Rural Intelligent Transportation SystemsRural Intersection Accident Mitigation

Rural Intelligent Transportation SystemsRural Intersection Accident Mitigation

New Mexico ITS 2011New Mexico ITS 2011Sandia Casino, NMSandia Casino, NM

November 4 2011November 4 2011

New Mexico ITS 2011New Mexico ITS 2011Sandia Casino, NMSandia Casino, NM

November 4 2011November 4 2011

John HansenVP Sales AM Signal /Delegate to NCMUTCD

ProblemProblem

The problem of rural road crashes (lane departure, intersection, merges, etc.) and the resulting fatalities, serious injury and property damage is real.

Bottom line, how to develop low-cost, readily deployable, low maintenance systems that can be used by government agencies to improve safety on rural roads and non-signalized rural intersections.

Case Study Rural Minnesota Intersection

ProblemProblem

• Minnesota Motor Vehicle Crash Facts, 2009– 421 fatalities down from 455 in 2008– 31,074 injuries down from 33,379 in 2007– Rural areas account for 2 out of 3 fatalities– 1/3 involve single vehicle– 2/3 involve 2 or more vehicles– 2009 crashes cost Minnesota $1.5 billion

Underlying CausesUnderlying Causes

• In Single Vehicle Crashes– Illegal or unsafe speed contributing factor most often

cited for all drivers

• In Multiple Vehicle Crashes– For drivers through age 64 – driver inattention or

distraction most often cited

– Failure to yield second most common

• Over Age 65 Pattern Reverses– Failure to yield most common

– Driver inattention or distraction second most common

Driving ConditionsDriving Conditions

• Most Crashes Occur in Good Driving Conditions– Over 50% of fatal and about 2/3 of nonfatal occur during

daylight hours– Good Weather Conditions

• Over 60% of fatal and about 56% of nonfatal – “clear” weather

– Road Surface Condition for Fatal Crashes• Usually “good”• 10% on wet roads• 15% on snowy or icy roads

– Road Surface Condition for Nonfatal Crashes• 60% of nonfatal on dry roads• 13% on wet roads• 25% on snowy or icy roads

Literature SearchLiterature Search

• Discovered considerable research

• Found few off-the-shelf products available

• Found almost nothing to address– low-volume dynamic rural intersection warning systems– dynamic lane departure warning systems specifically

relating to horizontal curves

The SolutionThe Solution

SEH and NTT working with the other major participants have been developing and demonstrating low-cost, portable systems that can be used by counties on low-volume roads and intersections to reduce crashes and move Toward Zero Deaths. The technologies used are integrations of commercial off-the-shelf (COS) technologies. Utilized together as a system they represent an innovative low-cost approach and better understanding and solving serious safety problems.

Rural ITS ToolboxRural ITS Toolbox

Rural ITSRural ITS

• Intersection Warning System (IWS)

• Driver Behavior Evaluation System (DBES)

• Stop Sign Warning System (SSWS)

• Curve Warning System (CWS)

Intersection Warning SystemMajor Participants

Intersection Warning SystemMajor Participants

• Mn/DOT 2007 Innovative Ideas Program – OTST

• USDOT - FHWA

• Hennepin County, MN

• SEH Inc.

• Network Transportation Technologies, LLC (NTT)

Project Goal Project Goal

Develop a low-cost, readily deployable, Develop a low-cost, readily deployable, low maintenance system that can be used low maintenance system that can be used to improve safety at low volume, non-to improve safety at low volume, non-signalized intersections.signalized intersections.

InnovationInnovation

• Merits of dynamic warning systems

• Moving from research to reality

• Off-the-shelf components

• Solar/Battery powered

• Modular design

• Ease of installation and maintenance

• Relative low-cost

System ConfigurationsSystem Configurations

Solar

Radar

Controller

User Interface

Communications (Radio)

Battery

Solar

Battery

SIGN

Controller

Communications (Radio)

Fault

Indicator

Detection Node Warning Node

CR 47 and Lawndale LaneCR 47 and Lawndale Lane

Going LiveGoing Live

Solar Panel & Controller CabinetSolar Panel & Controller Cabinet

Controller Cabinet ElectronicsController Cabinet Electronics

IWS In OperationIWS In Operation

CR 47 West Detector Node Looking East

CR 47 West Detector Node Looking East

Safety ImpactsSafety Impacts

• 54% reduction in the number of “conflicts”

• Reduction from 3.9 to 1.8 conflicts per 1000 vehicles

Owner Satisfaction(Data from Evaluation Report prepared by SRF)

Owner Satisfaction(Data from Evaluation Report prepared by SRF)

• Reliable and effective at warning drivers of approaching cross-street traffic

• Easy to install and maintain

• Relatively low fixed cost

• Transferable

User PerceptionUser Perception

• 94.2% were aware of the sign

• 88.5% understood the meaning of the sign

• 79.4% had improved awareness of approaching traffic

• 65.2% are more likely to stop when sign is flashing

• Half of survey respondents indicated they pay more attention when the sign is flashing

PerformancePerformance

• Operated with a 98.6% uptime during 6 month test period

• Experienced 3 failures during the 6 month test period

• Worked well in all weather conditions

• Continuous operation for over 3 years

Rural ITS Safety Systems (RITSS)Rural ITS Safety Systems (RITSS)

• Mn/DOT’s 2009 Innovative Ideas Program that included the following elements:– Driver Behavior Evaluation System (DBES)

currently being evaluated in Olmsted County, MN– Stop Sign Warning System (SSWS) currently

being evaluated in Washington County, MN– Curve Warning System (CWS) currently being

evaluated in Wright County, MN

Driver Behavior Evaluation System (DBES) Concept

Driver Behavior Evaluation System (DBES) Concept

• Need to know exactly what the problem is:– System to provide reliable data– Driver behavior underlying the problem– At rural intersection stop signs

• Behavior of driver approaching stop sign• Behavior of driver on through road• Speed profiles

– At horizontal curve• Behavior of driver approaching curve• Speed profile

Driver Behavior Evaluation SystemDriver Behavior Evaluation System

• Hardware– Doppler radar– GPS receiver– Data logger– Battery powered with life of 3 weeks– Up to 4 devices to cover 4-way intersection– Single device to cover each approach to a curve

• Software– Analysis and reporting strategies

DBES Field UnitDBES Field Unit

Driver Behavior Evaluation System Olmsted County, MN

TH 42/CSAH 9

Driver Behavior Evaluation System Olmsted County, MN

TH 42/CSAH 9

Stop Sign Warning System (SSWS) Concept

Stop Sign Warning System (SSWS) Concept

• Radar-based detection to monitor speed profile of vehicle approaching a stop sign

• Provide a flashing warning of the stop based on speed– Within normal stop profile –

No warning– Excessive speed detected –

flashing lights to alert driver

Stop Sign Warning System Stop Sign Warning System

• Hardware– Doppler radar– Wireless link– Controller– Flasher stop sign– Fault notification

• Software– Speed/distance data algorithm

to set parameters– Determine spatial position of

the vehicle– Activate flashers

Stop Sign Warning SystemDesign

Stop Sign Warning SystemDesign

• Deceleration Rate = 14.8 ft/s2

• Maximum Approach Speed Design = 80 mph

• Duration of Flash = Detection Speed / 14.8 ft/s2

• Enhance Border of Near Right Stop Sign

On-Site Fault Notification Device

Curve Warning System (CWS)Concept

Curve Warning System (CWS)Concept

• Radar-based detection to monitor speed profile of vehicle approaching a horizontal curve

• Provide a flashing warning of the curve ahead based on speed– Within normal speed reduction

profile – No warning– Excessive speed detected –

flashing lights to alert driver

Curve Warning System Design

Curve Warning System Design

• Deceleration Rate = 14.8 ft/s2

• Design for Curve Entry Speed = 47 mph (posted 40 mph)

• Maximum Approach Speed Design = 75 mph

• Enhance Chevron Signs 3, 4, 5 and 6

• Duration of Flash = 4 seconds from curve entry (50 mph to Sign 6 from Curve Entry)

Curve Warning System Line of SightWashington County

Curve Warning System InstallationCurve Warning System Installation

CSAH 17 & CSAH 42 IntersectionCSAH 17 & CSAH 42 Intersection

Mainline Warning Node

Mainline Warning Node

Wright CountyWright County

• Active warning Node for vehicles approaching the stop sign on the minor road

• Solar/Battery

• Controller/Radio

• Default notification

Questions ?Questions ?

John Hansen/John Morast PEApplication Consultants

AM Signal Inc720.348.6925