| dc.description.abstract | Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) involving police vehicles have been identified as a significant problem nationwide. Police MVCs are attributed to driving at high speed, pursuit situations, extreme weather conditions, complex traffic situations, and interacting with in-vehicle non-driving related tasks (NDRTs). Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) are promising technologies to enhance officers’ safety by relieving them from some driving related activities. This study aimed to examine whether ADAS technologies could enhance officers' driving performance, decrease their workload, and increase their trust in vehicle safety. The research methodology included a literature review, survey with law enforcement officers (LEOs), driving simulation study, and models of officers' reaction times for steering and braking.
Initially, a systematic review of the existing and upcoming ADAS features in police vehicles was conducted. Based on the findings, a survey study with 73 police officers was conducted (Chapter 2) to understand their needs regarding ADAS in police vehicles. Results suggested that ADAS such as forward collision warning (FCW), blind spot monitoring (BSM), and automatic emergency braking (AEB) could be beneficial features for police vehicles. Additionally, results of the correlation analyses indicated that officer behavior and opinion on ADAS features were influenced by the trust officers had in the available ADAS systems among other key factors such as ADAS training and perceived usefulness. Technology acceptance modeling (TAM) results suggested that training on ADAS could enhance officers' perception of the features and increase their intention to use them. However, officers identified several obstacles to the adoption of ADAS, including lack of adaptability, usability issues, and distrust in the technology. To promote the use of ADAS, officers recommended having adaptive ADAS warnings tailored to specific driving situations, such as pursuit driving and engagement in an NDRT.
Based on the results of the survey study, a driving simulator study was conducted to examine how FCW/AEB and BSM impact the driving performance, workload, and trust of officers (Chapter 3). The findings of the simulator study indicated that FCW and AEB improved driving performance, while the impact of BSM was limited due to its low salience. ADAS warnings increased drivers' workload up to a certain point, enhancing their passing performance. However, during pursuit situations, officers' driving performance degraded, and their cognitive load increased, emphasizing the need for ADAS that can help maintain their situational awareness. The study also developed predictive models to estimate police officers' brake reaction time and steering wheel angle during critical driving situations. The results can be used as inputs for an adaptive FCW system.
The findings of this study can be used to improve the design of ADAS technologies, which can improve the safety of LEOs and reduce the risk of crashes during high-demand driving situations. | |
