In a pilot test, collision avoidance warning systems contributed to a large reduction in near-miss events, though bus driver acceptance was mixed.

Statewide demonstration pilot of a vision-based Collision Avoidance Warning System for transit buses in Washington.

Date Posted
11/28/2017
Identifier
2017-B01210
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Active Safety-Collision Warning Pilot in Washington State

Summary Information

This project, conducted under the auspices of the Washington State Transit Insurance Pool (WSTIP), involved field testing and evaluating a vision-based Collision Avoidance Warning System (CAWS) specifically developed for use on transit buses. The CAWS uses four cameras to provide coverage of blind zones where vulnerable road users may be hidden from the driver’s view:

  • a master camera attached to the center of the inside windshield
  • a camera attached to the inside windshield positioned to cover the blind zone on the left front created by the "A" pillar
  • one external forward-facing camera on each side of the bus towards the rear, to cover blind zones behind the driver.

Alerts and warnings about imminent collisions are displayed to the driver by visual indicators located on the windshield and front pillars. The CAWS provides alerts and warnings to a bus driver for the following conditions that could lead to a collision: 1) changing lanes without activating a turn signal (lane departure warning was disabled for this pilot), 2) exceeding posted speed limit, 3) monitoring headway with the vehicle leading the bus, 4) forward vehicle collision warning, and 5) pedestrian or cyclist collision warning in front of, or alongside the bus.

Methodology

For the demonstration pilot, CAWS were installed on 35 buses at seven WSTIP member agencies including: Ben Franklin Transit, Richland, WA, C-Tran, Vancouver, WA, Community Transit, Everett, WA, InterCity Transit, Olympia, WA, Kitsap Transit, Bremerton, WA, Pierce Transit, Tacoma, WA, Spokane Transit, Spokane, WA, and on an additional 3 buses at King County Metro Transit in Seattle, WA.

Buses in the test fleet were equipped with real-time telematics monitoring. To provide a baseline, CAWS on Spokane Transit buses were set up to collect and transmit data via telematics, but did not issue warnings to drivers. The official pilot data collection period ran from April 1, 2016 through June 30, 2016.

A transit survey was also developed and distributed to solicit driver acceptance as well as bus passenger feedback. The survey included 12 questions and was administered three times over the test period (277 questionnaires were submitted in total).

Findings

User Satisfaction:

  • Overall, 37 percent of the survey responses indicated that the system was helpful, and 63 percent indicated the system was distracting.
  • Thirty three percent of the survey responses were affirmative when drivers were asked if they preferred to drive with it and 67 percent were negative.
Results Type
Deployment Locations