Intelligent speed adaptation: from trial support to public support

Intelligent Speed Adaptation From Trial Support to Public Support Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) is a beneficial Intelligent Transport System (ITS) to increase road safety. In 2002, thirty-four cars and three buses were equipped with the “active accelerator pedal.” The results showed that the pedal assisted them well in upholding the speed limits and that the system increased driving comfort. Data analysis showed a reduction in the amount of speeding. Besides the research on the effects, the trial was used to gain more support of the general public, decision and opinion makers. Nowadays the focus is shifted to define the acceptability by the public to get a better implementation. A general research framework consisting the social and cultural factors and the device related characteristics that influence acceptability is constructed

Editorial Advanced Driver Assistance Systems

The application of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), in particular Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), is expected to improve the performance of road transportation significantly. Public policy makers, among others, are therefore increasingly interested in the implementation of these systems. Available knowledge on various implementation issues is growing, but still limited. This is due to the complex interactions between technological re- quirements, market introduction, impacts on driver behaviour and traffic performance and policy priorities. This article provides a framework for ADAS implementation, reviews recent developments in this field and introduces the contributions to this special issue

Acceptability of ISA: results from a large-scale survey in Belgium and the Netherlands

Several trials with different types of ISA have shown that ISA can be an efficient and effective way to reduce speed and speeding. In our research we ask the question will there be acceptability of ISA by the public? Different methods and theories were used to distil the most relevant determinants that could influence acceptability. Based on these determinants a web-survey was held: 6370 individuals responded in Belgium (Flanders region) and 1158 persons in The Netherlands. In our questionnaire the respondents indicated that their own driving behaviour is of great influence on accidents and traffic safety, instead of environmental issues like infrastructure or even other drivers. Even more, the respondents indicated that ITS could be beneficial to support their driving behaviour. It was noted that there is a high market potential for Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS). 95% of the respondents are in favour of ISA. Seven out of then drivers want to have an informative or warning system. Three out of ten drivers wanted to go even further and choose to have a supportive or even a restricting type of ISA. Drivers would only choose for more restricting systems if the penetration level is high enough

Behavioural effects of Advanced Cruise Control Use

 In this study, a meta-analytic approach was used to analyse effects of Advanced Cruise Control (ACC) on driving behaviour reported in seven driving simulator studies. The effects of ACC on three consistent outcome measures, namely, driving speed, headway and driver workload have been analysed. The indicators of speed, headway and workload have been chosen because they are assumed to be directly affected by the ACC support, their relationship with road safety is reasonably established and they are the most frequently used outcome measures in the sample of analysed studies. The results suggest that different operational settings of ACC that are important for the level of support provided by the system, are significant for the effects ACC have on various aspects of driving behaviour, i.e. on mean driving speed and mean time headway. The obtained effect sizes clustered in two groups, with more intervening ACCs having the effects of an increased driving speed and decreased mean time headway. These results are further discussed in the context of road safety, especially in the context of behavioural adaptation

Desirability of advanced driver assistance from road safety perspective: the case of ISA

The potential contribution of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) to traffic safety policies is currently unknown. In this article we first investigate how different ADAS might contribute to public goals on road traffic safety, based on accident statistics in the Netherlands. Next, the societal costs of ADAS implementation are qualitatively assessed. Intelligent speed adaptation (ISA) appears to be one of the most promising devices in terms of cost-effectiveness, as compared to other ADAS applications. Finally, the acceptance among potential ISA users is explored based on a survey among potential ISA users. The study points out that although the advantages of ISA are recognised by car drivers, their willingness to purchase and use ISA is strictly conditioned by the costs and functionality of the system

LOW-COST AIRPORTS FOR LOW-COST AIRLINES: FLEXIBLE DESIGN TO MANAGE THE RISKS Paper Prepared for Special Issue of Journal of Transportation Planning and Technology

The paradigm of airport planning and design is changing fundamentally. Low-cost airlines have become significant drivers of airport planning, along with aircraft size and other technical factors. They have different requirements than the “legacy ” carriers. They focus on cost and on alternative ways to handle passengers. Now being sizeable participants in the air transport industry, they are influencing airport design. They are central to the proliferation of secondary airports and metropolitan multi-airport systems. They are catalyzing the development of cheaper airport terminals configured internally much differently than traditional designs. These factors lead to the creation of “low-cost airports ” for low cost carriers around the “legacy main airports” built to serve the “legacy airlines”. Consistent with economic theory, the competition between the legacy and low cost airlines is extending to their major factors of production, that is, the airports. This competitive reality creates great uncertainty and poses substantial strategic issues for airport and airline managers and planners. The paradigm shift introduces great risks into practice. The paper proposes a flexible design strategy to deal with such uncertainties. This is significantly different from traditional airport master planning. The core element is to build “real options ” into the design, which allow th