On July 18, 2023, SAE International published the EDGE^TM Research Report, Reducing Human Driver Error and Setting Realistic Expectations with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. Dibble’s Director of Traffic Engineering, Seth Chalmers, PE, was the lead author of the report.

The report details how thousands die or are injured each year in automobile crashes. Reducing these fatalities and injuries requires a new approach to vehicle safety, effectiveness, and efficiency. The continual emergence of new technologies related to vehicle safety allows us to take a more aggressive approach.

Research has shown that human driver error is one of the main causes of vehicle crashes, including behaviors known as “D driver” behaviors—drinking, drugs, dumb decisions, distractions, dementia, and other disorders. In-vehicle advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) offer significant potential in helping humans be better drivers and taking over for them when necessary.

While further refinements need to be made, bringing automated driving systems (ADS) into the ADAS space, standardizing the ADAS naming system across the vehicle manufacturing market, updating public policies, and adopting the Federal Highway Administration’s Safe System approach are crucial first steps. By leveraging ADAS more proactively, we can reduce human driver error that causes fatal and serious injury crashes, thus working toward our goal of Vision Zero.

Contributors

In addition to Seth Chalmers, the following team members contributed to this EDGE Research Report:

• Alison Gieselman, EIT, Dibble
• Rebecca Argo, Dibble
• Paul Carlson, PhD, PE, Automated Roads
• Colton Kevane, Arizona State University
• Neal Hawkins, PE, Center for Transportation Research and Education at Iowa State University
• Brendan Russo, PhD, PE, The Arizona Laboratory for Applied Transportation Research at Northern Arizona University
• Alyssa Ryan, PhD, Center for Applied Transportation Sciences at the University of Arizona
• Thomas Klein, JD, Klein Thomas Lee & Fresard
• Scott Kelley, PE, PTOE, Greenlight Traffic Engineering
• Michael Blankenship, PE, RSP, Greenlight Traffic Engineering
• Heather Brown, Dibble
• Hunter Venne, PE, Dibble

SAE International team: 

• Michael Thompson, Director of Standards, Information, and Research Publications
• William Kucinski, Senior Managing Editor
• Monica Nogueira, Director of Content Acquisition and Development

Presentations

June 24, 2024 | TRB 2nd International Conference and Peer Exchange on Roadside Safety | Assisted Human Drivers and Robot Drivers working Together to Make Our Roads Safer

June 17, 2024 | ASCE International Conference on Transportation & Development | Assisted Human Drivers and Robot Drivers working Together to Make Our Roads Safer

June 5, 2024 | SAE International Mobility Frontier Webinar | With Alyssa Ryan, PhD | Reducing Human Driver Error: Setting Realistic Expectations with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems

April 4, 2024 | AZ ITE-IMSA Spring Conference | Leveraging Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and Automated Driving Systems for Safer Roads

February 5, 2024 | ATSSA’s Convention & Traffic Expo | Improving Road Safety with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems

November 2, 2023 | ACEC Arizona Roads and Streets Conference | Leveraging Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and Automated Driving Systems for Safer Roads

September 28, 2023 | ASCE/ASHE Annual State Conference | Roadway Safety and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems

September 21, 2023 | ITS Arizona Annual Conference | Roadway Safety and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems

September 13, 2023 | Roads & Bridges/ATSSA Webinar | Assisted Human Drivers and Robot Drivers: Harmonizing for Safer Roads

Summary Handout

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