An evaluation for School Bus Stop Ahead warning signs
Ohio, United States
Evaluation for School Bus Stop Sign Ahead Signs
Summary Information
To improve safety at school bus stops, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) conducted a study to identify available technologies or methods that could actively warn motorists of the presence of a school bus at an upcoming school bus stop. A scan of the current practice found that all States use static School Bus Stop Ahead signs similar to Ohio. A literature search reviewed current practices and research within the transportation industry as well as other relevant industries (e.g., construction, mining) and identified 13 potential technologies for use as a sensor, and four types of warning devices.
Two approaches were taken to evaluate the potential solutions:
- The first approach was the traditional benefit-to-cost analysis approach where benefits of each solution (particularly quantified safety benefits from crash reduction) were monetized and compared for three deployment scenarios that were developed to illustrate potential costs.
- The second approach was a benefits assessment that qualitatively evaluated each solution across a set of metrics and applying a weighted scale. This qualitative assessment allowed the inclusion of characteristics such as training and coordination needs as well as deployment readiness for each alternative.
Results
- Both the benefit-to-cost analysis and benefits assessment unanimously support the recommendation of using flashing beacons for the warning device; however, the results of the analysis were not as clear for the sensor technology.
- The top three sensors based on the benefit-to-cost analysis were Remote control (benefit--to-cost ratio of 5.17), Bluetooth (4.68), and Ultrasonic (4.42).
- The top three sensors based on the benefits assessment were: (1) Bluetooth, (2 tied) RFID, (2 tied) signal preemption, and (3) time-activated warning. Based on the benefit-to-cost analysis, the benefits are estimated to outweigh the costs for each of these alternatives.
The full results of the benefits assessment are presented in the following table:
Rank | Sensor | Warning Device |
Weighted Score (out of 5) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Bluetooth | Flashing Beacon |
3.95 |
2 (tied) | Radio-frequency identification (RFID) | Flashing Beacon |
3.90 |
2 (tied) | Signal Preemption | Flashing Beacon |
3.90 |
3 | Time-Activated Warning Device | Flashing Beacon |
3.85 |
4 | Global Positioning System (GPS) | Flashing Beacon |
3.80 |
5 | Remote Control | Flashing Beacon |
3.70 |
6 (tied) | Video Processing | Flashing Beacon |
3.50 |
6 (tied) | Bluetooth | VMS |
3.50 |
7 | Signal Preemption | VMS |
3.45 |
8 | Time-Activated Warning Device | VMS |
3.40 |
9 | RFID | VMS |
3.35 |
10 (tied) | Automatic vehicle location (AVL) | Flashing Beacon |
3.25 |
10 (tied) | Remote Control | VMS |
3.25 |
10 (tied) | GPS | VMS |
3.25 |
11 (tied) | Proximity Sensor | Auditory Warning |
3.20 |
11 (tied) | Ultrasonic | Auditory Warning |
3.20 |
12 (tied) | Ultrasonic | Flashing Beacon |
3.10 |
12 (tied) | Radar | Auditory Warning |
3.10 |
13 | Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) | Flashing Beacon |
3.05 |
14 (tied) | Radar | Flashing Beacon |
3.00 |
14 (tied) | Proximity Sensor | Flashing Beacon |
3.00 |
14 (tied) | Ultrasonic | VMS |
3.00 |
14 (tied) | Laser | Auditory Warning |
3.00 |
14 (tied) | Bluetooth | Auditory Warning |
3.00 |
15 (tied) | Signal Preemption | Auditory Warning |
2.95 |
15 (tied) | Video Processing | VMS |
2.95 |
16 (tied) | Laser | Flashing Beacon |
2.90 |
16 (tied) | AVL | VMS |
2.90 |
17 | GPS | Auditory Warning |
2.85 |
18 (tied) | Laser | VMS |
2.80 |
18 (tied) | Radar | VMS |
2.80 |
18 (tied) | Proximity Sensor | VMS |
2.80 |
19 (tied) | Remote Control | Auditory Warning |
2.75 |
19 (tied) | RFID | Auditory Warning |
2.75 |
20 (tied) | Time-Activated Warning Device | In-vehicle Warning |
2.60 |
20 (tied) | DSRC | VMS |
2.60 |
21 | Video Processing | Auditory Warning |
2.55 |
22 | Ultrasonic | In-vehicle Warning |
2.45 |
23 (tied) | Radar | In-vehicle Warning |
2.35 |
23 (tied) | Proximity Sensor | In-vehicle Warning |
2.35 |
24 | Video Processing | In-vehicle Warning |
2.30 |
25 (tied) | Bluetooth | In-vehicle Warning |
2.25 |
25 (tied) | Laser | In-vehicle Warning |
2.25 |
26 (tied) | AVL | Auditory Warning |
2.20 |
26 (tied) | RFID | In-vehicle Warning |
2.20 |
26 (tied) | Signal Preemption | In-vehicle Warning |
2.20 |
27 (tied) | DSRC | Auditory Warning |
2.00 |
27 (tied) | Remote Control | In-vehicle Warning |
2.00 |
27 (tied) | GPS | In-vehicle Warning |
2.00 |
28 | DSRC | In-vehicle Warning |
1.65 |
29 | AVL | In-vehicle Warning |
1.45 |