Tomasz Kamiński

Collision detection algorithms in the ecall system

The article describes some algorithms for collision detection used in modern cars airbag systems. While controlling the activation of airbags and other passive safety systems, installed in modern vehicles, the algorithms must operate in the early stage of accident, because for operating effectively it is necessary to run control systems early enough, for example filling airbags before the body of the driver or passenger reaches the zone of airbag. These algorithms could be applied into the on-board eCall modules, but they would require calibration. Detection of the collision that activates eCall system must be made on the basis of measurable signals or observable events, which intensity can be relatively clearly linked to the probability serious injury of the driver and the passengers’ of the vehicle. A table summary presented in this article contains a description of the collision detection algorithm along with a brief description of the method of detection and description of the used methodology. A frequently used method is to evaluate the gradient of the change of speed the parameter V, or its combinations with different parameters, such as the derivative of acceleration, displacement, and energy of the collision. Each of the algorithms has been briefly described. The whole of article is summarized with the conclusions arising from its content.

Measuring driver behaviour - indicators for traffic safety

Over one million people die each year on the roads and about 20-50 million are injured. Traffic safety is a global problem that needs interdisciplinary scientific approach to develop methodology for safety studies that will lead to valid conclusions and in the end to suitable preventive measures. It is difficult to define what a safe and unsafe behaviour is. Transportation research tries to find relation between significant variables and traffic safety in the triangle of interaction between human, vehicle and environment. Raw accidents data excludes ex-ante evaluations and is insufficient due to the rare frequency and difficulty with investigating causes. There is still lack of consensus between researchers on usage of the traffic safety indicators and their cut-off values. Article presents different methods for measuring driver behaviour and objective behavioural indicators that are commonly used as traffic safety measures e.g. time to collision, post-encroachment-time, deceleration rate, time headway, red-light violations, lane deviations, gap acceptance and others. The aim of the paper is to provide general framework for exploring valid and reliable variables in the traffic safety studies.

The analysis of ANPR camera location points in bus lanes monitoring system in the city of Warsaw

Warsaw has the most developed public transportation system in Poland and, therefore, the longest network of bus only lanes. The studies show a significant number of their violations made by individual vehicles, mostly because of complex traffic conditions and lack of physical separation from the other road lanes. This situation leads not only to road traffic law violations, but also mainly to disturbance in regularity and efficiency of bus connections. According to similar solutions implemented in other cities, Motor Transport Institute designed a concept bus lane enforcement system for Warsaw, which comprises the analysis of state-of-the-art law regulations on using monitoring systems in Poland, as well as operational and technical conditions for implementing the designed system and the concept of the system and system architecture itself. During the research, Motor Transport Institute conducted a complex audit of the bus lanes, in result of which the desired locations for ANPR camera points were identified. The article thoroughly describes the Polish law regulations on ANPR cameras location and confronts is with the actual needs regarding specific urban road sections. It also presents the methodology adopted for localizing the camera points. As a result, several examples of proposed locations are presented and discussed in terms of their compliance with the regulations, necessity for changing the traffic system on the specific road section and efficiency in bus lane enforcement.

Application of eyetracking research techniques into road safety studies - theoretical considerations

In recent years, both in Poland and throughout Europe the number of road accidents and the number of people injured and killed in these cases systematically decreases (despite a slight increase in 2011). Despite the general goals of EU transport policy for years 2000-2010 have not been fulfilled (the number of fatalities in road accidents have not been reduced by half in these years) the Commission on Mobility and Transport is continuing its efforts to reduce the number of accidents, which resulted in the EP resolution of 27th August, 2011. Under this policy, the EU Member States are forced to develop and implement appropriate procedures and requirements associated with road safety analysis in the near future. An important obligation have been introduced with the Directive 2008/96/EC, stating the compulsory road safety audits (RSA) should be carried on TEN-T road network. European Parliament also announced extension of this obligation on other public roads in the near future. These aspirations could be supported with modern engineering and research technology. In following article, authors describe the possibilities of using eyetracking technologies in studies over road safety analysis. Therefore, modern eyetracking devices were characterized, with particular emphasis on its possible use in the study of driver’s behaviours in road traffic conditions. Also, a brief analysis of the methodology of the eyetracking experiments in traffic conditions and their results was presented, indicating possibilities of carrying RSA using similar equipment. In the last chapter authors, discuss possible use of eyetracking technologies in studies of road safety analysis in the context of the existing law in European Union and each member’s law regulation system.

Self - reported drivers’ behaviour : an application of DBQ in Poland

Most of road accidents are caused by human error. To study these errors road safety researchers developed selfreported measures. DBQ (Driver Behaviour Questionnaire) is one of the most frequently used tools for studies carried out in scope of traffic psychology. It has become an international standard which is used by driver behaviour researchers, yet it is still quite unknown in Poland. The questionnaire describes aberrant behaviour of the drivers in two basic dimensions: errors and violations. The main purpose of following article is to present the theoretical principles underlying the human error model, structure of this tool and polish adaption of the questionnaire. Polish version of the DBQ has 32 items in total. Another aim of the study was to investigate the factorial structure of the DBQ presented in previous studies. The reported data included a sample of 467 drivers. Reliability coefficients were calculated for each scale and their value were around .80 representing high overall reliability. Our analysis indicates that the DBQ construct was fairly congruent with the one presented in the Swedish study. Behaviours were classified due to their factor loadings in following dimensions – violations, mistakes, inattention and inexperience. Seven behaviours have different factor loading, which indicates different psychological mechanism underlying these aberrations. Issues related to these findings are discussed.