNO, and HAN University of Applied Sciences.
The project provides valuable insights into the improvements required at each corner of this triangle, and involved research carried out in relation to six selected ADAS: Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keep Assist (LKA), and Drowsiness Detection & Distraction Recognition.
The FIA-sponsored study concluded that even in cases where the systems fail to function well, potential road safety risks can be avoided by proper fail-safe communication.. While ADAS has the potential to deliver significant gains in terms of road safety, it is also undeniable that much remains to be done to turn the vision of safe semi-automated driving into reality. Therefore, governments, research institutes, automakers, service providers, and road operators should align their efforts around an integrated ‘driver – vehicle – infrastructure’ approach and set clear goals for the short and the long term.
