Nationwide, United States
Nationwide, Germany
Enhanced Automatic Collision Notification System – Improved Rescue Care Due to Injury Prediction - First Field Experience
Summary Information
This paper summarizes the initial findings from a database of crashes that involved BMW’s equipped with Automatic Crash Notification (ACN) Systems in the US and Germany. In addition, first field experiences with BMW’s enhanced ACN systems are reported where vehicles not only provide an initial crash notification but also transmit data describing the nature and severity of the collision event. The benefits of such a system, including the rapid recognition of potentially injured occupants based on key characteristics of each crash, are explored.
Since 2006, nearly 14,000 BMW crashes have occurred in the US involving vehicles equipped with ACN or enhanced ACN technology. Of these, 70 percent of occupants indicate no injury to the TSP (Telematics Service Provider) operators, 20 percent indicate they are injured in some way and require help while 10 percent provide no verbal response to the TSP call-taker. An investigation of a subsample of crashes occurring in Florida suggests that no hospital transport was necessary for 81 percent of the calls where no voice response occurred. Although the majority of these cases require no further care, 19 percent of the no voice population was subsequently transported to a hospital or trauma center for additional care. This population of occupants could benefit from an automatic call for help to a Public Services Answering Point (PSAP - commonly known as 911) that includes an estimate of the likelihood of serious injuries.
To assist in identifying crashes with incapacitating injuries, the William Lehman Injury Research Center (WLIRC) in Miami, Florida and BMW have pioneered the development of an algorithm called URGENCY. This algorithm is based on US national crash statistics and BMW internal data. The injury prediction by URGENCY permits the transmission of the earliest and best information to the PSAP. We report early observations of injury severity and location for enhanced ACN equipped vehicle crashes occurring in the US and Germany.
Although findings are based on preliminary data with relatively low crash counts, the implications are clear. Looking at the complete US, 10 percent of all BMW ACN crashes had no voice response (i.e. 569 out of 5,689 in 2008). Applying findings from Florida we project that a total of 114 BMW occupants across the US each year could require subsequent medical attention although they may not provide a verbal response to TSP call-takers. Imagining such a system implemented in all passenger vehicles in the US, this automatic call for help could improve outcomes in the same way for over 15,200 drivers each year involved in moderate to high severity crashes. This estimate was derived from NASS CDS (National Automotive Sampling System Crashworthiness Data System) 2007 data, where 800,000 passenger vehicles were reported to be involved in a tow-away crash severe enough to trigger an ACN system if the system were available.
