9 Synthesis
9.8 Crash Populations Targeted by ITS Applications
The population of fatal crashes targeted by each of category of system and the situation where deployment of such systems should have the greatest potential payoff were identified. The systems vary greatly in the populations of crashes they are targeting. Most of the system categories discussed are designed for deployment in specific types of situations where driver expectations may be violated.
Figure 10 shows the maximum potential percentage of the total number of rural fatal crashes (for which road class is known) that “perfect” Intelligent Transportation Systems for the conditions addressed by the system categories could possibly influence if deployed on a nationwide level. This is an interesting comparison to make, but the values should be viewed with caution. As mentioned, most of the systems discussed are for application in a specific type of area, and are not practical for generalized application. In addition, the majority of the systems discussed are warning systems, leaving it up to the drivers to decide to heed the warning and adjust their driving behavior accordingly. In addition, the comparison should not be used to determine which systems deserve further examination, since some of the system types displaying low percentages are aimed at non-fatal crashes.
Figure 10: Maximum Percent of Population of 1998 Rural Fatal Crashes That Could Potentially be Influenced
by Rural ITS System Types.